Would you put a weaned colt with a 4 years old unshod gelding?

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I am starting to panic more and more about weaning...

Any opinions on this set up? It would mean they could go out every day (subject to the weather) in a field just the two of them if YO agrees.

Rebecca x x x

P.S. I am trying to find something more suitable, but I do not want to be sending him too far away because I would like to continue his education that I have worked so hard to teach him.
 
I think it would be suitable, when Orion was weaned the things that were important to me was that he was out of sight and sound of his mother, the fencing was suitable (ours wasn't but thats a livery yard issue
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) he had company and any company he did have were shoeless.
He was weaned february this year, and it went fine, just a few hiccups with jumping out and ducking under but soon settled. He was out with two welsh a geldings aged 4 and 5. After that the yo decided the two fatties needed more grass so little Orion was left on his own and is now turned out with his mom and auntie again at the new yard. fingers crossed so far there has been no suckling going on...
Hope you find a good set up for little troy, the four year old sounds fine though.
 
No, they have not been introduced yet, it would be quite difficult because Hannah does not get on with geldings at all. She is a very dominant mare and I fear she would kick his head in!

He is quite a quiet gelding, not a fighter although will play.
 
it depends on teh geldings disposition
if he's a nice sweet chap then i'd do it.

can you introduce them in side by side stables so they can "chat" for a few hours before turning out together?
 
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15hh... arab x tb just come home from being backed and he is a good friend's horse too.

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What would happen when she want's to ride it???? You won't be able to leave Troy out on his own.
 
As long as the gelding was going to stay in the field (not be taken out say to ride or do anything with really unless Troy was taken in also) I wouldn't mind at all - as long as they got on and either didn't beat the other up! If it was me, I would be introducing him (or whoever it turns out to be) as long as a month before actual weaning so you know they are compatible anyway and by that time, Hannah should easily accept the new one into the paddock with them.
Have to say, I would have preferred a younger companion cos they'll probably play better; the oldie might be too stodgy for Troy which is why I suggested maybe a local stud or other owner in the same situation as yourself.
Don't panic though!
 
Our local studs are a god hours drive away... and like I said, I would hate not seeing him and not being able to handle him.

The owner would bring both in if they were riding... although it would be primarily be them bringing in at night and me turning them out in the morning as I feed for her anyway.
 
I would have no hesitation in doing this so long as the gelding is easy going.

I am just about to move more horses into my little foal's field in the next week or two; she is just over a month old now. The geldings I am planning on putting in are; 5 years old, 12 years old and the other will be her father! They are all very quiet and she has met them all through the fence so I am hoping there won't be any problems.

It's always concerning when you make big decisions like this Becki, so I do understand why you are anxious. I remember when I was introducing the Aunties to Legacy when she was only a few days old.....I was worried but needn't have been as it all went superbly. My only reservation right now is that Legacy is so small, but I'll only do it when I have plenty of helpers around so that I can whip them out of there should anything untoward happen.

Good luck whatever you decide.
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Our local studs are a god hours drive away... and like I said, I would hate not seeing him and not being able to handle him.

The owner would bring both in if they were riding... although it would be primarily be them bringing in at night and me turning them out in the morning as I feed for her anyway.

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So Troy would still be stabled alone if she rides anyway?
To my mind, you really do need a 'field' companion not a working horse as a part time one for a newly weaned foal; some people will probably say I am too protective but I've seen and heard of too many avoidable accidents to want it any other way.
Also, would it not be better to send Hannah away during weaning? That way, he stays settled at home and she's out of sight and hearing which will speed up the drying up process too.
Have to say, I am not a fan of moving foals at weaning, I'd rather move the mare, they are better able to cope and hopefully, fewer accidents occur because foal is trying to get through anything to reach mare if she is still within earshot.
 
Ah yes that is a big problem then. All of mine know each other and have spent time in fields together at some point or other so it is generally easy for me to move them around if I need/want to.

Does your field have an adjoining field? Could he be put in there whilst they all get to know each other over the fence? Or is there any way you could put more than one in with them? That way she won't be able to victimise just him on his own?
 
She is a very difficult horse in the field unfortunately, and I do not want to risk anyone else's horse with her (she goes out with mares absolutely fine but there is no mare suitable for them!).

Even when the other horse is ridden, Troy will be in the yard with lots of others as in winter we have alternate days turnout (mares one day, geldings the next) sp there will aways be horses in when he is in.

There is no where suitable to send Hannah away to nearby, and it would not solve the problem with Troy as it is him that needs a companion. Hannah is not really too bothered about him anymore, in fact she quite enjoys her 'away time' and never shouts for him and doesn't even greet him when she comes back!

There is a possibility that they could be put in adjoining fields, but it is all hedged and only a small gate where they could touch. Han is not bothered when there is something between them, it is when they are in the same field which is the problem.
 
I know you said you don't want Troy to go to a stud, but couldn't he go to one for just a few months? It would be very good for him aswell to socialise with other youngsters.

Like others said i wouldn't have a problem at all at putting the gelding with him as long as hes easy going, its just the taking him out and leaving Troy.

Why does everything have to be so complicated, eh?!
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lol. Just don't panick everything will be fine and you will make the best decision for him.
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He could, but the ones near to me seem to just put them in a barn...

At least if he stayed at home he would be getting out every day in the field. I don't want him getting too attached to the other gelding, so I would like them to be apart for a while really too, but maybe that is because I had so many attachment issues with Grace.
 
Oh no, i wouldn't like that either, youngsters need to be out as much as possible. What you really need is another livery to move on to your yard who has a mare and foal
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Hope you find the solution.
 
I know... I keep thinking that but it is not going to happen any time soon, mainly because I have the two foaling boxes
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I am getting really worried about it. I think I sort of tried to forget about it for as long as possible and now I have realised we are half way there it is become quite important. Plus, I am worried that there is no one really there to do the livery if I am struggling, although I have a friend who could bring Troy in if he continues to be a good boy in his leading work.
 
I would really put him somewhere we here has a permenant friend, weaning is traumatic enough for them and to then have someone else who he bonds with taken away can really cause them worry and stress.

My foal was weaned at the beginning of December and went in to a barn, although he was on his own he was surrounded by other horses, could sniff, run around and was very happy. He has now been turned out with a 3yr old pony and is very very happy, runs round all day, has play fights and generally is enjoying growing up!

Personally I would rather leave him somewhere we he can bond and play with his friend without having to be left or moved. Plus all the groundwork you do in the first 6 months stays with them, I really thought my chap wouldnt remember anything that he was taught, however the day we moved him up to his new field, he went in the trailer first without any question!
 
Should be fine! When W was weaned last year he was put into the field with 18yo NF gelding, Blue (6yo irish gelding and the 'boss'), 8yo belgium gelding and 13yo wb. He was fine!
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Well W and his mum had been in the field next to the boys for a couple of months so they'd already 'met' over the fence so to speak.

We just put him out with them and made sure we moved his mum to a different field further away so he didn't try to jump the fence to get back with her
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he lived there with them quite happily until recently with the NF being his 'buddy' through the winter just gone and now him and his mum and NF have moved down the road, and W has now just been gelded at 2yo
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Couldnt you buy yourself another weanling - nf perhaps? Youngsters need to play with other youngsters there really is no substitute. Sorry - probably not what you wanted to hear.
 
Definitely not got the money to buy another one... already have three as it is once Troy is weaned! Plus I am on a livery yard, so could not afford the upkeep of four and the time would be a real problem.
 
Breeding is expensive unfortuantely - if you cant afford the upkeep of another youngster and you have no friends in the same situation it seems you have no alternative but to send him to a stud. I wouldnt worry to much about continuing his education - I have been following your posts and it seems that you have laid down some incredibly good foundations. It is better for a pony to have no handling than bad handling, so going to stud and living out with a group of youngsters would do him no harm. Also you have made such a good job of his education so far surley it would be wrong to not allow him to have a proper "horse education" as well? Hope this made sense and hasnt offended.
 
if the 4yo is gentle and not a kicker and they are well settled next to each other in the field/stable then yes cautiously i would.as he is young i would prehaps try having mum and baby next door to the 4yo for 4 weeks before you try having troy and 4yo next to mum(unless you think she may get upset or he may try to get back to her-although most babies are so made up to have a new horse to climb on they forget mum!)
if the 4yo has ever kicked or shown aggression i wouldnt risk it.
i was terrified half to death when bey went out with another horse for the 1st time-a 8yo arab.he was so gentle with her they got on fine.shes now with another gelding ive got on loan and they get on fine.introduced them over a fence 1st.
 
This horse is very gentle... which is part of the reason I have thought of him, not just because he is unshod. But what is more important to me is that he is a baby too and he still wants to play although no horses in the geldings field will play with him
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