walking a colt 3 mile inhand ?

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those-ears

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I have a rising 2yr welsh d colt, moving him 3 mile down some quiet tracks and lanes tomorrow for the summer, I was meant to be trailering him over but with the petrol crisis am having trouble finding the dam stuff :( am thinking of leading him inhand, half of way home is stonet bridleway rest is tarmac and a few grassy verges. Would it be a crazy idea to walk a colt 3 mile inhand barefoot?? Don't want to push him but pretty desperate to move him! In the meantime I am looking and contacting petrol stations nearby for fuel.Kinda stuck for ideas :(
 
Rather you than me! I'm to lazy to walk that far lol. In all seriousness, if he's handled and used to walk outs then why not. He will probably enjoy it :-)
 
Yes he's been handled, walks reasonably well inhand and it is quiet....*lthough I have never taken him out for walks as such.
 
Now I dont think thats very far, but if you do think it might be pushing it for him, take a drink and some food for you and let him have a rest stop half way, make a nice little afternoon out :)

(if hes the sort you could do that with of course )
 
About 3 years ago I was moving an in foal mare back home from her winter grazing, about 3 miles along tarmac roads. She totally refused to loadso I walked her in hand. A brisk walking pace is 4 mph, she dawdled and we manged it easily in 1 and a falf hours. She was barefoot and perfectly happy when she got there.
 
Sounds like the sort of thing I do!

Except that I normally drag a friend or one of my teenage kids along for company and stop off for a pub lunch on the way! :D
 
Mine is the same age and is walked out once a week about that distance. Just a little wander with his friend to see the world. I don't think it'd be a problem
 
the only thing that would concern me is
1. will you be on roads?
2. is he used to and happy with traffic.

If both of these are positive answers, then go for it :D
 
I did it with my TB colt when he was around the same age. Our walk was probably a tad further actually. I did it late in the evening when the roads and lanes were at their quietest and had a helper walk with us. He wasnt bitted at the time and I walked him in a headcollar and stallion chain, although he plodded along quite happily on a loosish rein but I had the chain as a 'just in case'. For safety and insurance purposes though, you really should think about introducing him to a snaffle bridle if you haven't already.
 
Shouldn't be a problem, when I take the dog out for a quick walk in the eve I do 1.5 miles in 20/25 minutes so a hour of walking won't hurt him :)
 
I did this when I collected a rising 4yo. I was told by his owner that he was difficult to load, and knowing the person whose yard he was on, I didn't want him assisting - as he was likely to assist with his whips, chains and fists :-/

We walked him home about 3- 4 miles - as I didn't know him I had a lead rope on one side, and dad had a lead rope on the other - plenty of hi viz all around. He was fine - a bit pooped when we got home, but other than that fine :)

Just take your time, and stroll on ;)
 
Used to walk Malaga regularly in hand to work (5mls there and 5mls back)at that age,good experiance for him....er what are shoes!? :D
 
I would say it will do him the power of good, I'd suggest walking him out regularly. I pony my rising 3 year old Rocky Mountain filly out along side our Welsh Cob and TB for much further than 3 miles, keep them fit lets them see the world and hardens their feet all putting you ahead of the game when you come to back them etc.

I wouldn't be putting a bridle on him if he's not used one previously, A rope pressure halter/dually halter etc and some pressure/release training prior to setting off would give more control without risking a young inexperienced horses mouth leading with a bridle IMO.
 
I walk mine out that distance a couple of times a week! Whenever I need to bring him form his barn to the main yard, that's just over a mile one way - so before we've even done anything else, it's a 2 mile round walk to and from there!
 
Someone once mentioned, and it seemed to make a lot of sense, that walking a horse from one yard to the next actually helps them to settle as they know where they are in the world.
 
Has anyone every heard whether Those-Ears made it with her 3 yrs old colt that she was walking to her summer grazing?
 
Distance and barefoot - no problem, but if he's not used to going out I would go with a quiet 'nanny' horse to keep him company, especially if he's used to always being with others.
 
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