What are you doing with your yearlings??

Jenna1406

Jenna1406

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I am just wondering what everyone is doing with their yearlings??

So far, mine has been to her first in hand show and I take her on small walks up the road (to get her used to coming away from my other mare).

Is there anything else I can be doing to keep her from being bored. I let her run about the school while I was lunging my other mare (bad idea) but amusing all the same.

Let me know what else I can do? :D
 
I have shown my yearling once so far and will do a couple more of small local shows (one class only) and that's it for this year..We do quite abit of ground work like tying up,picking up feet,leading out,touching all over and desensitising to the tarpaulin monster and road comes..but most of all i just let her be a baby and chase the dog round the field after he has nicked her Jollyball.
 
Mine went to a couple of foal shows last summer, handled over the winter - used to loading, feet picking up, grooming, rug etc., then turned away for the Summer with a couple of yearlings. At the moment she just has her feet trimmed in the field and that's it! Hope she wont forget what she learnt as a baby...:)
 
rema said:
I have shown my yearling once so far and will do a couple more of small local shows (one class only) and that's it for this year..We do quite abit of ground work like tying up,picking up feet,leading out,touching all over and desensitising to the tarpaulin monster and road comes..but most of all i just let her be a baby and chase the dog round the field after he has nicked her Jollyball.
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She is normally left to be a baby but sometimes, I think I need to start teaching her a few things, so it wouldnt be bad if I introduced her to tarpaulin and taking her for walks in hand once a week or every two weeks. She picks up her front feet and working on the back feet - she will let me if someone scratches her tail lol.

Impu1sion said:
Mine went to a couple of foal shows last summer, handled over the winter - used to loading, feet picking up, grooming, rug etc., then turned away for the Summer with a couple of yearlings. At the moment she just has her feet trimmed in the field and that's it! Hope she wont forget what she learnt as a baby...:)
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I only got my yearling at the start of May and she was relatively unhandled when I got her, so basically had to do some handling to get her used to me. She doesnt have any other babies to play with, just my chestnut mare, who only puts up with her on her terms lol
 
****** it I wrote an essay and H&H timed me out!

In short, walking out in hand, learning to wait while I talk to neighbours and only eating the verge when I say, one show (over stayed and he got a bit tired and tetchy), feet, farrier, brush, headcollar though recently had to re-teach that after a bit of a break in practice (free access to stable), starting to bit in case I do another couple of shows at the end of the summer, willy wash as required. He comes up to us for fuss whenever I go near the field, love him.

He doesn't have a youngster to hoon with unfortunately. Best laid plans, I got in an elderly, calm uncle gelding, who since got laminitis and spends a great proportion of his day in the stable. They talk over the door and when he is out they are out together. Has anyone got any positive stories on how this can work out?

Here he is, a bit hairy still and 13.1 at the whithers.

 
I've had my youngster from 4month old she's now 2&2month.. I did the normal ground work.. Also walked in and out of cones.. Big signs & banners road work signs.. Tarpaulin.. I'm constantly been as loud as I possibley can and quick move ments, all to get her used to day to day things.. We have now reached mouthing up as I compete her.. And doing 3circles in each rein so that the idea of a lunge will come easier later on x
 
I have two. One is living out 24/7 with a mare and foal and has a lot of maturing to do, both mentally and physically, so is doing nothing other than being a baby, having cuddles of me, seeing the farrier, occasional grooming. The other is much more mature and I will be taking her to a few shows, I've been gradually prepping her so it's not all done in a big chunk, practising walking away from her turnout buddy a couple of times a week and she's really chilled about it all. She's turned out 24/7 in a small herd and has plenty of playtime so I don't feel guilty about asking for her concentration for a couple of hours for shows.
 
Mine was unhandled up until 18/20 months, he was turned away since weaned with the rest of colts his age.
 
My pair of yearlings had their 2nd birthdays recently. They both lead, halt and yield sideways and backwards nicely. They both tie up and they both can be left alone in the stables.

Both good with farrier although Ted can be suspicious. They are both exposed to the tractors and whatever noise is around them.

The only other thing they do is eat and sleep. In Ted's case that is a least 12 hours sleeping. Alice is very girly and spends time doing her hairstyle, pooing in the same neat pile and tidying her handbag. I am convinced she is going to turn into a bit of a diva and will have to renamed Victoria Beckham. Ted will be a lout, drink lager and want to remain on benefits.

They both cantered into the covered yard this morning, Alice daintily flicking her toe and floating. Ted hammers in, trips over a cowpat and head butts the gate. Give me strength !
 
Loving all your stories :)
My filly turned one in may, but now she has got condition on, handling, she is more mature than id like lol.

Plus - im scared to say this but my yearling had already come into season, didnt think it was possible
 
My colt is living out 24/7 with his brothers playing eat/sleep/chew my face or other body part off. He is halter broke and had his first desensitisation session last week, getting used to having a brush run over him, leading away from his brothers to a new place (indoor arena), giving to pressure on the halter, walking over a couple of poles, that sort of thing, working him from both sides. He's just been tied up for the first time, and is now back out playing eat/sleep/chew my face off. He's a very fast learner and pretty sensitive so I won't be rushing to show him in hand, let him grow on a bit first.
 
Jenna1406 said:
Loving all your stories :)
My filly turned one in may, but now she has got condition on, handling, she is more mature than id like lol.

Plus - im scared to say this but my yearling had already come into season, didnt think it was possible
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Jenna, my filly came into season whilst still on her mom aged 7 months, I had a right shock. You can now understand why so many runty foals are born on the hills and elsewhere, when colts get to fillies that are so young.
 
Hugo walks & trots in hand, has worn a bridle a handful of times (showing this season), picks all feet up for me, can brush him all over, clean his sheath, walk out up the lane & seen traffic.. Used to things like dogs, tarps, feed bags etc.

Pretty laid back about everything, likes showing the 2yo up ;).. After he's done his showing I'll just lay off handling and fussing and let him chill out and be young again!
Didnt really want to do as much as I have but he has taken it all in his stride:)
 
Neddy was weaned at 4 months as he was a chunk. I spent that first year teaching him what he needed to know, first to put head collar on and lead well, then tie up, pick up feet and farrier, brush and hose legs and sprays, rugs & general stable manners. We did 3 shows in his first year - so loading, clipped his beard, pulled & plaited and trotted up. I free jumped him once over a tiny fence and walked through puddles, lead down dirt track. Good with dogs.
He lived in over night in winter and out at 24/7 in summer.
He then turned into the devil! Biting and rearing, and misbehaving. He was turned out with a old gelding that he jumped and bashed about. Didn't want to be caught, refused to walk etc.
At the end of summer I found him a herd to live out with through the winter. Best decision I've ever made. The mares put him right back in his place. It was hard from Feb to April as the condition dropped and I was so tempted to rug him and hard feed him but he survived.
With 2 weeks of May on good grass the whole herd looked great again. His happy being a baby and playing with the yearlings and the mares keep them in line. He hasn't forgot all that I've taught him. And I really feel his a nicer and better horse for it. 2 more years and his life is going to change so he can enjoy now. I do take a photo each month so that I can see how much his changing.
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Here is my picture diary from when I got her :D

Before I got her

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Days after she arrived

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Couple of weeks after I got her

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At our first show

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And just the other day :D

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Nothing, other than basic handling and grooming. He leads, ties up, picks up all feet and loves to be scritched. Other than that he's just being a baby in my herd of five - the complete lowest of the low in the hierarchy as the oldies keep his manners in check. He doesn't give a hoot and hoons around like he's on speed!!! :D

 
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