I have had my Appy turned away since Feb as he isn’t 4 until the end of July and I was conscious of letting his bones mature properly (especially as he was 3 weeks premature).

I have continued to work with him from the ground and we have become the best of friends. To be quite honest I have never known a horse to be soooooooo loving, so placid and quiet.

At the weekend I got a sense that he wanted more and so I thought that I would take him on a short hack walking around the farm. He was a star! We went out with his field companion and his mummy and he didn’t spook at anything – even when we came across a couple of diggers and a JCB.

THEN

I took him out again last night. OMG I think I have got a stallion in disguise!!!!!!!!!!!!

This time we went out with a Sec A with an 8 yr old riding, a Sec B with a 14 yr old riding and their mum on her cob.
We reached 500 yards and for no reason at all his neck swelled to double the size and he grew about 15 hands! He was snorting and his nostrils were flared and red. He was dancing on the spot (it has to be said, he does a lovely side pass ), I thought that we were going to bolt into the sunset.
I have full trust in him and at no time did I tighten my loose reins as I know from experience with youngsters that tightening your reins can have devastating effects.

Maybe now isn’t the best time to bring him back because the spring grass is so lush but it has to be sooner or later. He hasn’t had any hard feed for 3 weeks so he isn’t getting anything heating.

I have had quite a few youngsters in the past so it isn’t like I have taken on something that I am not familiar with BUT I haven’t had a youngster quite as lively as him.

Any suggestions?

being in a similar position, i am interested to see the answers to this one. obviously our baby horses have to out , and work with other horses.

Mine is on Top Spec clamer, and now at home will concentrate on his schooling.

We came a crupper at the weekend when we took him out to a training clinic.I now will lunge him quietly before getting on, to take the fresh out.

Getting out and doing,is the only way he is ever going to settle away from home. Letting them see whats out there of course is necessary, and they do get a bit excited!

Best of luck with him, he wil be a pleasure out as he is at home, it may take till he is 8 before it happens though. he is a lucky boy to have an owner who knows what she is doing.

Is he still entire? If the answer is yes then sorry but what do you expect, this had to come eventually. If he is a stallion and you have not had one before then get some help. If you don't intend to use him for breeding then why keep him entire?

Nope definately not entire.
This boy was gelded quite young as he had an eye for the girlies (so I have been told)

I have just got back from the yard and noticed that all of the prancing about has created a girth gall.......so no riding for him until its gone.

I am toying with the idea of lunging him for 20 minutes a day at the moment but have never been a great lover of lunging babies as their joints can't take the pressure of continual circles (sorry to any of you who like lunging, this is just personal preference).

The farrier came out to him today and has said not to let him get any fatter or I could have problems.

All great fun

Probably just the spring grass then making him full of himself. Heed your farriers warning well and reduce his intake of grass. Once they have the dreaded problem they are always prone to it. If he has to stand in a while or go on a less rich pasture then so be it. Do not starve him, just reduce the amount and quality (probably does not make sense that but I know what I mean). More exercise and more interesting things to occupy the mind, ground work, walking out under saddle and in hand. Tackling obstacles, riding with other horses etc. Good luck.

Is it because you took him out without him mum this time. My youngster some times is a right little mummys boy (were going to call fin pike from dads army)and my mare isnt his mum even though they behave like it.

If I take my mare out he shouts after her, she dosent care but he dose get a bit upset. Its the same when I take him away to a show he's was good but dose shout after her.

Post edited by: Land_Girl, at: 2008/05/22 07:33