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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| A colt I'm going to start working with is being gelded (hopefully) next week, so that should help with starting him, but this is the first colt I've ever started by myself from scratch, so I want some outside opinions on some things. (I do have an experienced trainer on speed dial, but other opinions never hurt). He is a registered appendix QH, and we don't think he will get over 15 hands if that, since both of his parents were 14.2-15 hands.
He will be 2 in May, so will it still be ok to start him prior to May, or should I wait until after May to start riding him? I'm going to show him in halter classes, but he has not had the greatest care, so he is seriously lacking muscle from being stalled with little turnout for the first 17 months of his life, although he has been filling out in the past 3 months he's been owned by his new owner (a good friend of mine who is afraid to mess him up), what else can I do to bulk him up a little more? He's cow horse (http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/doc+halls+peppy), so he's not going to bulk up huge, but more filled out for sure. Should I try supplements or just pump him full of hay and grain and hope he fills out? I'm new to this, although I have retrained a horse from scratch, I've never had a blank canvas. All my trainer friends said this colt is the perfect one to start with since he is quick to learn, scared of nothing, and, hopefully, he will be more easy-going when he doesn't have the boys intact.
Ok here is the list of questions.
Will he be ok to ride before he turns 2 in May?
What are some good tips to add muscle to him if I can't ride him, and if I can ride him?
Should I get him supplements or just let the hay and grain add the muscle on to him?
In the picture, he is not wormy, he is just fat in that one area (we had him checked), and that picture is from late November 2013.
 (Scooby 1.jpg)
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
  
Location: Phoenix | If he's still that small, I might wait until he 2 or a little older. I mean, it wouldn't kill him to put a saddle on and ride at a walk. But anything more, I'd wait until he fills out a little more. He just looks really little. That's just me! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| He's about 13.3/14 hands right now. He has grown a little since this picture. Here is one from December, that's a standard size truck a few feet from him to help give a little bit more accurate portrayal of his size.
 (Scooby 2.jpg)
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Scooby 2.jpg (48KB - 190 downloads)
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  Independent Cuss
Posts: 3977
Location: Dearing, GA | He looks bigger in the second picture but I wouldn't go faster than a walk under saddle before May. My advice would be to start ponying him with a saddle on. |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| i would wait. quarter horses were bred to be more mature looking than they really are and he still looks very young in the second photo. if anything i would wait at the earlyest to start him under saddle late summer early fall with 60ish days then let him grow next winter. there is SOOO much you can do with young horses to prepare them without ridding at this time. for example i LOVE to get mine laying down before i saddle break them. Just makes there mind so much more gentle. I agree pony him with another horse to. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Mine don't get started till 3 their minds can handle more, and growth plates are more stable.
If you want to start this one, I would focus on ponying with or without a saddle, and work on ground driving. For riding I wouldn't ride for more then 20 min at a time especially because he was malnourished so he is going to have to catch up.
For food, I would feed a complete feed then add a little flax. Too much protein can be bad for these little ones joints.
If you want this horse to last, I suggest take it slow with training and the feed program |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24953
Location: WYOMING | I start mine at 18-20 months. Walk, trot... start slow on basics, backing, flexing, etc. I ride 3/4 times a week for only 10-15 minutes. Just the repetition of saddling, climbing on, walking aroud gets them nice and broke and confident. I dont pressure them just get them with some good direction. I ve been on and off my 2 yr old since Dec and just loped for the first time last week. This has always worked great for me.
I dont think your gonna put much muscle on your colt at this age based on the pxs... just feed hima good diet and let him grow naturally.
Edited by geronabean 2014-02-01 9:19 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | JMO I would wait another year on him, like a few other posters have said QH mature slower than they look like they are maturing and since he has already had what sounds like a rough start in life I would give him time to be a horse turn him out etc. Get him on a good complete feed made for young growing horses and enjoy watching him grow. You can pony him around (lightly) work on ground stuff, take him to town with your broke horses to see the sights etc. so when next year rolls around he is that much more confident and mentally as well as physically mature.
Good luck he looks like a sweet boy and a fun project 
Edited by redmansmyman11 2014-02-01 11:28 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Thanks guys! I wasn't too concerned with starting him under saddle ASAP. I'm not planning on rushing him at all, just going to go at his pace, because he is a nice minded boy that I hope I can keep that way, and I don't have any futurity plans for him. I'd rather have a good barrel horse than a good futurity horse. I was more curious than anything as to what others thought, since, again, it never hurts to have other opinions.
Is there a good way to teach him to lie down? I have taught horses by tying their leg up and pulling them over with a snaffle bit, but I felt like that would scare the tar out of a young one, since it scares some older horses the first few times.
What is good complete feed you would recommend? He is on plain oats right now, which is why I considered supplements to offer more.
He's a really good boy, and I think he's gonna be a nice horse. Thanks! |
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 "Hottie"
Posts: 1373
Location: Okemah,OK | I'm not one to give colt starting advice (a trainer friend or my husband starts ours) but the colt in my avatar will be 2 in may as well and we're gonna hold off any riding other than walk/trot 10 mins or so until fall. I am gonna get a lot of round pen, driving, ponying, etc fine this spring and summer though. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I,would,start doing ground work and wait till april and start riding very easy 10/20 minutes 3/4 days a week doing a lot of walking bend flex. You dont have to camp on one but get him broke. If you need time to,do something else you can put him on back burner. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Thanks! Would it be ok to haul him to race (he stands tied at a trailer and stuff very well) the weekend after he is gelded to stand or should we wait for him to heal a little more? He is being gelded on Tuesday. ETA: Race is on Sunday.
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2014-02-02 2:38 PM
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-02-02 2:37 PM
Thanks! Would it be ok to haul him to race (he stands tied at a trailer and stuff very well) the weekend after he is gelded to stand or should we wait for him to heal a little more? He is being gelded on Tuesday. ETA: Race is on Sunday.
Just a heads up. The testosterone stays in his system for about 90 days. A young horse can still have enough to misbehave. Also I do not drag my yearlings and two year olds to barrel races where they have to stand tied for hours. Kind of harsh treatment for horses that young. JMO
After gelding horses need to move around not be stalled or tied. I usually put mine out with a *****y bred mare or cranky gelding so they get their butts moving. If they do not move you are asking for a lot of swelling and other problems. I know this sounds corny but I have not had a gelding cut in the last 35 years unless the signs were right. Never have a problem. No swelling, nothing.
Edited by Honeymoney 2014-02-02 2:57 PM
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 Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888
Location: LaBelle, Florida | My filly is now 3 and is at the trainers for 30 days. Of course, she is already ready to step up on when she went. I played with her this past year in the round pen and such.
Can't wait to get her back because I know she will be ready to handle steady riding now. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-02-02 3:37 PM Thanks! Would it be ok to haul him to race (he stands tied at a trailer and stuff very well) the weekend after he is gelded to stand or should we wait for him to heal a little more? He is being gelded on Tuesday. ETA: Race is on Sunday.
I would not. they need to move around. |
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Expert
Posts: 2121
Location: The Great Northwest | There is so much you can do to prepare the youngsters for riding that it will go so well for horse and person. It just depends on what your definition of Broke is to you. I suggest looking up Clinton Anderson and his ground work, which is good for any age. His method is so easy to understand for person and horse. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | I would get on him as soon as I could you won't hurt him. Spend about 10 minutes walking or trotting. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| His owner was wanting to haul him with us this weekend to a race about 40 minutes away, but I thought it may be too soon, because he will be tied outside to the trailer and the race usually lasts from 10am to about 3/4 pm. Plus it won't be the greatest of weather. I have been watching some Clinton Anderson for some ideas, and I have tried some on my older horses and it has worked very well so I will be using part of his techniques on him. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Bibliafarm - 2014-02-02 5:37 PM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-02-02 3:37 PM Thanks! Would it be ok to haul him to race (he stands tied at a trailer and stuff very well) the weekend after he is gelded to stand or should we wait for him to heal a little more? He is being gelded on Tuesday. ETA: Race is on Sunday.
I would not. they need to move around.
I wouldn't take him either. There will be plenty of races to haul him to, give him some time to heal  |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | The biggest advice I jave to give is don't get in a hurry with anything you do regarding this colt and to be patient. There is no time line that he HAS to be doing XYZ by a certain age. Take your time- you've got plenty of time to make him into a good horse and most of the time when I've had something go wrong its because I have gotten in a hurry. If he were mine, I wouldn't even think about getting on him until late fall. Then I would get a handful of rides on him and turn him out until the following spring and just let him have a break and be a horse. Just like us when we were kids we needed breaks. He's the same way. Another thing is keep your sessions short and sweet and always end on a good note. Plan what you want to accomplish that day before you go to work with him so you're prepared. I usually will set 1 big goal or 2 small goals. Keep it simple. if makes the goal in 2 minutes, quit for the day and go do something fun. As far as getting him toned for halter, make sure you've got a good cal/phos ratio. I usually feed a good feed (12-14%) and then feed a grass and alfalfa mix hay. I'll feed a little bit of flax seed too. I think you can cause a lot more harm than good by feeding. bunch of supplements with premix feeds and its easy to cause imbalances by mixing stuff because of how its formulated on its own. Also, poor quality hay that's stemmy can cause a hay belly. So if you want to tone one up for halter, feed good hay. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Thanks guys, you were a lot of help.
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