Dusty - My home bred Colt.....

[Houndsfield]

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l180/Houndsfield/DSC00731.jpg



This is Dusty my 17 month home bred colt. He's just come home from a friends yard (he went from weaning to 'play' with other foalies:evilgrin:).

He's unfortunately just done a 'Bambi' type injury - so is on 3 months box rest .... with about half an hour out in a small paddock just to stretch his legs! He's been good so far - but as he went when he was 4 months old, and he's now 17 months old.....it's like starting all over again.

Luckily he was well handled until his weaning, and is used to being halter led.... but I'm not too sure what else I can do now - apart from re-bond with him!! We bathed him on Sat afternoon.... he was ok - until he got bored, then got bolshy and went up on his hind legs..... when we put him back in his stable area, he tried barreling us with his back legs...that was a bit un-nerving!

So I'm panicking a bit that I won't be able to manage him:ashamed: Any useful tips or advice would be sooooo most welcome!

[daytona]

Ooo He is very handsome.

Not had much experience with youngsters but I would say just handle and bond with him as much as you can.
Get him used to standing and being 'tied' up, brushed feet picked etc.

I think teaching manners from an early age is important.

[gem]

He's lovely, beautiful colour :)

I guess with youngsters you just need to keep at it with a regular routine. Be the boss but obviously not too harsh, just firm. Play games with him (follow the leader etc) and spend lots of time grooming and walking about. What do you plan to do with him when he's a big boy?

Emm on here has a cheeky little lad too who she's done wonders with so I'm sure she'll be able to give you plenty of excellent advice!

[ness]

Very nice colt-I love Duns!

[bicky]

He's lush! Beautiful colour too! :D

[Houndsfield]

Thanks Emm for all the good sound advice - and to everyone for that matter! We've bred him to event - hopefully! He's 3/4 TB x 1/4 Cleveland Bay!! His mother evented up to Novice and went to HOYS doing Working Hunter! She's a Chocolate Dun (we still own her too!)....and Dusty is now our 4th Dun in a row.....!!! He's used to having a rug on, feet being picked up and out - he was trimmed at 10 days old lol!! But will get into a good routine with him now he's back home.... he's very gentle - until he gets a bit playful - that's when I get a bit scared (I know I must not - but it's hard not too!!!!). He stands around 14 hands I would think..... (Yet my daughter's other horse is 17 hands - and I don't worry about handling him at all!!)

[Loony]

Ohh he's just gorrrgeous!!!!

[beks the artist]

I have a soft spot for Duns - he is a handsome chap! I look forward to hearing more up-dates on his progress to maturity xx

[Houndsfield]

I only picked him up last Friday - so still very early days! All he's done so far is...... after my daughter and I bathed him on Saturday (he was greasy & had lots of old lose hair, needing to be removed).

He stood fine for quite a while, then started to try to lunge forward to get away from more bathing!! We managed in the end - us more wet than him!:lol:

When we put him back in his small stable - he lunged at my daughter, turning and fly bucked with his back legs almost in her face..... not a pleasant experience - although saying that..... none of it was malice - more high jinks!!:evilgrin:

BUT - how do we deal with it? Raised voice? Smack (Don't want to make him frightened of humans....)...... or what???!!!

[My Crazy Clan]

He is really lovely! nice breeding too, Baby's are playful and tend to try their luck now and again but really they mean no harm, just be firm but nice with him, make sure he knows mum is the boss., there will be ups and downs but your get through it, take him back to basics, lots of voice commands and groundwork, hes been away for a long time hes needs to get used to you again, lots of grooming and praises when hes good.

[Houndsfield]

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l180/Houndsfield/DSC00727.jpg

Thanks Rhea...... hopefully we'll move forward now he's home - nicely but firmly !!!!

[My Crazy Clan]

I'll be looking forward to a huge dusty post! :) hes just wow!

[CityLights]

bond with him but dont let him walk all over you, he has to know your incharge, a lot of people, usually less expereinced people have young horses and get to be all cuddly 'isnt he a cute baby he lets me cuddle him' and then the horses just walk all over him and then its four or five and its a right ******, a horse will respect you much more if you let them know where they stand,

if he does something bad tell him off, dont be worried about making him scared as long as when he is good you are nice to him, and give him fuss and when he is bad you tell him off and put him in his place then its fine, once he has decided it was naughty and he shouldnt do it make a fuss of him again and make friends, most even the shyest and timid horses get the idea that when they do something naughty you arent thier friend and when they are good they are given lots of love

he is lovely though i am very fond of duns,

[Evening Star]

He is gooorgeous!

[Houndsfield]

Hi Evening Star, Thanks for the compliments.... his mum is called Echo!

Thanks too Emm Great tips!!!

Was leading him in from the field this morning when a VERY LOW military airplane came over head - OMG.... I was waiting for his reaction, rear, buck, bolt..... but NO he just stayed still...... Phew!!:worship: