What do you do with your 2 year olds?

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QueenDee_

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As title really, what sort of things do you do? I probably haven't done as much as I should with mine, he leads fairly well and ties while you groom him nice and calmly no thoughts about pulling back (supervision at all times) also picks all 4 feet up lovely lets you pick them out and tap with hoof pick etc.

Thinking trailer training next, leading him in and out etc and perhaps taking him on quiet walks (very quiet village)

What do you do in terms of spook training? I don't have an arena so all work would be in the field but any suggestions of things to do? (ideally with things i'd have lying around!)
 
Between 2 & 3 just keep up with the handling, grooming etc. Always have them present for anything like another horse being shod, clipped etc. Run clippers over them without clipping hair. Get them used to hosing & baths.
I don't do that much bombproofing as a specific course, more that I have spooky stuff around when I handle them. Eg flapping carrier bags nearby while feeding, balloons tied up near by, groom with stuff like an open umbrella. I do walk in hand, & also short hacks led from something bombproof. Walking in & out of whatever crap is to hand, a tarpaulin, traffic cones, old haylage wrappers etc. Have also taken 2yr olds purposely where they can stand & graze the verge on a quiet road & watch busy roadworks & jcbs on an adjoining road. Also good voice commands for walk, trot etc & over & back too. Plus put stuff on their backs like rugs, rollers etc.
 
littlelegs said:
Between 2 & 3 just keep up with the handling, grooming etc. Always have them present for anything like another horse being shod, clipped etc. Run clippers over them without clipping hair. Get them used to hosing & baths.
I don't do that much bombproofing as a specific course, more that I have spooky stuff around when I handle them. Eg flapping carrier bags nearby while feeding, balloons tied up near by, groom with stuff like an open umbrella. I do walk in hand, & also short hacks led from something bombproof. Walking in & out of whatever crap is to hand, a tarpaulin, traffic cones, old haylage wrappers etc. Have also taken 2yr olds purposely where they can stand & graze the verge on a quiet road & watch busy roadworks & jcbs on an adjoining road. Also good voice commands for walk, trot etc & over & back too. Plus put stuff on their backs like rugs, rollers etc.
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great advice, thankyou! Didn't think about having him there while others are shod, hes had feet trimmed but would be good for him to see the clanging about that goes on etc:)
 
Nothing! All mine are taught to lead as foals alongside their dams. They are weaned in the autumn and spend their first winter in at night so they are well used to being caught and led. As yearlings they are turned out and other than being brought in for the farrier/vet they are not touched until 3 years old when they are lightly backed, turned back out and as 4 year olds they start proper work being produced for careers as sports horses.

We do not have much trouble with spookiness but I only breed from successful sport horse mares with good temperments and we do keep my cob cross who as well as being my horse is escort to the young horses when hacking out and has good manners for them to copy. Never underestimate how much your young horse will copy from its friends so make sure it is copying a good example!

I am not a big stud with hundreds of young horses - I never do more than three foals a year and this year only have one due. Assuming this arrives safely I will leave it on the mare until March when on weaning I will join it up the yearlings.

There is no doubt that temperament is bred into foals but after many years experience I am also certain that quiet handling by calm confident handlers is a huge part of the equation.
 
Currently, bomb proofing my 2 year old too!
So far he; ties up, feet picked out, groomed all over, had a bath, ears & tail trimmed, see the clippers too!

Doing more ground work with him, Walking over plastic, between barrells, over poles & Pipes, crates, over and through cones, up bankings over the stream. He also loads himself in to the horse box. Last night we had 2 bags of shredded paper (Bin Liners) and tied then at the handles and put them over his back so that the hung down his sides! He really doesnt care! Its quite worrying that we cant scare him!!

But just lots of games and different things to keep them thinking, but lessons should only be about 20-30 mins and no more. babies dont have the best attention spans and always finish on a good note!

he also gets his tendon boots on!
 
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