Training my Yearling

Pumpkinpie7 · 08-04-2006, 10:42 AM

I have a baby girl horse that is 1year and 4 months old and ive never really trained a baby horse can anyone help me. What should i be doing with her and when can i put a saddle on her or ride her

megan_kat22 · 08-04-2006, 11:21 AM

you have a lot to learn and do. do a search on it, read up , do some major research. you have a lot of work ahead of you!

cjohns · 08-04-2006, 11:39 AM

I have a 14 mo old horse that I am trying to work with too. He's very friendly and can do most of the ordinary things. Like lead, pick up his feet, bathes well.

I know some people on here would disagree, but I can put a SMALL kids saddle on him and he's perfectly fine. You just don't want to put any weight on him too soon. I just wanted him to get used to having something put on him and it's very lightweight. I think they have "dummy" saddles that you can use for that too.

Good Luck....I will be needing it too.

ponylover · 08-04-2006, 11:57 AM

I wouldn't be thinking about getting on her at a year and 4 months!
is leading perfect?Does she lunge?Does she ground drivE?Does she trailer?Does she go up and down the road/trail in hand?Is she good at liberty?Good with the farrier?Does she let you touch her anywhere?Does she clip well?Have you introduced her to scary things ie tarp garbage bag?
those are all things that she should have DOWn pat before you even THINK about getting on her and a year and 4 months is early to be getting on them.I have a 2.5 year old POA gelding and he still hasnt taking to the bit very well on the ground so i wont get on him until he does.He lunges and does all the above taht i listed really well.He doenst care if you put a gabarge bag over him or wrap him in a tarp.These are things you want them to be fine with on the ground so when a bag comes blowing by on a windy day they are fine.There ground manners should Be PERFECT if they walk all over you on the ground they will in the saddle.

cjohns · 08-04-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponylover

I wouldn't be thinking about getting on her at a year and 4 months!
is leading perfect?Does she lunge?Does she ground drivE?Does she trailer?Does she go up and down the road/trail in hand?Is she good at liberty?Good with the farrier?Does she let you touch her anywhere?Does she clip well?Have you introduced her to scary things ie tarp garbage bag?
those are all things that she should have DOWn pat before you even THINK about getting on her and a year and 4 months is early to be getting on them.I have a 2.5 year old POA gelding and he still hasnt taking to the bit very well on the ground so i wont get on him until he does.He lunges and does all the above taht i listed really well.He doenst care if you put a gabarge bag over him or wrap him in a tarp.These are things you want them to be fine with on the ground so when a bag comes blowing by on a windy day they are fine.There ground manners should Be PERFECT if they walk all over you on the ground they will in the saddle.

That's pretty good stuff. It's not my thread, but it's going to help me out alot with my yearling too. Thanks

katylynn06 · 08-04-2006, 01:01 PM

I am in the middle of training our yearling and I did a thread search on this forum and it was very helpful. Our yearling leads, ties, lunges, picks up hoofs for farrier, bathes, backs up, comes when he sees us coming (a good thing.) has had a saddle on and lunged with it. You can touch him all over and he loves the attention. I can just look at his butt and he will yield it. (move it over). Has learned to respect the whip and not be afraid of it. Will walk over a piece of plywood. When we got him in March he had just turned a year and he wasn't even halter trained and we trained him in no time. He is a willing horse and loves the attention. You can lead him to water and he drinks. So do lots of reading and have fun. But if you get caught on something don't hesitate to ask on this forum or a trainer.

prettyqtrs · 08-04-2006, 04:09 PM

Groundwork, groundwork, groundwork, and some more groundwork...

easy to approach in the pasture/pen/stall/etc
standing for a halter to be put on
leads well (forward and will back up)
gives head to pressure (both sides)
disengage hindquarters and forequarters
picks up feet (and stands for farrier)
stand for general grooming
stands for fly spray
introduce clipping
stands for bathing
wears fly mask
load and unload from trailer
start standing tied
walking near, by, and on/over tarps, wood planks, etc.
walk around in new area/surroundings calmly

There's more but that'll give you a good start. Don't worry about starting your filly under saddle for another 1-2 years. I'd make sure every and any bit of groundwork is done. Next year, if she is ready, I'd start putting a saddle on her, a bit in her mouth, etc and do your groundwork while she is tacked up. Then as a 3 year old you can start under saddle. Remember, getting a professional trainer is also an option. Its better to do it right the first time, know what you are doing, etc versus doing it wrong and having to "fix" it later on. If you do look for a trainer, I'd suggest finding one that will work with both you and the horse.

Best wishes!

ponylover · 08-04-2006, 11:13 PM

everything should be perfect on the ground before you move onto to underasddle work.And if its not you will run into problems really soon under saddle

mandiemoo · 08-04-2006, 11:52 PM

wow u have a lot of work ahead of you. i hope u have people around that are able to help you and offer you advice and help you out. yeh i agree groundwork is the most important thing. i wouldnt even try getting on untill she was 2. do leading, tieing, bathing, floating, and all the other important things!! good luck

x_Relle · 08-05-2006, 03:30 AM

There are so many things you could be doing with your Yearling to prepare her for ‘Backing’ and ‘Breaking’. When grooming her, stand on a chair or something, lean over her back and pat her on the side and near under her stomach quite hard ( but don’t hurt her) as if nudging her on whilst riding. Show her a plastic bag and a few other scary items, and once she has sniffed them, rub them over her body so she won’t be fazed if she ever encounters them whilst being ridden when she is older. Put a numnah or saddle cloth on her back when she’s in the stable to get her used to one, she shouldn’t be as shocked and fazed by this if she has worn a rug at some point. What you shouldn’t be doing is lunging. As she is not yet two years old, her legs will not be strong enough to coped with being lunged as going in a circle will put a big strain on her little legs. When grooming her touch all over he body, ears, face, tail, legs, rump etc it will come in handy when she’s older. Go to the library and get a book or something or look it up on google as well. I hope it helped

08-04-2006, 10:42 AM	#1
Pumpkinpie7 Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 26 Images: 6	Training my Yearling I have a baby girl horse that is 1year and 4 months old and ive never really trained a baby horse can anyone help me. What should i be doing with her and when can i put a saddle on her or ride her

08-04-2006, 11:21 AM	#2
megan_kat22 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southeast Texas ;) Posts: 1,654 Images: 134	you have a lot to learn and do. do a search on it, read up , do some major research. you have a lot of work ahead of you! __________________ -Megan God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

08-04-2006, 01:01 PM	#6
katylynn06 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AR Posts: 1,655 Images: 189 Blog Entries: 29	I am in the middle of training our yearling and I did a thread search on this forum and it was very helpful. Our yearling leads, ties, lunges, picks up hoofs for farrier, bathes, backs up, comes when he sees us coming (a good thing.) has had a saddle on and lunged with it. You can touch him all over and he loves the attention. I can just look at his butt and he will yield it. (move it over). Has learned to respect the whip and not be afraid of it. Will walk over a piece of plywood. When we got him in March he had just turned a year and he wasn't even halter trained and we trained him in no time. He is a willing horse and loves the attention. You can lead him to water and he drinks. So do lots of reading and have fun. But if you get caught on something don't hesitate to ask on this forum or a trainer. __________________ Member of the 20lb club. 142lbs, goal lose 20lbs Ahhhh the smell of a horse. Who could resist. Proud Mom of a United States PFC Marine

08-04-2006, 04:09 PM	#7
prettyqtrs Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,129	Groundwork, groundwork, groundwork, and some more groundwork... easy to approach in the pasture/pen/stall/etc standing for a halter to be put on leads well (forward and will back up) gives head to pressure (both sides) disengage hindquarters and forequarters picks up feet (and stands for farrier) stand for general grooming stands for fly spray introduce clipping stands for bathing wears fly mask load and unload from trailer start standing tied walking near, by, and on/over tarps, wood planks, etc. walk around in new area/surroundings calmly There's more but that'll give you a good start. Don't worry about starting your filly under saddle for another 1-2 years. I'd make sure every and any bit of groundwork is done. Next year, if she is ready, I'd start putting a saddle on her, a bit in her mouth, etc and do your groundwork while she is tacked up. Then as a 3 year old you can start under saddle. Remember, getting a professional trainer is also an option. Its better to do it right the first time, know what you are doing, etc versus doing it wrong and having to "fix" it later on. If you do look for a trainer, I'd suggest finding one that will work with both you and the horse. Best wishes! __________________ 16 Ranch My Horses: Poco ~ BG ~ Xena ~ Star ~ Deville My Dog: Belle RIP Glenn (County) *You will be greatly* missed and never forgotten.**

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08-04-2006, 11:39 AM	#3
cjohns Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 565 Images: 107 Blog Entries: 1	I have a 14 mo old horse that I am trying to work with too. He's very friendly and can do most of the ordinary things. Like lead, pick up his feet, bathes well. I know some people on here would disagree, but I can put a SMALL kids saddle on him and he's perfectly fine. You just don't want to put any weight on him too soon. I just wanted him to get used to having something put on him and it's very lightweight. I think they have "dummy" saddles that you can use for that too. Good Luck....I will be needing it too.

08-04-2006, 11:57 AM	#4
ponylover Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Richmond BC Posts: 90 Images: 17	I wouldn't be thinking about getting on her at a year and 4 months! is leading perfect?Does she lunge?Does she ground drivE?Does she trailer?Does she go up and down the road/trail in hand?Is she good at liberty?Good with the farrier?Does she let you touch her anywhere?Does she clip well?Have you introduced her to scary things ie tarp garbage bag? those are all things that she should have DOWn pat before you even THINK about getting on her and a year and 4 months is early to be getting on them.I have a 2.5 year old POA gelding and he still hasnt taking to the bit very well on the ground so i wont get on him until he does.He lunges and does all the above taht i listed really well.He doenst care if you put a gabarge bag over him or wrap him in a tarp.These are things you want them to be fine with on the ground so when a bag comes blowing by on a windy day they are fine.There ground manners should Be PERFECT if they walk all over you on the ground they will in the saddle.

08-04-2006, 11:13 PM	#8
ponylover Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Richmond BC Posts: 90 Images: 17	everything should be perfect on the ground before you move onto to underasddle work.And if its not you will run into problems really soon under saddle

08-05-2006, 03:30 AM	#10
x_Relle Full Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In between Wigan and Bolton,Lancashire, UK Posts: 103 Images: 3	There are so many things you could be doing with your Yearling to prepare her for ‘Backing’ and ‘Breaking’. When grooming her, stand on a chair or something, lean over her back and pat her on the side and near under her stomach quite hard ( but don’t hurt her) as if nudging her on whilst riding. Show her a plastic bag and a few other scary items, and once she has sniffed them, rub them over her body so she won’t be fazed if she ever encounters them whilst being ridden when she is older. Put a numnah or saddle cloth on her back when she’s in the stable to get her used to one, she shouldn’t be as shocked and fazed by this if she has worn a rug at some point. What you shouldn’t be doing is lunging. As she is not yet two years old, her legs will not be strong enough to coped with being lunged as going in a circle will put a big strain on her little legs. When grooming her touch all over he body, ears, face, tail, legs, rump etc it will come in handy when she’s older. Go to the library and get a book or something or look it up on google as well. I hope it helped