Turning out and bringing in troubles.

[BigYellowHorse]

Hi everyone!

I'm wondering if anyone can give me a little advice regarding turning out and bringing in of my colt. He is a rather large 18month, 16hh WB colt and generally a total sweety in the yard and stable.

At the moment I turnout as much as possible, bit limited due to all the rain we have had, so I'm doing a rotation turnout between 3 horses and one field, which seems to work quite well and when not turned out they have either a concrete yard and a hardcore area with enough room to trot up and down and keep moving (ok not as good as being out in the field but its better than shut in a 12x12! lol)

I could be a little more understanding if he was a monkey to turn out but he is even worse to bring in after a day of going loopy and stretching his legs. He leaps, bucks, squeals and occasionally rears. I hang on for dear life and keep well near his shoulder away from any flailing legs.

I've tried the be nice collars, but really didn't do much if I'm honest, seeing as I have him bitted already as he went and did a few shows in the summer, I now turnout in a bridle with a hanging cheek snaffle - hanging cheek as it puts a little more pressure on the poll and has actually helped to stop him rearing than when I turned out in a normal happy mouth snaffle - not really keen on the whole chifney idea on such a young and generally pleasant horse and I am sure we can find a better way around this.

Now, I don't enjoy having to turnout in a bridle, it'd be far nicer to use a headcollar especially as he is a little fussy around his ears, we are working on this using clicker training, so it is a bit of a hassle having to bridle him.

So, what the usual programme is I incorporate the clicker and if he is being a total fool I give him the 'evil eye' and growl which helps to stop him in his tracks, and if he really is starting to get out of control he does get a bit of a pull on the lead (which i keep pretty short and hold up near the bit). I hate having to give a pull especially with him having a young mouth, but it does get a little close when he is either taking you across a nicely drilled field or your getting close to being pinned next to a post and rail.

I do keep pretty calm, but I guess adrenaline is already pumping before I reach the field as I know whats going to happen - by the end I do need a bit of a breather, can be a little unnerving sometimes as he is just so big already!

So if anyone can offer some useful advice I would be really grateful!!

At the moment I am not thinking done the lines of gelding (not yet anyway - not until I have him graded if he flunks that then we will lol) He went through the same sort of thing in the summer and we did some work and he stopped, so I think we can break the habit, just looking to see if anyone can give any extra helpful hints or ideas.

Thanks for reading and thank you for any ideas

 

[charmeroo]

Hi! To be honest I think that you need to turn him out with a bit in his mouth. The easiest way to do this, rather than a full bridle is just a headpiece with a bit, but no noseband. This way you can undo the cheekpiece if his ears are an issue. I agree that a chifney is the last resort so I would recommend this alternative. I use this with my tb in the winter and find that by just having the bit he is more respectful of me and less of a pratt!!

 

[Tiarella]

Sounds like a 18 month old wb colt at my work....lovely aren't they...

 

[Littlelegs]

Find somewhere more suited to his needs. At that age they need all day every day turnout. And company. Even when he's out at the moment if you are rotating horses, he isn't getting to play, nor does he have the opportunity to learn boundaries from an older horse. I also know more than one perfectly well mannered horse who will pull if you are clinging on under their chin, just because you are restricting their head movement, intentional or not. Imo you just need to do whatever is needed to give him more turnout with company.

 

[Cocorules]

Agree with littlelegs. Also look at diet too.

 

[joeanne]

Sounds like a toddler who has not had enough time at the park....
I would try and find some decent youngstock livery where he can be out over winter and mix with others his own age.

 

[Tash88]

^^^ I agree with this. He needs to be out every day and socialising with other horses at his age, otherwise he may just get worse. I'd also be concerned about using a bit that often with such a young horse, who presumably has quite a sensitive mouth, although I know that you have to at the moment for your safety. Is there any other type of head collar you could try in; I'm not familiar with how the 'be nice' ones work but how about a Dually?

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

click click click away................. keep out of the way of his feet in the air

 

[Doormouse]

I'm with the others, he would be a lot better with company and full time turnout. Personally I don't like youngsters being in over the winter, they need space, freedom and to socialise to learn how to be a horse.