What would you expect a 2 year old to be doing?

[rowy]

Lola is doing really well now and i can walk up to her in the field and smooth her and take her for short 5 min walks just down the road shortly by herself and cars go by and she doesn't mind.
her feet picking is perfect and is much better than even Rowan. She moves over with "over" and a small poke on her side. and "back" with a small poke in her chest.
She has little brushing boots on with no problem (just on front) and has a numnah on with a loose fitting roller (its too big!) The other day i walked her over poles and she didn't like them to begin with and was still wary of them but bit better by the end (first and only time i have done poles with her so far) and even walked over tarpaulin fine (lol one foot at a time). she also lets me wrap my arms around her neck and put my arms over her back so im like half "lying" on her back but of course no weight. she is small so i can just sort of put my arms over real easy lol.

So I have only had her 7 weeks ish now and only been properly handled for about that long so is it too soon to bit her or should i wait a while and do it just after christmas?
the only thing i still need to work on is putting headcollar on. she is fine to let me catch her if i just clip lead rope on her field safe but she is still a bit cautious about putting her nose in the hole of a head collar lol. so she has to have a field safe on for longer.

Also, is there anything else i could be doing?
I want to make her really safe and fine so little kids can handle her later on.

[Anni~Bell]

In your situation, I would personally work with the headcollar first and once that is sorted, then start bitting her. There is no reason as to why you can't bit her now but work with the headcollar first as the last thing you want is for her to associate the headcollar with bad things (like bits) first and go backwards.
What is she like with grooming? If she is good do you have a little person that can come along a couple of times a month to groom her and fuss her. Would help her get used to younger children :)
Keep up the progress though.

[Smurf]

Sounds like your doing a fab job with her. I agree with Anni i would keep working on the headcollar situation, your gain her trust in no time :)

[rowy]

yea as i was writing it i realised i should be working on headcollar. i want her to be without the fieldsafe before the frost comes so will be really working on it.
i think im gonna get a pony bridle for christmas so will be ideal time to bit her then when hopefully she'll be good with headcollar.
good idea with getting kids to groom, unfortunately i dont know any around here :(

[My Crazy Clan]

I wouldn't be bitten her just yet, Especially when she needs work with the head collar.

I would be getting her out, taking her for little but often walks down the road, I think traffic proofing is the best thing for youngsters.

[CityLights]

dont really think they need to do much at all, all they need to be is safe enough to catch and handle and deal with thier legs that if they cut themselves you would be able to treat thier legs and that they are easy enough to trim thier hooves, anything else is just a bounus and dont really think makes that much difference with the speed you can progress them at under saddle and when you come to break them in

[impatient pixie]

You could introduce her to a rope halter instead of using a headcollar as they are much lighter and alot less scary than a headcollar I think.
Then once she is completely happy with the halter being put on/taken off, move onto a normal headcollar.

:)