weanling training

[mercury]

I am not a beginner rider,but I've never owned a horse.I will be going to college soon,therefore I will be entering very competative horse competitions.The kind of horse I need(with the right amount of training)is out of my price range,so the only way I will be able to own a horse is if I get a sporthorse weanling.I am an avid jumper,but need tips on the training of a weanling up to the leval of jumping-such as-leading,trailering,clipping,picking the feet,longing,getting used to wearing a saddle and bridle,eposing him to all kinds of different environment.jumping jumps in a stadium and in cross-country while in lunge lines.If any trainers out there can give me any professional advice,I'd really appreciate it.Thanks-mercury

[intouch]

Hi Mercury, I'm replying to your thread not because I'm a fantastic trainer but because I have an eight-month-old sport horse colt and thought it might be interesting to compare notes if you do get a youngster.
On the other hand, if finances are a consideration, might it not be an idea to put the money you would be saving by not having to pour it into a hungry mouth, for a couple of years, into a three year old at a later date? I've given this a lot of thought and if I hadn't bred Sunny myself, I would not want to be keeping him doing nothing for the next three years!

[dreamer]

Alright, lets see if I can remember what was in your post.

Weanlings need to be handled, they should already be taught to lead, and have some experence with baths, cliping ect. but many don't. Most of the training for a weanling should be getting them use to new things, and ground maners. I don't agree with lunging such a young horse, but many people do it despite the risks to legs. You should how ever teach your horse to walk on a trailor calmly, clip calmly, stand tied and cross tied (so many people assoom that just because a horse is taught to tie, he can be cross tied as well and this isn't always the case) You can put light saddles on his back to get him use to it, and put a mild bit in his mouth to get him use to that, leading and being handled on either side, and hand walking and troting are great training for young horses, you can teach them the voice comands for walk, trot, and whoa, and depending on how fast you run even canter as long as it's a streight line and on good ground, then he'll be already for you when he's old enough to lunge. I don't start jumping till the horse is at least 4, but hand troting over ground poles, as a weanling, is a good exercise that can teach them many tings for when you can ride them, and when you can later jump them. Teaching the horse to have his feet picked up, and teaching him to back (not for long distances) and move his front or rear at a toutch or voice comand will also prepare him to ride. You can also teach them to come to a whisle, stand and ground tie on comand, and simpel things like that while you're waiting for him to grow up, and waiting for the time you can start riding him. Granted, you can aslo leave them out in the pastue and wait till their older to teach all this, but I've found it's better to each it as a baby when you have just a little bit of an advantage size wise if needed (wich it shouldn't be if the youngster was handled right, but i've ment a few that weren't handled right as a baby and I had to muscle for my safty and theirs) hope this helps, you can e-mail me if you want to and I'll try to help, I'm not a horse trainer, but I get to work with a friend's young stock, wich consists of a weanling, 2 yearlings, a 2 yearold stud cold, 2 ornery mares, and a stallion. And I have a small 2 y/o I'm training now, so I'll help if I can

[Clj369z]

Hi Mercury,

I bred myself a baby last year that is 1/2 draft and 1/2 TB and at 1 year old is looking like she will be a great looking sport horse. her 1/2 sister sold for $12,000 at three month old.

I bred her as a replacement for my mare when she is ready to retire. I have not clue if this baby will take to any of the horse activities I like or if she will lead me down some new paths. I won't know until she is broke and starts showing some preference.

By that time I figure I will have spent close to $12,000 in board, vets, farriers, tack and supplies and I will still not have ridden her. I don't knew if she will like to jump or be bold enough to jump. I would like to drive her, but I don't know at 1 year of age - will she be a safe driving horse.

What I also don't know - is what sort of accidents will she have before she is ridable which will limit what she can do. Yearling are both silly and stupid and there is only so much you can do to protect them from themself.

Yet I will tell you - it is very satisfying to introduce something new to her and have her say - so what.

My point is to please consider the costs and time spent training a young horse without knowing if this horse can do what you want it to do as compared to bying a trained or up and coming horse.

Cindi

[mercury]

Thank you for your reply,Cindy.I appreciate your words of warning :)!Having a yearling is a lot of work,but like you,am willing to risk it.I hope you have great luck with your youngster and hope it turns out awesome!Mercury