what should I do with my rising 2 year old this year?

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am taking it all in.

windand rain said:
Too many good slow growing heavies are ruined completely because they are not allowed to grow steadily and quietly in a field I understand you dont have another youngster for her to play with but in my mind You shouldnt do anything with a two year old but maybe three or four shows The handling needed for those will be enough She sounds like a wonderful well mannered baby so why ruin all that buy pushing too far too fast. Her type she shouldnt be doing anything at all until she is at least four preferably five to give her time to mature and fill out and stop growing I dont lunge at all but if I did the horse would need to be at least 6 or 7 before I did. I do long rein prior to backing when they have passed their 4th birthday If you are patient you will have a lovely healthy horse if you rush her you could be building in joint problems and arthritis before she is old enough to do much. If you are in a hurry to ride buy a riding horse not a baby
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I am not in a hurry to ride at all, I am just wondering what I should be doing and what everyone else does with their rising 2 year olds. I have a riding mare as well, so its not like I dont have a horse to ride. Its general advice that I needs because I have never had a younster before
 
I have a 10 month old and hes good to catch, lead, rug and farrier. I like to teach ground manners from warly on with regards to my space is mine your is yours :-) With the farrier i have to walk him to another yard 10min down the lane and there yard is busy i.e. chickens, geese,peacocks and dogs running around which he now doesnt mind. When he's 1 and 2 all i'll be doing some inhand showing and probably taking him for the odd walk but thats it. Most of my work will be done when he's 3, apart from that he'll spend most his time in the field being shown manners and left to be a baby. I have another horse so i'm in no rush to back. Good luck with yours
 
rosie-ellie said:
I have a 10 month old and hes good to catch, lead, rug and farrier. I like to teach ground manners from warly on with regards to my space is mine your is yours :-) With the farrier i have to walk him to another yard 10min down the lane and there yard is busy i.e. chickens, geese,peacocks and dogs running around which he now doesnt mind. When he's 1 and 2 all i'll be doing some inhand showing and probably taking him for the odd walk but thats it. Most of my work will be done when he's 3, apart from that he'll spend most his time in the field being shown manners and left to be a baby. I have another horse so i'm in no rush to back. Good luck with yours
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Thanks for that. good luck with yours :D
 
Rising 2yo wearing tack?! I'd be doing ****** all with it apart from letting it be a baby, allowing it to grow and cause havoc as babies do. Yes do the very basic ground work - the stuff that NEEDS to be done, ie) feet, leading, worming and grooming etc but what is the need to be doing more? It doesn't need to see traffic or be long lined or get used to wearing a saddle. what is the rush these days for young horses to be doing something? It's going to spend potentially it's next 15years being a riding horse, if people want something to 'do something with' buy an older horse.
 
I don't think it makes much difference whether you leave them or do a few bits to get them used to life with humans.

You do hear people saying 2 is too young etc but I know loads of ex-racers still going in their twenties... One is 30 next year!

I personally think you are being pragmatic and sensible about it all. Mine is rising three now and although she has never had tack on and has been left to play in a big herd, she does know how to lead, have hooves trimmed, see dentist, vet and have boots and poultices and bandages put on (she is two and likes to whack her legs on things!! Aargh!). We have walked around the village, monitored the tractor and make friends with cows and dogs...

I'm leaving her for one more summer and then, we will start preparing for backing next winter/spring as she rises 4. She's a chilled out little soul, although definitely has opinions, at least in her head she is comfortable so far, with her life as a captive animal.
 
The wife said:
Rising 2yo wearing tack?! I'd be doing ****** all with it apart from letting it be a baby, allowing it to grow and cause havoc as babies do. Yes do the very basic ground work - the stuff that NEEDS to be done, ie) feet, leading, worming and grooming etc but what is the need to be doing more? It doesn't need to see traffic or be long lined or get used to wearing a saddle. what is the rush these days for young horses to be doing something? It's going to spend potentially it's next 15years being a riding horse, if people want something to 'do something with' buy an older horse.
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My filly is getting used to lorries, trains, tractors and cars etc, not because I am taking her down the road but because we are next to a train track, quarry road and on a farm.

I have an older horse and she is 15 and still has alot of years left in her (again - stubborn chestnut mare). I am not wanting to rush Breagha, just asking advice. I know this subject is a touchy one for alot of people as they have strong beliefs in what they think is "right", I am not saying any of the advice I have been given is right or wrong. I am taking everything in and will work on Breagha as and when I feel it is right for her.

I try and play with her in the field (to a point, as id break if she played properly) to have fun, she has a jolly ball etc id love to turn her away with others of her age but its just not an option where I live

tallyho! said:
I don't think it makes much difference whether you leave them or do a few bits to get them used to life with humans.

You do hear people saying 2 is too young etc but I know loads of ex-racers still going in their twenties... One is 30 next year!

I personally think you are being pragmatic and sensible about it all. Mine is rising three now and although she has never had tack on and has been left to play in a big herd, she does know how to lead, have hooves trimmed, see dentist, vet and have boots and poultices and bandages put on (she is two and likes to whack her legs on things!! Aargh!). We have walked around the village, monitored the tractor and make friends with cows and dogs...

I'm leaving her for one more summer and then, we will start preparing for backing next winter/spring as she rises 4. She's a chilled out little soul, although definitely has opinions, at least in her head she is comfortable so far, with her life as a captive animal.
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I have never had a youngster so advice on here and "some" people around me is what I am going off as I do not want to spoil her or ruin her. Had a hell of a time with my other horse (there is a thread on her somewhere about her) so would like a nicer, hopefully, smoother ride lol.

I dont think it would hurt to be introduced to things in their own time. Shes met sheep on the yard (few escapees in the paddock), dogs, cats etc.

Thanks for everyones advice.
 
Sorry didnt mean to upset you it wasn't particularly aimed at you just the number of people who have youngsters then want them to ride before they are ready You sound sensible enough and yes a slow introduction to things as the opportunity arises is a lot better than too much too soon. No doubt you will groom her and pop the brush on her back or bum at some time and that sort of incident because you forget she is young. Mostly I treat mine as grown ups without the riding or working side of it. I also find if you expect trouble you usually get it
 
So the youngster is still a yearling then? I dont really get the whole 'rising two' saying, it's not two it's a yearling.

I wouldn't be doing anything but lead, pick feet out, tying up and get used to a stable at that age.
 
windand rain said:
Sorry didnt mean to upset you it wasn't particularly aimed at you just the number of people who have youngsters then want them to ride before they are ready You sound sensible enough and yes a slow introduction to things as the opportunity arises is a lot better than too much too soon. No doubt you will groom her and pop the brush on her back or bum at some time and that sort of incident because you forget she is young. Mostly I treat mine as grown ups without the riding or working side of it. I also find if you expect trouble you usually get it
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No no, you didnt upset me. I am taking everyones advice onboard and I wouldnt push her if she didnt want too. She comes in to the stable block at the weekends to get brushed and generally pampered (the joys of a mostly white horse).

Shes used to me leaving brushes on her back etc, I stand on a step to put running plaits in her mane etc she is generally used to getting everything done that needs to be done on a day to day basis.

Once the better weather, back to getting her used to baths again :D

risky business said:
So the youngster is still a yearling then? I dont really get the whole 'rising two' saying, it's not two it's a yearling.

I wouldn't be doing anything but lead, pick feet out, tying up and get used to a stable at that age.
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Shes 21 months old.

She catches, leads, ties up, goes in stable, can be left in stable on her own, can groom, pick out feet etc

I wasnt planning on doing anything with her until her 2nd birthday anyway, apart from the everyday stuff and she will be going to her first show of the year just before her 2nd birthday. This I am sticking too that.
 
I think you're on exactly the right track with her and she sounds well adjusted and happy.

My 19 month old spends most of his time out in the field with his nearly 3 year old brother, BUT he is used to/has been carefully trained to being stabled, rugged when necessary, groomed, feet picked out, led, loaded, travelled (with a companion), plaited, bathed/hot cloth-ed, run in hand with in-hand bitted bridle on for very selected shows (but with the 3 way coupling also attached to the noseband), shown loose for the same, having the vet (although we are still in progress with desensitizing for IV injection), having his feet trimmed every six weeks; and having the dentist. His brother is exactly the same and they are two well handled and happy youngsters - and at nearly 16 hh and 17 hh and very intelligent full and part bred Trakehners they need to be well handled (!) The 19 month old has been to Futurity, 2 county level shows (carefully selected to have a calm atmosphere on the quietest days in the youngstock classes) and a formally judged showing bursary assessment day. He enjoyed all these outings and showed himself off very well, which was the objective.

Both of them will be started and very lightly backed when they are ready - probably in their 3rd year just to touch on the basics, then they will be turned away, done again at 4 but even then mostly hacked out. They will not start working properly (very gradually!) schooling until they are 5/6 and the training programme will be adjusted as necessary to suit their development and level of physical and mental maturity including the very important rate of skeletal maturation and when the final growth plates fuse (not until 6 in any breed of horse).

Good luck :-)
 
I have a gelding whos 2 in april and hes used to coming in at night, being groomed and rugged. Hes good for farrier, has been loaded in to a trailer a few times just to get used to it. Hes been for a few walks down farm lane and has done a bit of walking in and out of cones, over plastic etc.
I hope to do a in hand class this year.
He will not be over doing anything this year just more of the same with possibly a little long lineing towards the end of summer.
Op can not see you are donig any harm with yours. mine is out with his mates most of the time so I dont see any harm in doing a little bit with them as long as you dont over do it. Im in no rush to ride him just want to give him a good start
 
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