Youngster Training

[Spit That Out]

When you take your youngsters for their "experience walks" what equipment/tack do you put on them?

How far do you go on your walks?

Do you go on the roads or stick to the fields or even just the school?

Do you go by yourself or do you have people with you?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm going to start my just turned 2 year old on his "experience walks" He's had a bit in his mouth (no contact pressure) and a roller on and seemed fine in his stable but whenever i take him anywhere apart from his normal route from his stable to the field (in a headcollar only) he gets very snorty and hides behind me!!!

I try and lead him towards new things giving him loads of praise and encouragement and he'll now touch the jump wing and the mounting block with his nose but will still take a wide berth when walking past them!!!

Anyway, just wondered what your youngster routine is.

Thanks

 

[Cocorules]

For me just a headcollar and leadrope and just go as far as they feel comfortable with, without going out of their comfort zone. This can differ on different days and on the horse.

My first youngster was incredibly nosy and I tended to take her for a walk and then graze her at the other end and then walk her back again. I could take her anywhere including wide open fields and at the age of 2 a dual carriageway was being built very close to her field and we were allowed on Sundays to take horses along it and she just didn't get phased by anything she saw along the way. Even though she was and now at the age of 20 still is a very reactive pony.

My current 2 year old goes less far and taking her across open areas is not an option because I do not have any access to them. It is also harder to do grazing walks which do not have the grazing part close to her field. My 20 year old gets extremely jealous of the 2 year old's walks so the 2 year old tends to get a telling off when she gets back to the field. The 20 year old still gets taken for walks now and she still loves them.

At 2 I think anything they find enjoyable and they do calmly is fine. As their confidence grows they gradually go further.

 

[Blaise]

Well, i didn't have my youngster until she was 3 and she's not exactly been the typical youngster as she was untouched up until just before i had her but we started going on 'experience walks' about 2 months ago now. She's pretty unflappable and we can hack out for hours around our farm tracks so don't have to hit any roads unless we want to so i mainly lead her in her headcollar, but attatch a lunge rope instead of a lead rope. I put her bridle on underneath her headcollar though, and have the lead rope attached to that just incase i need extra control.

We go out for anywhere between 10-15 mins up to about an hour (i'm too tired to go any further after that, we have lots of hills!) We've been out on quiet lanes but mostly stick to out hacking routes and around the farm. She sees loads of cars, lorries, horseboxes, tractors, quad bikes etc... around the yard as there's loads of building work going on so i'm not overly worried about her being scared of much out on the roads so dont feel the need to risk it, but i think it would be good for them if they dont see much in the way of traffic, as long as they're with a safe lead horse.

I used to take Lola out with one of her friends to start with who i know is pretty much bombproof. Started out following her, then taking the lead, and now i'll take her out on her own and she's been fine. If your lad is still quite young and jumpy then i'd definitley take him out with another horse to begin with. Lola is definitley far more confident now though and i think all the walks out have done her the world of good. I'm hoping she'll be less spooky when we start hacking out now!

Good luck with your lad, keep us updated

 

[hudsonw]

If your taking him on the road, slap hi-vis on the pair of you and I would also suggest a name tag (like the ones dogs have) with his name and your number on in case he gets away from you.
Just take everything slowley and repeat until he's 100% with the fact it's not going to bite him on the bum!!!
Perhaps stick to the school and if poss an enclosed field until you feel you have control of him.
Try long reining him (will need a friend to help the first few goes) as this can give them confidence to walk alone.

 

[Spit That Out]

Thanks guys, I think i might put his bridle and roller on. Put a headcollar over the top with a lunge line and leadrope and take him in the school...start off somewhere safe.

However he did jump out of our lunge paddock which had a 5ft fence when i let him loose in there while i mucked out (Hubby just watched in amazement and panicked!!!) so I'm not sure if the school fence is much of a deterrent LOL

Still you have to start somewhere

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I have a 2yr old. She is bitted and I take her for walks in her bridle. She does wear a roller but I tend to leave it off for long walks. I take her on quiet roads and bridleways but I started short walks in a headcollar down a very quiet lane when she was 1. She loves going out and will happily walk further than I can! Quite frankly after an hour of going up and down Welsh hills my legs need a rest, particually as I like to go uphill slower than she does! I'm quite happy to take her out on my own but I often have company.

I really believe that you need to set the pace of training by how the youngster is coping.

 

[RSL]

When you take your youngsters for their "experience walks" what equipment/tack do you put on them?
I always use a lunge rein in case they have a "moment" this way you can keep out their way, I always you a dually halter, I have far more control in that then a bridle.

How far do you go on your walks?
First off I start little but often, so it could be 5mins down the road and back to get them used to it, then I will increase it, then do it a few times a day after a few months.

Do you go on the roads or stick to the fields or even just the school?
Always road work, I think tis important to have all horses used to road works and its better to start them young.

Do you go by yourself or do you have people with you?
I have no choice to go it alone but when I am first starting out with them its good to have someone there on standby.