Things to do with a 10mth old/yearling

Isa7182

Isa7182

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 April 2014
Messages
78
Location
Australia
Visit site
Hi all!

I am stumped for ideas to do with Holly. She's bored and I can't think of things to do with her that will benefit her.

I can groom her, rug her, halter, pick up feet, lead, walk down the road and tie up well. She has being taught the concept of lunging BUT we are leaving it there, no more until she's much, much older. Just so she knows now.

She's really quiet for a baby, not much phases her at.

Ideas??
 
these are the things ( that you haven't already mentioned) that my Shetland yearling does
- walks side ways towards you - half pass
- walks backward without pressure ( just body language ) , if you stand infront , to the side an behind him
- He is a very intelligent thing so he also bows on one knee and lies down on command
- Will do everything at liberty , I hardly ever use a halter with him , just a neck rope .
- will stand for anything , tarps , bags ,etc
- will happily walk though water / stand for the hose pipe
- hold up leg on command
- come to you on command ( whistle )
- let you look in his mouth

These things are the games we play

Chase the tiger ( dragging a tarp along the ground so they chase it

fetch

colour recognition

..... I am sure there is more but that is all i can think of for now =D
 
Aww omg!!

She does walk backwards but teaching her to do it with pressure would be good. She comes to me anyway, we play chasey in the paddock, she pigroots and turns her bum to me (not to kick, she's cheeky but no dirt at all) and I have to get to her head before she runs off. Otherwise, she comes right up to me and follows me everywhere, I'm a part of the herd :p

At her agistment, they can't be off the leadrope out of the paddock or riding, so I can practice in the paddock

Would it be alright to take her in the roundyard and get her to walk well on the lunge and teach her to halt and walk well or is that a no?
 
Please do not start lunging such a baby, that can do irreparable harm to the joints. Why is she bored? Does she spend long periods of time in a stable? Does she not have companions grazing with her? At this age she should be learning how to be member of herd, so that in later life she doesn't get into trouble with other horses.
Teaching any horse to lead sensibly past/over/through different obstacles of the kind they may meet at shows/ out hacking/on the roads/around the farm etc is always useful but I would do this as a matter of course, not setting up something special in a school area.
 
Oh dear another baby being set up for a fall
Please will people with babies let them be babies if you want to do lots either get an unhandled rising 4 year old or an older horse to play with
With a good herd dynamic, plenty preferably full time turn out and lots of loose in the field cuddles and the odd time picking up feet etc she doesnt need anything else She is not bored as Pearlsasinger says the only requirement for a young horse is to lead, load and be good for the trimmer or farrier but enforced lessons are totally unnecessary
Sorry if that offends but I am far more concerned for these babies welfare/ long term health
 
She's stabled and night and she's in a paddock on her own, but there are horses in paddocks all around her. She's been with up to 5 horses previously. It's more of a boredom of doing the same routine and I try to mix it up, but it's still the same things, just in a different order. The only thing that might change is more of a focus on picking up feet or cleaning the face during grooming. I'm trying to keep her mentally stimulated with the time I have with her. She's in the stable from 4.30pm to about 8,30am-9-10am and I'm not home from school till 3.30pm and up with her from about 3.50 to 4.30-5. On the weekends, I spend more time doing things with her, but I don't want her to sour to things. About 3 times a week she gets groomed or rug on and off and the other times it might be walking or I'll just leave her out longer. She won't be in the stable every night, but it's winter here, so shorter days and the weather has been so unpredictable, so I haven't wanted to leave her out at night, even if she has her rugs.
 
Can you not turn her out with other horses of a similar age? I think that's why she's bored. If I had a yearling, providing I could bring them in, give them a checkover and a groom, and lead them safely, I'd leave to it.
 
The only other baby is in the paddock right next to her. The problem is, this is the only place that's let us keep her there, no one within 30mins will allow a baby to go out with the others, they won't even let us keep her there!!

She can be turned out into a massive paddock with the only paddock horses, which will be good for her, so I might start doing that.
 
Over stimulated and over handled baby horses form the huge majority of horses in rehab for behavioural problems she needs to be with other horses and the human interaction backed off before she is an over humanised monster
 
quick answer- nothing just be a baby in a field with other young horses ideally, but other horses definitely! Preferably 24/7 as it isn't good for growing youngsters to not be moving and playing. It's a shame you didn't make sure you could keep her appropriately before acquiring her. :(
 
I agree with everything everybody says - But ;) if you work with the youngster at liberty , allowing them to leave at any point , it remains a fun game that interests and mentally stimulates the horse . Better than being stuck in a paddock by themselves - which , in some cases is unavoidable . I personally don't think there is any problem doing anything with a youngster as long as they have a choice - as long as they can leave when ever they want to . So no over pressure
 
Our foals learn to lead load and pick up their feet. towards weaning time they learn to stand with the rope through a tie ring but held by someone at their head. during their first winter they learn to tie up and by the time they are in their yearling summer they will tie up (never unsupervised though) and are happy to have their feet washed etc before they go for occasional short walks. majority of the time they are in the field and as long as they have general good manners when they are handled they are left there as much as possible
 
ester said:
quick answer- nothing just be a baby in a field with other young horses ideally, but other horses definitely! Preferably 24/7 as it isn't good for growing youngsters to not be moving and playing. It's a shame you didn't make sure you could keep her appropriately before acquiring her. :(
Click to expand...

Exactly!

I am beginning to think that there is a growing number of complete novices posting on here about buying youngsters which they have no idea about handling. There was even someone recently asking how to introduce a spray to a 3 yr old! People who don't know the basics like that should stick to older established horses, imo. What the parents of this poster were thinking of, when they allowed this purchase, I can't begin to guess!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Exactly!

I am beginning to think that there is a growing number of complete novices posting on here about buying youngsters which they have no idea about handling. There was even someone recently asking how to introduce a spray to a 3 yr old! People who don't know the basics like that should stick to older established horses, imo. What the parents of this poster were thinking of, when they allowed this purchase, I can't begin to guess!
Click to expand...

I agree with you. However at least she is asking the questions now she has the horse.

And to everyone, not just PAS, let's try and keep this thread constructive and helpful to the current situation, and not let it descend to the levels some threads like this can. :) x
 
Her being with other horses isn't an option, it is essential at her age. Also the weather is nice - there is no need for stabling. Just leave her be and let her be a baby and learn how to be a horse
 
I must admit, I rushed into handling my foal too soon and at 10 weeks old, he has already spent the majority of his life going on short walks with his mum and playing in the sand school. I now realize there's no need for this and both ponies have spent the past few days (and will continue to spend the next few months) turned out 24/7. They're checked twice daily and both very well handled so now i'm leaving them to it.

Don't worry OP, at least you asked for advice, I did the stupid thing and went along my business without knowing I was doing wrong!!

Don't feel bad you know what to do now and just think, there's people who've done much sillier things with youngsters (me) :)

(Lesson learnt btw)
 
Glitter pup - I did the same thing,but stopped as soon as I found out it wasn't advisable. I now have a lovely, polite, well adjusted 5yo :)
 
I should think Australia has an enormous amount of climatic variation so stabling or rugging might be best for Holly at this time of year.
Obviously it would be nice if Isa could have / loan another yearling for her youngster to socialise with and that would relieve her boredom in a flash (not a colt though even at just 10 months as Holly could come into season in a few months).
My yearling - who sounds from Isa's description - to have the same sort of friendly, willing temperament as Holly - lives with a 13 year-old gelding and she doesn't seem bored.
Everyone starts as a novice, some just stop being novices earlier than others and I think the OP has the right motives as she clearly cares about her youngster.
From my point of view - which is quite elderly - I'd say that structured activity and formal training may not be as important as just having fun with the youngster so long as the basics are taught, i.e. good manners, allowing the feet, legs, body to be inspected for injury and treated if necessary, acceptance of veterinary treatment.
Holly probably enjoys the time that Isa spends with her irrespective of what takes place during this time. Holly is very young to have 'achievement targets' and it sounds as though she has already learnt a lot with with Isa.
A book which I found very useful is "Training your foal" by Renate Ettl, published by Cadmos.
To the OP - good luck with your youngster. I hope you both carry on having fun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top