Iron Ridge is located in an otherwise typical residential neighborhood. The plan was simple: Heather or Nita would lead Jaz while I led Daltrey on a short walkabout down the less busy of their roads. Since they were both there, Heather led Jaz, Nita brought Ishka, and off we went.
I keep thinking that one of these days I'm going to come up with something that freaks Daltrey out, but that has yet to happen. No loose dogs, bicycles, wayward balloons, or other typical horse-eating suburban denizens crossed our paths. There was light traffic, and it had been trash day, so the street was lined with wheeled plastic trash bins. We investigated the trash bins, opened and closed mailboxes, etc. Not even a wide-eyed look.
We stopped at an overgrown easement and let the horses graze, then headed back, this time with Daltrey and I in the lead. What a big boy! He looked over his shoulder a few times to make sure his herd was still there, but he did well. Of course, the big test will be getting him out by himself. He still gets anxious when he's alone, but we'll build his confidence with little outings like this so setting out on his own is no big deal.
I'm taking suggestions for easy and fun things to do with him. Ideas?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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9 comments:
I don't know that your horse "needs" this, he sounds so calm!! But here's what I just did with my young Paint gelding.
http://thebroomtree.blogspot.com/2011/08/creative-training.html
Sounds like a boring walk-a-bout. Just the way we like 'em, eh? lol!
Good boy, Daltrey!
~Lisa
How wonderful to have a horse you can take relaxing walks with. The now deceased Arabian stallion Khemosabi went for walks with his trainer every morning as a routine and they bonded like brothers.
I've heard ponying is the best thing for a young horse. Glad he is responding so well!
I like to pony my youngsters, but that may not be feasible if you are in a residential neighborhood. Other than that, I just handle them regularly and let them grow up. D sounds so reasonable that I just don't see him doing things much differently when he gets older and is started under saddle.
Oh, there is something you can do...if you have a kid's saddle, you can get him used to being saddled. He's gonna be a big boy and it might be easier on you (or whoever is going to start him) to get him used to having it going up there before he gets much taller. ;-0...Wished I would have done that with the big bay. He may not have been able to take any significant weight on his spindly legs, but I should have spent the time making sure he was at least saddling before he got so mature.
I've ponied him once, but only in the arena. It isn't safe at my place or at the farm on the roads.
Already stuck my barrel saddle on him and it was a non event. He's 14.2+ but his shoulders are still narrow. http://barndoortagz.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-pony-time.html
He's a pretty good sport about everything so far.
Yea, I'd say you just have a really nice youngster on your hands Lea. He just needs to get old enough now.
Are you planning on starting him (lightly) when he turns 24 months or are you going to wait until he is in his 3y/o year?
Daltrey is a dream horse. There are a lot of scary things in a typical neighborhood. What a brave and trusting boy.
BECG, depends on exactly what you mean by "started lightly." I will definitely start lying across him, tacking him up, sitting on him, and longeing. He'll be physically able do those things, and I am fairly certain he can handle them emotionally. Anything beyond that depends on him. I'll take him as far as he seems ready to go.
The hard part is waiting and remembering that no matter , how sensible he seems, he's still just a very large doofus, a baby. I'm reminded of that every time I tie him and he can't stand still for 5 minutes or he wants to groom me when I groom him.
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