If you HAD to choose (stabling vs turnout for a weanling/ yearling)...UPDATED in #19

calikismet · 11-02-2009, 01:43 PM

Hi all --

About 2 months ago, we were blessed with a 6-month old colt (now gelding) pony. He is a wonderful, amazing Welsh baby that is going to be my now-5-year-old daughter's dressage/ hunter pony. Normally, I never would have advocated a baby for a baby (i.e. a foal for a young child); but he is simply amazing, and is a very gentle "old soul." At now 7 month old, he can already halter, walk nicely on the line, move away from you on a long line, work in the round pen (a circle or 2 each direction -- I know he's a baby), bathe, stand for the farrier/ trimmer and trailer. A lot of that is just his nature; and a lot is work I have done with him over the last 2 months.

So here is our dilemma... we live in Southern California where land is scarce and expensive.. so having acres and acres of land and turnout is rare.

He is currently in a facility where he lives in a 24x24 mare motel, with turn out on about 1/2 acre for about 3-4 hours/ day. The facility does the turnouts, so I am not reqd to be there for that. There are no other babies there, so no playing, but he does run along the fence line for about 10-20 mins with the neighboring turnout horse. But he gets turnout for long stretches of time.

However, he is 15 mins (one way) from me, and I am finding it VERY hard to get over to see him, plus dedicate the time I need to my own mare (who I compete in dressage), plus all of the other normal stuff (work, kids' activities, gym, etc). I am doing it, but with the daylight now gone at 5:30 (and getting earlier), I am VERY concerned about maintaining this schedule without going batty.

I have the option of moving him to a facility literally a block from where I keep my mare (my parent's house). Note -- I can't move him to my parent's, as the subdivision only allows 4 horses, and they have that. But he'll be RIGHT down the street, and at the same facility where I often work my mare anyway, so time will not be an issue anymore.

However, although I'll move him to a 24x48 paddock, he'll lose the long turnouts. I'll have to do turnouts with him, prob limited to 30 mins twice a day (maybe longer on weekends, as I can take a book and hang out with him in the turnout pens). But we'll lose the long stretches of turnouts.

So the upside of where he is: the turnouts...

The downside of where he is: my increasing inability to balance it all and ensure that he gets the attention and daily interaction he needs to grow to a kind and well-behaved gentleman for my daughter (which requires small "lessons" all the time, as well as exposure to new stuff).

The upside of moving him: he'll be literally a block from where I go anyway to see my mare, and to do my chores there. Plus, I can integrate him into our "herd" by walking him to my parents, and letting him hang out with the "big guys." I can also start introducing ponying to him behind my dad's horse.

The downside: turnouts limited to about 30 mins/ day.

So in your opinion/ experience, what is more important for a baby (who needs to grow up to be a nice boy for a child)? Long turnouts where he can run and develop his legs (which I know is important), but interactions with us prob 3-4 times/ week? Or daily lessons, interactions with us, etc, but less turnout?

As an aside, he is a very social little man, and has already bonded with me quite well thru our time together. He nickers at me now when I call him, and he wants to be near me when we are just hanging out... he also loves my daughter, and I am doing all I can to have her involved in his care (brushing, hoof picking etc).

Amber.Molly · 11-02-2009, 01:52 PM

I personally wouldn't keep a young horse in a stall... but that's just me! I feel that at that age, they should be allowed to just be a horse.

Tough decision, but sounds like your positives are outweighing the negatives for you!

Blondehorse · 11-02-2009, 02:04 PM

I've got to agree with Amber here-- I wouldn't stall a baby. It's so important for them to get lots of free exercise out in a pasture or paddock.

It's a hard choice, I'm sure... are there some activities in your life that could possibly be cut out so that you have more time for the colt?

ParkedOut · 11-02-2009, 02:06 PM

Turnout, definitely.

calikismet · 11-02-2009, 02:09 PM

Thanks, everyone. Note that he is not currently in turn-out 24 hours/ day.... so it's not an all-or-nothing thing (i.e. all turnout vs all stabling). If I move him, he'll double his paddock, but drop turnout from 3-4 hours/ day to about 30 mins/ day.

I agree that turnout is important, and therefore the reason for my dilemma...

TrailBlazer · 11-02-2009, 02:10 PM

I would agree with Amber as well but I am a firm believer in turn out over stall when ever possible anyway.

rwinksters · 11-02-2009, 02:15 PM

I'm pretty sure that your baby will be just fine not getting a ton of attention from you this winter. I know a lot of people that will turn their babies out in huge pastures and "forget" about them while they're doing some growing. So I think your munchkin would be best being a baby for a while and letting him have the extended turnout. You can always move him later when his real training starts.

hamerface · 11-02-2009, 02:17 PM

I would keep him where he is. It is good for him to have turnout time and room to run and develop those muscles and ligaments. It is important for a youngster to just simply be a horse as others have said.

Fifteen minutes isn’t that far, If you made yourself a schedule I am sure you will find the time to see him 3-4 x per week.
Those are my thoughts. I know it would be easier and convenient to have him near your mare, but IMO for the time being it will be better for his well being to keep him where he is.

REINING CHICK · 11-02-2009, 02:25 PM

i just got my weanling and he is stalled. BECAUSE he is not that tammed. hes still a little to wild for my liking. now once im able to not have a race out in the pasture trying to catch him. then ill turn him out. but until then its stall only and hand walking.
now my yearling, gets turned out daily for about 3-4 hours a day. at night and during the day he is in his stall. afternoons hes turned out .

noreins · 11-02-2009, 02:35 PM

Turnout is always best for babies. Mine was a little wild and skittish at first but now she is the biggest 'in your pocket' baby ever. (In response to the post above mine)

But fifteen minutes really isn't far (I drive that far to town everyday) And is worth the baby having room to run

11-02-2009, 01:52 PM	#2
Amber.Molly Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,433 Images: 306 Blog Entries: 127	I personally wouldn't keep a young horse in a stall... but that's just me! I feel that at that age, they should be allowed to just be a horse. Tough decision, but sounds like your positives are outweighing the negatives for you! __________________ ♥ I have a G.E.M ♥

11-02-2009, 02:04 PM	#3
Blondehorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,786 Images: 295 Blog Entries: 14	I've got to agree with Amber here-- I wouldn't stall a baby. It's so important for them to get lots of free exercise out in a pasture or paddock. It's a hard choice, I'm sure... are there some activities in your life that could possibly be cut out so that you have more time for the colt? __________________ PA Khavele (*Furno Khamal x Nomevelle) '95 Arabian mare AKA Val JB Nikhovelli (Zars Nike x PA Khavele) '09 Arabian colt AKA Tariq

11-02-2009, 02:10 PM	#6
TrailBlazer Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 1,177	I would agree with Amber as well but I am a firm believer in turn out over stall when ever possible anyway. __________________ All I pay my psychiatrist is cost of feed and hay, and She'll listen to me any day!

11-02-2009, 02:25 PM	#9
REINING CHICK Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 734 Images: 28	i just got my weanling and he is stalled. BECAUSE he is not that tammed. hes still a little to wild for my liking. now once im able to not have a race out in the pasture trying to catch him. then ill turn him out. but until then its stall only and hand walking. now my yearling, gets turned out daily for about 3-4 hours a day. at night and during the day he is in his stall. afternoons hes turned out . __________________ AQHA Reining Mare-U R AHOLLYWOOD STAR APHA Halter Colt- Barlinks Premenition APHA Halter Colt- Barlinks Classic Style

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11-02-2009, 01:43 PM	#1
calikismet Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 15 Images: 2	If you HAD to choose (stabling vs turnout for a weanling/ yearling)...UPDATED in #19 Hi all -- About 2 months ago, we were blessed with a 6-month old colt (now gelding) pony. He is a wonderful, amazing Welsh baby that is going to be my now-5-year-old daughter's dressage/ hunter pony. Normally, I never would have advocated a baby for a baby (i.e. a foal for a young child); but he is simply amazing, and is a very gentle "old soul." At now 7 month old, he can already halter, walk nicely on the line, move away from you on a long line, work in the round pen (a circle or 2 each direction -- I know he's a baby), bathe, stand for the farrier/ trimmer and trailer. A lot of that is just his nature; and a lot is work I have done with him over the last 2 months. So here is our dilemma... we live in Southern California where land is scarce and expensive.. so having acres and acres of land and turnout is rare. He is currently in a facility where he lives in a 24x24 mare motel, with turn out on about 1/2 acre for about 3-4 hours/ day. The facility does the turnouts, so I am not reqd to be there for that. There are no other babies there, so no playing, but he does run along the fence line for about 10-20 mins with the neighboring turnout horse. But he gets turnout for long stretches of time. However, he is 15 mins (one way) from me, and I am finding it VERY hard to get over to see him, plus dedicate the time I need to my own mare (who I compete in dressage), plus all of the other normal stuff (work, kids' activities, gym, etc). I am doing it, but with the daylight now gone at 5:30 (and getting earlier), I am VERY concerned about maintaining this schedule without going batty. I have the option of moving him to a facility literally a block from where I keep my mare (my parent's house). Note -- I can't move him to my parent's, as the subdivision only allows 4 horses, and they have that. But he'll be RIGHT down the street, and at the same facility where I often work my mare anyway, so time will not be an issue anymore. However, although I'll move him to a 24x48 paddock, he'll lose the long turnouts. I'll have to do turnouts with him, prob limited to 30 mins twice a day (maybe longer on weekends, as I can take a book and hang out with him in the turnout pens). But we'll lose the long stretches of turnouts. So the upside of where he is: the turnouts... The downside of where he is: my increasing inability to balance it all and ensure that he gets the attention and daily interaction he needs to grow to a kind and well-behaved gentleman for my daughter (which requires small "lessons" all the time, as well as exposure to new stuff). The upside of moving him: he'll be literally a block from where I go anyway to see my mare, and to do my chores there. Plus, I can integrate him into our "herd" by walking him to my parents, and letting him hang out with the "big guys." I can also start introducing ponying to him behind my dad's horse. The downside: turnouts limited to about 30 mins/ day. So in your opinion/ experience, what is more important for a baby (who needs to grow up to be a nice boy for a child)? Long turnouts where he can run and develop his legs (which I know is important), but interactions with us prob 3-4 times/ week? Or daily lessons, interactions with us, etc, but less turnout? As an aside, he is a very social little man, and has already bonded with me quite well thru our time together. He nickers at me now when I call him, and he wants to be near me when we are just hanging out... he also loves my daughter, and I am doing all I can to have her involved in his care (brushing, hoof picking etc). Last edited by calikismet; 11-03-2009 at 06:34 AM.

11-02-2009, 02:09 PM	#5
calikismet Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 15 Images: 2	Thanks, everyone. Note that he is not currently in turn-out 24 hours/ day.... so it's not an all-or-nothing thing (i.e. all turnout vs all stabling). If I move him, he'll double his paddock, but drop turnout from 3-4 hours/ day to about 30 mins/ day. I agree that turnout is important, and therefore the reason for my dilemma...

11-02-2009, 02:15 PM	#7
rwinksters Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Quantico, Virginia. Posts: 1,282 Images: 18	I'm pretty sure that your baby will be just fine not getting a ton of attention from you this winter. I know a lot of people that will turn their babies out in huge pastures and "forget" about them while they're doing some growing. So I think your munchkin would be best being a baby for a while and letting him have the extended turnout. You can always move him later when his real training starts.

11-02-2009, 02:17 PM	#8
hamerface Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Western Alberta Posts: 448 Images: 4	I would keep him where he is. It is good for him to have turnout time and room to run and develop those muscles and ligaments. It is important for a youngster to just simply be a horse as others have said. Fifteen minutes isn’t that far, If you made yourself a schedule I am sure you will find the time to see him 3-4 x per week. Those are my thoughts. I know it would be easier and convenient to have him near your mare, but IMO for the time being it will be better for his well being to keep him where he is.