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OK. So. Here is what my question/discussion is.
My older horse is 24 (Appaloosa/TB cross) and very smart and not at all spooky. He also has arthritis in his back and in his hind left fetlock and stifle. Probably other legs too. He can't work too hard. BUT. He gets SUPER bored if I don't work him/ride him/use him. He needs a job or he gets grumpy and hyper. Any ideas?
Also. Baby is a yearling QH. He needs something to do until he is rideable. Once he's rideable, we will work through the ideas I have until one suits him. He can do anything pretty much on the ground. Jumps, does obstacles, leads, lunges, lunges/works with a saddle, can lay stomach on his back, etc. Knows most of the Parelli games (my trainer's program is a combination of Parelli and others). I need ideas on what things we can do on the ground. |
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Maybe you can try something like tricks or liberty with your old boy? |
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Sundown Ranch said:
Maybe you can try something like tricks or liberty with your old boy?
He is very good at liberty when he's been worked recently/is tuned up. And he knows some tricks, I just don't know how to teach new tricks. |
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<font class="mainlineblack">First thing that comes to mind for exercising the old horse is swimming though I don't know if there are facilities where you are.
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Game Moderator
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You can keep the old horse in work with slow trail rides and easy work. As for the yearling: He would be best if you get him a mate of same age and just let him be a baby horse in the pasture until he turns 3-4yo.
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I agree with Kuewi - maybe you could turn them out together and let the older horse be a bit of a babysitter. This is what we do with our babies and retired horses. The babies will run and play and our older retired gelding does a good job of teaching them manners and teaching them to come in for feed, be respectful, and other horse things. Plus it keeps the older horse active playing with the youngsters and gives the youngsters a solid lead horse to look up to. |
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For the older boy, pleasure ride him around the paddock. If he is in too much pain for that, lead him on the ground. Lunge him. Do some stretching exercises. Heck, just take him out and love on him. Sit on his back and do nothing. Just enjoy each other's company. I am not trying to be mean or make you sad but if he is 24, I mean, anything could happen. You never know what day will be his last. I am sure you've probably heard the same thing from a vet tho...
For the yearling, teach him some lateral stuff. Since he is a baby, you don't want to work him too long because they get frustrated easily. I would not recommend just leaving him in the pasture with a horse that is of a similar age because typically they pick up rude habits that way. Now if you take him out and correct those habits regularly then you should be fine. I personally pasture babies with older mares. They teach those manners real quick lol. If you feel like your older one might be okay with it, let them pasture together.
But as for work, like I said, lateral stuff. Moving just off the haunches, forehand, side passing. This groundwork will prove sooo handy when beginning to ride. Work on flexion. Lunge him until he is soft. Ask him to back up. Work on lunging in just a round pin. You caaaannn teach him tricks but I would not until he is older. This is because babies do get frustrated easy and if you teach the tricks too fast, they will use them against you. But like I said, people underestimate what you can go ahead and teach yearlings while not overworking them. Bonding is also easy at this age. But don't let him treat you like a pasture mate. No nipping. kicking, or rude behavior.
I did the mustang million when I was 11. I got myself a yearling. She did great! By the end, she made a great horse. She could do everything at liberty. Yes, she was still spunky, but all babies are. Just be patient and you can really teach them anything and by the time they are 2 or 3, you can start with putting a saddle on the back, and it depends on how fast they develop, but even riding. Best of luck for both of them <3 |
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Emmas Eventers said:
<font class="mainlineblack">First thing that comes to mind for exercising the old horse is swimming though I don't know if there are facilities where you are.
Rafter K Ranch said:
I agree with Kuewi - maybe you could turn them out together and let the older horse be a bit of a babysitter. This is what we do with our babies and retired horses. The babies will run and play and our older retired gelding does a good job of teaching them manners and teaching them to come in for feed, be respectful, and other horse things. Plus it keeps the older horse active playing with the youngsters and gives the youngsters a solid lead horse to look up to.
They are both turned out together in a 2ish acre paddock. But they still get bored. Old guy won't let baby get away with any crap. He knows what I allow and what I don't and he's taken it upon himself to discipline the baby when he steps out of line.
Equus Equine said:
For the older boy, pleasure ride him around the paddock. If he is in too much pain for that, lead him on the ground. Lunge him. Do some stretching exercises. Heck, just take him out and love on him. Sit on his back and do nothing. Just enjoy each other's company. I am not trying to be mean or make you sad but if he is 24, I mean, anything could happen. You never know what day will be his last. I am sure you've probably heard the same thing from a vet tho...
For the yearling, teach him some lateral stuff. Since he is a baby, you don't want to work him too long because they get frustrated easily. I would not recommend just leaving him in the pasture with a horse that is of a similar age because typically they pick up rude habits that way. Now if you take him out and correct those habits regularly then you should be fine. I personally pasture babies with older mares. They teach those manners real quick lol. If you feel like your older one might be okay with it, let them pasture together.
But as for work, like I said, lateral stuff. Moving just off the haunches, forehand, side passing. This groundwork will prove sooo handy when beginning to ride. Work on flexion. Lunge him until he is soft. Ask him to back up. Work on lunging in just a round pin. You caaaannn teach him tricks but I would not until he is older. This is because babies do get frustrated easy and if you teach the tricks too fast, they will use them against you. But like I said, people underestimate what you can go ahead and teach yearlings while not overworking them. Bonding is also easy at this age. But don't let him treat you like a pasture mate. No nipping. kicking, or rude behavior.
I did the mustang million when I was 11. I got myself a yearling. She did great! By the end, she made a great horse. She could do everything at liberty. Yes, she was still spunky, but all babies are. Just be patient and you can really teach them anything and by the time they are 2 or 3, you can start with putting a saddle on the back, and it depends on how fast they develop, but even riding. Best of luck for both of them <3
Yeah. I am trying to enjoy old guy as much as I can :) I work at a vet clinic part time so I am well aware of his age and health risks.
The baby can already move butt and shoulders and such. Working on sidepass. I want to do liberty but don't have the right pen/area for it. He lunges really nicely and does in hand obstacles. Also working on his fear of water. |
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Also what if you put a horse ball or toys out there? It might be a little something to mentally stimulate the little one as well as the older gelding. You could also pony the youngster off of the older one on trails and such to get light exercise on the older horse and let the youngster gain confidence on the trail with a trusty solid horse to look to when he is nervous. |
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That's GREAT! You don't want to introduce too much but if he is handling it just fine, go for it! You just have to read him because every horse is different.
If you've run out of ideas, just keep doing the same thing with him. Get him to where he will spin on his haunches. Get him where he will stop on a dime and spin around with the point of a finger. Strive for perfection but understand that it is okay not to achieve so. |
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