Turning out weanling for first time?

[domane]

My gorgeous Welsh D 5.5-month old colt, William, was delivered yesterday. He's in a stable for a few days although I let him loose in my little yard today and he met the gang over the fence. I have a little Section A mare tenant so I won't be turning him out with them until after he's gelded which won't be until the end of next month, plus I think he's a bit too young/new at the moment as well. We have sectioned off a corner of the field for him to be able to be turned out so they can familiarise themselves with each other over the fence for a few weeks and we're planning on doing this on Saturday for a few hours so I can hang around and keep an eye on him. Already he's desperate to get to the others, naturally, so I was wondering whether you think it would be a good idea to put my 18m traditional yearling, Albi, in with him as he is incredibly laid-back and also comes to call so would be a good example to the baby when I want to fetch them in? Hopefully I would be able to catch William relatively easily, especially if I remove Albi from the paddock first.

My TB will remain in the rest of the field with the little mare so they each have company.

Good idea or bad?

 

[Kallibear]

Our highland baby got turned out straight away with Pips who was so so good with him. Fergus tried to bulldoze into him like he had with his mum but Piper tolerated him and, whilst telling him off, was never nasty or mean. Two days later they were sharing a dinner bucket

It helped immensily with his catching and socialisation - when he arrived you would have to creep up so slowly then crouch down for him to come over, if at all. After just a couple of days following Pips lead (who LOVES people) he would follow you about the field and could have his headcollar off.

I would definintly give him a friend asap as he'll be desperatly lonely.

 

[Dolcé]

agree with company but not sure about and 18m old one, is he likely to be too boisterous for such a baby? Do you have an older but kind gelding you can put with him?

 

[Magicmadge]

I have a 7 month filly and was going to turn her out with my 18 month filly and old mare. However, i agree with above, older filly is too full on and weanling is terrified of her even over post and rail. So she is turned out in a sectioned off paddock between the other two and a shetland. She gets a couple of hours a day playtime with the shetland he is very sweet with her. I can't leave them in together all the time as he doesn't need the grass plus i would have one plouged up paddock. I am going to wait until spring before trying them together, just letting the bigger 2 get used to the idea that filly lives here now, then hopefully the won't be too mean.

 

[foraday]

Well I would say the 18m old would be great as they can play! But also the older TB would also teach the little one manners and what is acceptable and not!

Why not do both! One day turnout with the 18m and the next swap to the TB.

I always turnout our babies with an auntie or uncle that will teach them nice manners

 

[Dolcé]

Well I would say the 18m old would be great as they can play! But also the older TB would also teach the little one manners and what is acceptable and not!

Why not do both! One day turnout with the 18m and the next swap to the TB.

I always turnout our babies with an auntie or uncle that will teach them nice manners

Agree totally with the playing bit but I would be concerned that the young one is very young (and still very fragile) possible a bit too young to have a heavier and stronger teenager ploughing into it when they play. It just isn't a risk I would take.

 

[pip6]

Depends on how boisterous the yearling is likely to be. Last year our foal & mum were in with the 2 yearlings. Mum kept everyone in order & baby safe. As baby grew she started spending less time with mum & more with yearlingswho although dominant over her readily accepted her as part of their herd. Come weaning, the other yearlings mother came in as nanny, & the mare was moved out of the field. Foal settled very quickly as still had her friends there, nanny kept order, painless for foale & mum was glad of a break.

Know this isn't your situation, but just saying you know your horses characters so are best to judge which one would be the most suitable company. If going to be only for a few months personally suggest would use old tb to provide reassurance & manners (especially as not gelded yet), has plenty of time to play with yearling after gelding when he is in the herd.

 

[domane]

Thank you for all your comments

My TB really is an affectionate and gentlemanly old boy but when I first introduced the traditional he came down REALLY hard on him to the point that Albi ran through a P&R fence in terror!! This was very shocking behaviour from Roo (the TB) as he's never been an alpha horse and I have a couple of theories (a) because Albi was still entire at the time and (b) Albi had spent the previous 6m (aged 6-12m) with a pair of rising 3yo's so I suspect he didn't know how to be mindful to a senior horse, hence Roo putting him in his place. Anyway, Albi was removed from the field, gelded within the first week of arriving and the boys then lived alongside each other with a fence keeping them apart for the next 3 weeks. I then took the plunge and put them back in together and they've been bezzie mates ever since. That was back in June and I've since moved them from a livery yard to leasing my own space (with the mare tenant).

Albi is very calm with the two older horses, I've never seen him "play" as such... yes he will sometimes take himself off for a canter around - usually inciting the others into a bit of a run too, but he's a gentle, placid soul.

Will definitely stay close by when I turn William out on Saturday so that I can "rescue" him at the first sign of trouble. You never can tell how relationships will be forged but I think he will be better with Albi in with him, especially for the first time out.