What do you do with your 2yo's?

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Feival

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Mine lives in a mixed herd, he comes in 2/3 times a week to be groomed and checked over. He comes to call, is good to load, lead, travel tie up, with the farrier, doesn't mind hoses or sprays and he's not bothered by vehicles of any kind. Any thing else he should be taught atm?
 
You can tack up and bit [rubber], depends on temperament, but I put my yearling in harness loose in arena, one buck and she just got on with it.
I had my 2 year old NF in harness, and also led him down the road to experience traffic in hand, puting the harness on, they have to know that they must learn simple commands, and obey them automatically.
I take maybe 20-30 mins to tack up, and never do anything when my time is limited, they can loose jump tiny poles and also walk in hand over poles, see flapping things and tractors, learn to back one stride then two, use voice commands so they are clear about halt, walk on and so on.
Make sure they will accept grooming, hosing feet, rugs and exercise sheet with fillet string.
Not too early to practice loading in a trailer, make sure it is stable and just walk thru, a very young animal is allowed to sniff the ramp and so on, do not make it a big issue, and do it without any fuss.
Keep lessons short and free of drama!
When you show you are expected to trot up, so practice that on command.
Halt square, this is soon learned.
 
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When grooming stand on a bale to let them get used to someone above their eyeline, lean over the back, gradually do this and mess about till they are totally chilled, the more handling the better as it makes breaking and backing a smooth transition.
 
Nope - nothing more. You're doing great and they have years ahead of them so let them be horses. Mixed herd is best education ever. Plenty of time for them to learn everything else.
 
Bonkers2 said:
When grooming stand on a bale to let them get used to someone above their eyeline, lean over the back, gradually do this and mess about till they are totally chilled, the more handling the better as it makes breaking and backing a smooth transition.
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great advice
so many youngsters can't be handled and have no basic manners.
You are doing the horse a favour teaching them manners and being good to handle from an early age for vet, farrier, potential new owners and handlers
 
Bonkers2 said:
When grooming stand on a bale to let them get used to someone above their eyeline, lean over the back, gradually do this and mess about till they are totally chilled, the more handling the better as it makes breaking and backing a smooth transition.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with this. My 3yo has just been backed and it was a natural progression as I been doing things with him since he was rising two. Agree with getting above them, I used to take mine into the school and climb up and sit on the fence and just fuss him and give him scratches. I'd also flap my arms around to let them see movement from above, a small flag on a pole is useful too.
 
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