What should I be doing with my 2 year old?

[bkneil]

Hello, I have recently bought a rising 2 ID that I will back and bring on for my daughter (who’s only 10 now) to move onto when she’s older / more experienced. I’ve had horses 35 years, have lots of experience handling youngsters from working at a stud and have had a few 4-6 year olds that were barely backed and brought them on. I have lots of help available for the biting and backing process and an instructor. I have other horses who can nanny her out and about. Sorry to ramble but my question is what should I/ can I be doing now? Clearly no plans of ridden work for the next 18 months as I know this breed matures slowly. She’s handled daily, has halter on and leads fine, is now good to catch after a few weeks work, will stand tied up to be groomed, pick up feet, fine with mane and tail spray. This horse though, is my horse of a lifetime (all mine are nice natured but this one is totally unspoilt and I have a chance to do this without overcoming the issues and anxieties from previous homes) and I want to do the best by her so she will be happy with us and right for my daughter (they already have daily cuddles and adore each other ). She’s a kind, lovely natured bold filly. I’ve never owned my own pre backing though so any advice would be much appreciated. Liberty training? Intelligent horsemanship? Short (15mins) walks out in hand without any gear on with one of my others? Just time fussing/ ground manners? Want to be doing something without overdoing anything

 

[LEC]

Nothing - you have done everything you should. Just turn it out with other horses in a herd and that’s it.

I literally don’t get this constant need to feel like you should be doing more. It handles, it leads and it’s good for farrier so

We have a 2yo on the yard (not mine) and tbh it’s already wrecked. It’s a pony cob but it’s on individual tiny turnout, it has developed atypical stable behaviours, it rears being led and boxes etc all because it’s not being managed like a 2yo. It’s being managed like a 10yo. It’s been fully clipped and it’s being lunged badly. Things I wouldn’t do. Ok maybe I might clip a patch but not the whole thing and have it rugged to the nines as causes long term immunity and metabolical issues. Not my problem but it makes me really sad.

 

[Maxidoodle]

Totally agree with LEC, turn away with others and don’t do anything, let the baby be a baby, it’s only rising 2.

 

[ihatework]

Literally nothing more. Turn horse out in a group and let it grow up.

 

[Auslander]

i don't think you can overestimate how important the early years are for a horse to learn how to horse. I have a couple here that I strongly suspect spent more time doing human stuff than horse stuff in their formative years, and it really shows.

I have a rising 3 year old colt here, who spends 99% of his time in the field, and is brought in occasionally to chip a bit of mud off/have his feet trimmed/vaccinations etc. It's been really interesting watching him develop over the last year, especially in his interactions with other horses -I think he'd be very tricky now if he wasn't put firmly in his place by one of the older geldings several times a day! He's getting a bit big for his boots now, so he'll be divested of his testicles very soon, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he turns into once his raging hormone levels have dropped! Uncle Ollie is standing by to make sure he toes the line (Uncle Alf had him for the first 6 months, before deciding his days of managing behaviour were over!)

 

[bkneil]

She’s not rugged, she’s in at night only as the fields are so wet. She’s out with my older ones now but will be out with some young hunters in the summer once their shoes are off so she can play. I’m not wanting to turn her away completely having had consistent handling. I’m also not thinking of long reining or anything serious this year. When I said short walks I literally meant in a head collar round the farm fields or down the road for 10mins with another - Devon country lanes so it won’t be stressful. With her breed and also expected height I know she’ll mature later so I’m not rushing anything. I just want her to enjoy being around us

 

[bkneil]

Please don’t think by my post that I’m wanting to work her. Any interaction now should be enjoyed. I am fully aware she needs to be allowed to be a baby and learn to ‘horse’ first. As she has been handled I will still catch her daily as I’ll find myself back at square one if I completely turn her away.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

She’s not rugged, she’s in at night only as the fields are so wet. She’s out with my older ones now but will be out with some young hunters in the summer once their shoes are off so she can play. I’m not wanting to turn her away completely having had consistent handling. I’m also not thinking of long reining or anything serious this year. When I said short walks I literally meant in a head collar round the farm fields or down the road for 10mins with another - Devon country lanes so it won’t be stressful. With her breed and also expected height I know she’ll mature later so I’m not rushing anything. I just want her to enjoy being around us

I wouldn't bother I would just give her a brush and leave it at that, I started walking mine out at 3 he was just left to be a horse in a field up until then, mine went to the odd show in hand he was just pulled off the field bathed and loaded up then put back out again.

 

[bkneil]

Nothing - you have done everything you should. Just turn it out with other horses in a herd and that’s it.

I literally don’t get this constant need to feel like you should be doing more. It handles, it leads and it’s good for farrier so

We have a 2yo on the yard (not mine) and tbh it’s already wrecked. It’s a pony cob but it’s on individual tiny turnout, it has developed atypical stable behaviours, it rears being led and boxes etc all because it’s not being managed like a 2yo. It’s being managed like a 10yo. It’s been fully clipped and it’s being lunged badly. Things I wouldn’t do. Ok maybe I might clip a patch but not the whole thing and have it rugged to the nines as causes long term immunity and metabolical issues. Not my problem but it makes me really sad.

Oh wow, lunging a 2yo . That’s just plain stupid and literally encouraging physical problems

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Please don’t think by my post that I’m wanting to work her. Any interaction now should be enjoyed. I am fully aware she needs to be allowed to be a baby and learn to ‘horse’ first. As she has been handled I will still catch her daily as I’ll find myself back at square one if I completely turn her away.

As long as you catch her regularly she won't go back to being feral just because they are turned away it doesn't stop you from going into the field to keep up that interaction.

 

[Trouper]

A baby ID - how utterly gorgeous (even better with a picture ??), I really would not do any more than you are doing - minimal handling for safety/farrier and leave her to enjoy playtime.

 

[Patterdale]

They don’t go feral for being turned out.

My 2 year old is out in a herd. He got caught every day and tied up last summer, hasn’t had a rope on since. I know he’d be fine if I caught him today. He’s kind and happy and chilled. I wouldn’t dream of stabling him or faffing with him any more.

 

[TheMule]

Please don’t think by my post that I’m wanting to work her. Any interaction now should be enjoyed. I am fully aware she needs to be allowed to be a baby and learn to ‘horse’ first. As she has been handled I will still catch her daily as I’ll find myself back at square one if I completely turn her away.

They don’t go feral once they’ve had the basic handling.
You're ignoring the very sound advice of some very experienced people. Turning away doesn’t mean you don’t handle them, but you put her in an environment where her physical and mental needs can come first, rather than the convenience-led human environment you're currently enforcing on her.

 

[bkneil]

They don’t go feral for being turned out.

My 2 year old is out in a herd. He got caught every day and tied up last summer, hasn’t had a rope on since. I know he’d be fine if I caught him today. He’s kind and happy and chilled. I wouldn’t dream of stabling him or faffing with him any more.

She was very difficult to catch. Initially sold last summer having been well handled, turned away for a couple of month then wouldn’t be caught again. She might be alright now though as she was also funny with the head collar which she isn’t now. At the moment she’s always first to reach me.

 

[bkneil]

They don’t go feral once they’ve had the basic handling.
You're ignoring the very sound advice of some very experienced people. Turning away doesn’t mean you don’t handle them, but you put her in an environment where her physical and mental needs can come first, rather than the convenience-led human environment you're currently enforcing on her.

I’m not ignoring advice at all, that’s why I came here to post - to ask for advice. My question was should i or can I be doing anymore yet or is it too early. When people I know turn away, they literally do just that, don’t go near them for months so there is a misunderstanding there. I was reticent about writing the post because of replies like yours assuming I want to do it all now which is not the case . I don’t think I’m enforcing a human environment on her. They have to come in at night short term as the fields are so wet there’s no where for them to lie down. Otherwise she will live out unrugged and with 4 year olds when their shoes are off for the summer. The farrier happened to notice her feet and advised trimming soon to correct some issues

 

[bkneil]

A baby ID - how utterly gorgeous (even better with a picture ??), I really would not do any more than you are doing - minimal handling for safety/farrier and leave her to enjoy playtime.

Thank you

 

[millitiger]

My pair lead, tie up, good with feet and general handling.

My little cob is very keen so might do some walks around the village over summer.
My big warmblood x ID is much more backwards and a walk out would blow his brain so he does little 10 minute trips just to graze the tasty long grass around the arena.

I don't see the issue with spending time with them as long as manners don't suffer.
Mine spend all their time naked in a herd so I don't think their development is suffering with 10 mins here or there.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I’m not ignoring advice at all, that’s why I came here to post - to ask for advice. My question was should i or can I be doing anymore yet or is it too early. When people I know turn away, they literally do just that, don’t go near them for months so there is a misunderstanding there. I was reticent about writing the post because of replies like yours assuming I want to do it all now which is not the case . I don’t think I’m enforcing a human environment on her. They have to come in at night short term as the fields are so wet there’s no where for them to lie down. Otherwise she will live out unrugged and with 4 year olds when their shoes are off for the summer. The farrier happened to notice her feet and advised trimming soon to correct some issues

My 2yo was in overnight for a while and was brushed and handled quite a bit didn't do him any harm.

 

[BBP]

I’m not as experienced as many on here with youngstock but got my Connemara at 17 months, completely unhandled other than to get him into a stable and onto a lorry to ship from Ireland. He is now rising 3 but all he has done is hang out with the other horses and watches us do things with them. It’s easy to see other people doing loads with their youngsters and think you are falling behind, but I also watch videos of people proudly showing off their youngsters that they work with every day and a fair few look spoiled, as in they are mugging for treats, getting pushy, ears pinned and looking sour etc. Mine gets led in and out each day, brushed and feet picked maybe once a week (oh and he did have a small clip as he was sweating and madly itchy with his yeti coat) but he is so so polite and easy to do. Yields to pressure forwards back and side to side, follows the feel on the rope, and that’s all just through doing gates etc as he’s turned out (he switches from all weather turnout to grass depending on the ground). He will do bits in his 3yo year and then view to backing him at 4-5.

If she is a horse of a lifetime then there really is no rush at all as you have her 3yo year to get her a bit more used to the weird things humans do.

 

[bkneil]

Thank you all for your comments. Consensus seems to be I don’t need to do anymore than I am and let her be a baby till next year. The comment about seeing other people do all these things with their youngsters was spot on- it was making me wonder if I’m doing enough but it seems I am. When I worked for the stud they had 1 year olds rugged up and under heat lights, worked daily and the poor things seemed so miserable I felt awful for them - if I recall turn out was 30mins in the indoor school as they were expensive Arabs and weren’t allowed to ever just be ponies with each other .
I’ll obviously keep handling her and grooming as she enjoys it, she loves a good scratch and cuddle and usually tries to scratch me back but aside from that will continue to let her learn to horse till next spring.

 

[bkneil]

Not thinking of backing and riding till at least 4 as she’s going to be a big girl and I’m aware IDs don’t mature till later

 

[sassandbells]

Sounds like a solid plan. I have a rising 2 year old, normally do something with her every few weeks but she generally just lives out 24/7 with her friends. She’s good to catch, lead, be brushed / have feet picked & have a rug on (I wanted to go without but we’ve had some shocking weather!) in the hot weather last year she also got hosed down regularly, but this was just in the field while filling their waters.

I don’t just bring her to do the same thing either, sometimes she’ll come in for a thorough groom, sometimes we’ll go for a wander round the yard, sometimes we’ll do some in groundwork - this has been the best approach with her as she’s a very smart and forward thinking horse. When it comes to the summer of her third year, I’ll start doing a bit more. This has worked well with the past few youngsters I’ve had too, there’s a lot to be said for not over doing the handling!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Just twice daily handling of bringing in for a small feed and turning out again afterwards is grand. That works both for the nervous youngsters who need more confidence and for the bolshy ones who need to be kept in check - adjust your approach to suit.

An occasional brush off and feet picking out to keep them sweet for foot trimming.

 

[SEL]

Having been gifted a 4yo who couldn't tie up, wouldn't pick her feet up, was verging on dangerous to lead and had no idea how to be a horse (still doesn't and she's 13 soon) then I'd just do the basics, make sure they are nice people to be around, don't spoil them with treats and make sure they know their place in a herd. Mine went out with some off season polo ponies in her first winter with me and they told her within 15 minutes where her place in her herd was - their training was a lot more effective than mine.

I do feel for her even now in a herd though. She's definitely socially awkward.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Mine is out in the field. Gets brushed occasionally. Comes in once a month maybe twice to tie up and have feet picked out etc.

I would like to take him to a couple of shows so he'll do that this season. Other than that be left alone to grow and run about.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I did some inhand showing to let him see the world and inhand walks to do the same for making it easier to hack. I also did a little bit of obstacle work and desensitising with him but nothing serious. Other than the usual brushing, picking out and trimming of feet not much.

 

[Jellymoon]

How exciting, a full ID, well done!
There is huge value for us humans in the education youngsters get from the herd environment. The older horses can put a young horse in place for us and install manners very effectively. It’s a bit of a shame she can’t be out in the herd 24/7, but not all of us have that option, and at least she will be out with them in the summer.
I don’t see the problem with catching her regularly and getting her used to basic handling once or twice a day though. Or even taking her out for little walks…why not?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I have a rising 2 year old who lives out 24/7 365 in a herd and has since day 1. He had a big international move in October, but handled it well. So he knows the vet, leading, being transported, etc. I bring him in twice a week for a grooming session to pick his hooves and give him a look over or knock some mud off and remove various debris from his mane and tail. He stands tied for this.

Occasionally we venture into the small indoor school to play "football" with a giant exercise ball, walk over poles, play with or walk over a tarp, and pick up the whip (he has learned a "pick up" command). I've also stood on top of the mounting block to get him knowing the concept of me being above him. He also yields to pressure (moves shoulders over, moves hindend over, moves entire body over), trots in hand, reverses in hand, and is generally respectful.

He does know the basics of lunging. As in he knows how to be sent away onto a circle, how to change direction on the circle, and how to walk, trot, and stop on the circle. I can't say he's ever been lunged seriously or made more than 6 large circles in a session (not a regular thing) and I don't see that as soo harmful. He's never ran, took off, or really torqued around, but just gets the basic concept of it. I'm not much of a lunge person, but this literally took no time at all for him to learn. That's also the thing with him, he's people oriented and smart, so he learns things quick and often seems to enjoy interaction. So there's not much repetition. Things install quickly without stress for this one.

So I've probably overdone it according to many, but I really don't feel as though he's any worse for the wear. We may do an inhand comp this year, or trailer somewhere for an inhand trail course of sorts too. Otherwise we just stick to casual grooming and I think of little games/tricks/obstacles on the ground for him. I keep sessions short and positive. I think if his personality were different, I might approach this differently too. Sometimes I feel like Spanish horses are a bit dog like though

 

[Glitter's fun]

She is absolutely gorgeous. What a lovely head!

 

[maya2008]

I have two the same age. They went for walks in-hand for a couple of weeks last summer and will probably do the same again this year. Their training does not go away however long I leave them - can not catch for weeks then drag in for farrier, vet (or delousing shampoo!). Doesn’t seem to matter that I only grab them for things that are not particularly pleasant, they only seem to remember the polos on the way back to the field! I might show locally this summer for experience, but only once or twice.

When it comes to backing, I find underhandled better than over handled. You want them to respect you and not walk all over you. Easiest to achieve that by just leaving them be!