Yearling Activities

[Gracie]

Hello everyone!
I was interested to see if anyone has any yearling activies i could do with my yearling! I've been spending a lot of time with her walking her to the road, making her step over scary things and introducing her to all new things an older horse would have to do! But does anybody have anyother good ideas? I sometimes find it hard to decide what to do with! And I'd like to keep her busy as much as possible! Thanks for any advice!

[Wally]

Don't overload a baby, they're like kids they can become jaded if you don't allow them to play and be babies. Just make sure she can be lead, she can pick her feet up and hold them there, and that she understands basic spoken commands.

[Graymalkin]

As Wally says, don't do too much with her - five or ten minute sessions are often enough with babies, and it doesn't have to be every day, either. In addition to the basics that you're doing, you could introduce the first bits of tack - try a numnah over her back (folded up small if she's nervous), or a rope round her belly to simulate the girth. One very useful thing is to teach her to stand on command and stay put while you walk away from her (useful for lunging, later) and step to her side (useful for mounting). There's also stuff like jumping up and down beside her (simulating mounting), standing on blocks beside her and so on. Most important though is that you let her be a baby.

[Gracie]

My horse is very close to two and I've done all this stuff with her already! Not to be rude, but if i didn't know to the basic things then I shouldn't be owning a yearling! I was looking for some simple things that would take a 5 minutes or so that are differnt then what everyone should know if they have a baby! I just wanted some new ideas differnt then the everyday actives! Thanks for your atempted try though ! :)

[Showjumper]

I've never done this myself with a youngster, but my friend has (he breeds Arabs!)

Teach them games which will come in useful for when he (she?) 's being ridden. Things like Follow-my-Leader are useful, as they teach leading skills, and obediance. He/she should obey commands such as walk (or Follow) and whoa etc.

How about football - this has no relevance to training but is FUN!!! :)

Good Luck, Happy Landings, and mostly, Have Fun!

[Queenie]

Hi Gracie,

With my 2 year old (now rising 4 !! where does time go to? ), I took her for walks out & about (no roads where we are) and just wandered around the yard/indoor school with her. She followed me stepping over ground poles, walking between them and by herself. You could set up a type of labyrinth when she's a bit older. I rubbed plastic bags over her, opened umbrellas next to her and held them over her back etc.. Pretended to be the farrier, tapping hooves, holding her feet like he would. Just basically handled her, it's all paid off, I can touch her all over without a problem. Her favourite was when we'd stand and watch horses being ridden in lessons !

[fionahogg]

Just 5-10 mins a day goes a long way!
Does he load OK? What about PNH 7 games? Join up? (As suggested by Queenie) labyrinth work, fingers in mouths, stand for five mins to sort of imitate having her mane pulled? Make noises like clippers (preferably when no-one else is near - they'll think you've gone mad!)? Getting him accustomed to the noise a small set of clippers make (don't touch him with them obviously!) Water/puddles? Walking through ditches - stepping into them so he learns there really isn't a monster hiding in there? Ear/tail work to relax him? OK in a stable on his own with no other horses? Not ideal I know but if he has to be left for five mins alone in a stable you don't want him freaking out and injuring himself. Indoor arena work? OK with loud speakers etc? Use your imagination! So long as you are only working for five minutes or so there's loads you can do!

I think that the fact that this site is called 'Newrider', and you are relatively new to the board, people don't know what level you are at with your horses. Unfortunately (and I know some of them) even people with not even basic knowlege of horses buy youngsters (yes, even yearlings; they think its easy!) - you are obviously not like this but others may not have known. No offence!

Fiona

[Gracie]

Sorry guys! If i sounded rude about my thing about saying I already new that stuff! I just wanted new ideas thats all! What are PHN 7 Games? Is that something done more in the UK?
I've never heard of it! Hmmm are there any websites on it?
Anyways you advice was great, a few things i didn't even think of!'
Thanks again! ;)

[fionahogg]

Parelli Natural Horsemanship seven games are a series of games you play with the horse to build up a trust and friendship with him. They are simple to do but difficult to explain and I'm sure I'll make them sound so complicated! If you do a search then I'm sure there are loads of websites about it. Try to find one that Pat Parelli himself has something to do with. They're great fun and really work.

Fiona

[Wally]

These games will only work if the horse is ready. A baby needs time to grow and play and be a horse. A yearling in very young. LEt him be a horse for a while and play. So long as he can lead and back up and move over don't push too hard.