Yearlings

Mine have travelled a couple of times and will hopefully get out to a show at some point this year. They've also lived with a few different horses in a couple of different places and are happy, confident young things. They are starting to have some 1:1 leading training with some obstacles and I frequently take strange objects into the field with me. But 99% of their time is just spent living out with others on 10 acres on the side of a hill.
 
Not much these days to be honest. Previously ive taken them out in hand, usually the futurity. It just seems to help them get their head around loading etc. Gives them a pleasant first trip out. Other than that, they spend all their time in the field with their buddies. I do bring them in regularly so they don't go feral
 
I was the jockey a while back for my friend's Sec C when she backed him. He'd been out to shows since a yearling and was one of the bravest youngsters I've ever sat on - he'd seen so much out and about that it didn't really bother him under saddle.

Mine on the other hand spent her first 5 years in a field and is still eyes on stalks about life in general....
 
I don't have youngsters now but when I did I found that by and large it didn't make much of a difference trying to desensitise them / get them out and about. Some horses are just naturally braver than others. I basically did what Asha did and kept them in a very big field with mixed ages. They would come into their stable each day for a feed and check over and would teach them to load.
 
Mines been to two shows, and i take him to my livery yard to play in the arena now and then. Other than that, nothing.
 
Nothing much, I visit all the time and fuss him, pick up feet etc but nothing more than that, the herd mine is in has to move every 6 month for grazing, when he moved we had to spend a few days teaching him to lead, have a headcollar on, go on the lorry but it was all really it was quite relaxed, I also brushed him at that point which I don't usually, I don't plan on doing much more with him till he is about 2.5 to 3 ish its just not possible in the environment he is in and I am happy with that.
 
Mine might go to a show or 2 if they look good enough to go and aren't going through an ugly duckling phase. If not they will go out a couple of times as a 2yo to see the world. Just to local shows.

I see some people traipsing the same poor yearlings out every weekend to every show! Up north one week, down over the border the next, 2 hours from home the day after etc. Its not fair on them mentally and physically! They need time to be babies and grow up not be fed up to their eyeballs to mature quicker - in theory.
 
Nothing! I expect the yearlings to be good to handle, pick feet up, stand for farrier, wear a headcollar and lead politely, if you can do that, in my opinion its enough, leave them in their age appropriate herds to have fun, play and be a horse.
 
daffy44 said:
Nothing! I expect the yearlings to be good to handle, pick feet up, stand for farrier, wear a headcollar and lead politely, if you can do that, in my opinion its enough, leave them in their age appropriate herds to have fun, play and be a horse.
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Mine does all that, glad I’m doing it right lol
He’s also been from wales to Dover, dover to Peterborough, Peterborough to Gloucester so travels well bless his heart
 
As a foal mine had lots of handling from about 8 weeks on, but only because he went completely ferel for a while. He also had a couple of outings with his mum.

As a yearling & now 2yo, he has had diddly squat - lives in a mixed youngstock & broodies herd and only gets handled for worming and farrier. That will remain the case until he is shipped off to boarding school!
 
I didn't do anything with my yearling really. Walked her in-hand a lot to get her used to a headcollar and being led but that was just hand grazing to bond as she was a scared little thing when she came from Ireland. When she turned 2 she had a bridle on and started walking out on quiet roads but mostly she was turned out in a herd to learn some manners and be a baby :) Unfortunately, I lost her to a brain aneurysm in April so cant comment on the rest of the process but she was a brilliant girl when i lost her :)
 
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