Turn out problem

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Carajack

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Hi, can anyone give me some advice on my problem? I had my young Dales/Cob cross last Feb he was 2 the in July and a 9 year old shetland, they love each other and have been together since day one.

The problem is they run around the field like mad things, the shetland soon has enough but the youngster does not know when to stop, the problem escalated this week, due to the ice on the field I did not turn them out for 2 days, when I did it was madness. The shetland ended up hiding in the corner and would not come out until I bought the young one in.

Today I tried putting them in seperate paddocks, they could see each other but young one galloped around and I thought he was going to jump over the fence so bought youngster in.

My worry is that youngster will hurt the shetland, or at the moment hurt himself as welll by slipping, keeping him in is difficult as he gets so het up and stressed he is hard to handle.

Help please.
 
I'd be tempted to leave them out 24/7, so that they don't get so excited each day. The only other possibility that I can think of is to find a younger companion for the cob.
 
Why not leave them out all the time? I think horses only tend to gallop about with excitement if they've been stabled. If they're out all the time if won't be nearly as exciting so they should chill out very quickly especially if you've got hay piles everywhere.
 
Youngsters tend to need more than one companion as if only one the companion can often get peed off with baby's endless energy!

In your situation, I don't think you're ever going to please both of them at the same time...

your youngster does sound quite clingy towards shetty though which isn't a particularly good thing...
 
If you can find it, grass livery in a herd. Both tough enough to live out and the herd would end the clinginess and give the young one someone else to play with and teach him his manners. The shetland would probably enjoy not babysitting the energetic one all the time too.
 
I think 24/7 will be the best option when the ice and snow have gone that way the ground will be softer and less likely to cause injury.

I only bought them in at night to save the 2 paddocks, one is large enough to split into 2 they can be right next to each other then I will slowly seperate them to wean youngster off shelty.
 
I would keep out 24/7 especially with a dales cross bacause in my experience anything which could possibly cope being out 24/7 should be out at that age bacause they have energy to burn. But this is dependant on how your field is fairing
When we had youngsters we were lucky enough to have several fields so we could rotate youngsters and companions to stop clingyness far stretch but do any of your friends near you have a field and a horse so your youngster could go on 'holiday' to see his new friend. Give shetty a break and your horse can make new shiney friends. :D
 
Have you got enough room for a third? Maybe a paying grass livery?

Two in a field always leads to pair bonding, which must be a bit tiresome for the shetland, so another youngster might break up the clingyness!
 
Definitely leave them out 24/7. You've got a youngster bubbling over with high energy just itching to get out and play each day. Which is more dangerous than them being out 24/7 and no excitement of morning turnout.
 
That is a thought, there is no grass at the moment but I can put hay down, do you think it would be a good idea that if I get another one to put it straight in with them or take sheltie out for a rest to give youngster time to get to know his new mate, I could get a loan.
 
Shall I do it now or wait till ground is safer, would it be a good idea also not to feed them for a while so they are hungry when I do turn them out that way they will go to munch instead of racing.
 
I'd turn them out immediately with maybe a little bucket each for when they get in the field and stacks of hay. Much safer to do it now as the way they are hoolying around on the awful ground really could lead to an accident. Your call of course as you know them best, but that's what I would do personally.
 
I'd just make sure they are out as much as possible. Adding nother horse,or two, into the equasion just means they all charge round and doesnt solve anything,at least this is what mine did when i went from 2 to 3 thinking it would solve things,then we added another and they paired up and there was still separation anxiety and/or galloping as a herd. Now back to 2 and find it all much more manageable.
 
How about rugs, they have been in at night for a couple of weeks and it is very cold. Also a couple of months ago I was advised by the Baileys website to put youngster on baileys number two which is working cubes, he has put some weight on so I may just give hay and grass nuts, the baileys may be heating him up.
 
Right, decision made, they both go out tomorrow, 24/7 ish, I will just bring them in one at a time for a groom, handling or a respite from the rain for a couple of hours if it is very wet, no rugs as they are both looking a bit chubby.
I have plenty of hay, and will put them on herbie chop for the buckets.
Being a coward I shall go out as soon as I have turned them out, what i dont see I wont stress over and be gawking out of the window like a fussy Mom whos child is out on their own for the first ime.
 
Thank you everyone for your input, I know they and me will be safer as it was getting a bit dangerous handling him the way he is, he is a lovely lad not nasty but very hyper and strong.
 
Right, they are out, have given a bucket feed each and put down about 5 piles of hay so they dont squable, OK so far fingers crossed.
A neighbour helped, as we are both on our own during the day we keep an eye on each other, being rural you have to be safe.
They were very good leading out, took the precaution of releasing over the fence, good job as he took off.
Think will bring in tonight forcast is -12 but once this weather is gone they will be out 24/7.
Thanks again for your advice.
 
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