What level of work for youngsters

Queenbee

Queenbee

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 August 2007
Messages
12,020
Location
Cumbria
Visit site
Hi, I want to keep my little man 'learning' whist still for the most part being allowed to be a baby and enjoy himself before the time comes for the 'real work'

He is 17 months and is good with: grooming, hooves, tieing up to stable, catch and turn out, stabling, rugging,

He has slipped backwards a bit with leading recently but is getting better since I used a chiffney. And has seen some pretty heavy traffic on the road (when he was leading well) I would like to maybe get him leading on the roads a bit again over the winter but not until I am certain he is foot perfect to lead again.

What has everyone else done with horses this age. Over the winter I was thinking of mouthing him since he is already having something in his mouth to lead with. perhaps also looking at using a surcingle and numnah to get him used to having that kind of kit on him, working up to a light saddle and girth. He will be quite a big boy when I actually back him so I really want to do as much as I can as early as I can. I do not have a school where he is and am reluctant at the moment to work with him in his field as it is his "playground" although I do have the use of a nice big yard area and a LARGE barn. I was also considering long reining but am a complete virgin to that, I have never long reined with any of my others :eek: eb's would have positively dragged me across the country if I had tried that with her!!! When would you start a youngster, he is eager to learn and I am eager to teach but not to over do it.


Basically any tips or experiences that you guys have had with your youngsters I would really appreciate hearing about them, what did you do with yours, how did you chose to do it and why?


Lots of cookies and wine :)
 
Hi, i have a 2 year old and as well as the basics i have bitted him, take him on walks down the lanes whilst wearing his bridle (being lead by a headcollar) with another horse for company.
He's had a saddle pad and roller on and we have started to walk around the outdoor school with the above on. Even progressed to going in with other horses trotting round him so he gets used to horses going past him closely.
We have had a go at loading in a trailer...needs work!!!!
We will be long reining after Xmas and hope to do a in hand show in the Spring.
The yard I'm on is doing an Xmas show and I'm hoping to do a class either in hand or fancy dress...just to get him used to being around horses in a busy situation and the advantage of being at home is i can get him away if he's not coping.
When bringing him in form the field i make him stand by the mounting block for a few moments and even had someone stand on the first step so he's used to someone standing above him.
Everything is done in short bursts so not to pop his mind.
Just have a go at different things and as long as you allow time and take things slow he'll probably enjoy learning new things.
 
Yeah, thanks, that's just along the line of what I was thinking of doing, glad I'm on the right track.

I need to do serious trailer work too :D:D:D

We do not like trailers much...yet!!
 
when i had my welsh youngster i laid out small almost like handy pony courses, making him walk over bubble rap, covering him with bags, got loads of those ball pool balls, go through tight spaces etc and we found her learnt it really quick i think he enjoyd it in the end but it was fun to make the courses up and tht
 
oooh, good idea :) we will play some games, he loves things like that, I have one of those huge bags in the yard, we will start with that, the other day he picked up a big wooden barrel (the type that used to have cable wrapped around it and took it into his field to play with, he also has tyres, footballs and tubtrugs to play with, his favourite game at the moment is chucking his tub trug over the fence at the neighbour and she throws it back, he will do this for hours with her if she lets him (thank god the neighbours are all smitten!)
 
my lad is about the same age, doing all you have done, but have bitted him and he goes out in a bridle, with a head collar over the top.
Tarpauling (sp) in the yard to walk over and have a small feed on.
Coloured poles laying on the floor randomly and walking over them.
loose roller on whilst being led around the yard.
Lots of other people leading him in headcollar, so he is not completely dependant on me and is willing to do as learnt with other people
 
miss_bird said:
my lad is about the same age, doing all you have done, but have bitted him and he goes out in a bridle, with a head collar over the top.
Tarpauling (sp) in the yard to walk over and have a small feed on.
Coloured poles laying on the floor randomly and walking over them.
loose roller on whilst being led around the yard.
Lots of other people leading him in headcollar, so he is not completely dependant on me and is willing to do as learnt with other people
Click to expand...


yes I have tried to get as many men around him as poss, he p!sses rings around OH (farmer!!!) and the neighbours laugh at him, he's been sooo good with vet and farrier, dad comes over too, he is fab with women and children though. I am wondering what bit to start him in, I really like something like this: my mare loves it:

http://cotswoldsport.co.uk/shop/ind...id=243&zenid=513f5e08bda3072f79168310acb6db6d
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top