Fitting a Weanling

[barnbum2106]

How do I get a weanling ready for some local fall shows??

He's right at 7 months old and 10.3 hh. We would be in pony classes. You name it he does it. Clips, bathes, etc... Ever since he was 2-3 months old I would start playing with standing square, backing up, 180's, 360's, troting and walking beside me... basically everything required in a halter or showmanship class. He's had a cute little foal sheet on and mane tamer (slinky), its just too hot to keep any of it on for long periods of time.

BUT....how do you get rid of that cute little belly and muscled up a little. He's been wormed regularly, I'm getting a wormer that will target tapeworms as I've been told that those little things could be the problem with the belly. He only gets 2.5 lbs. a day (Pony x Paint baby) He is turned out 24/7, has access to very shady areas. I could stall him if need be, but due to my schedule he would be up for 24 hrs and out for 24 hrs. He could go in with my stallion (his daddy) for company...he has a broodmare sized stall.

Where do I start? Riding horses are a piece of cake for me to get in shape and show ready...but a baby?? I could get in shape myself, our land is uphill some, I could lead him (walking and trotting) and I could jog........well thinking about it....naww. HAHA

[seerfarm]

Just were are the pictures of this little one, hmmmnnnn?

As far as helping to get rid of a belly, walking and light, very light trotting in a straight line up and down hills is very useful. It will cause him to tighten up and use those belly muscles along with the back and hips.

And remember with the little ones, anytime you are going to do trot work to make sure you protect his front legs especially, with some splint or support wraps.

[tuffsmom]

I agree with Seer. Also remember that they have a very short attention span.

[Midwest Paint]

IMO, sounds like you are on a great track and yours is very receptive to everything you have put out there! I absolutely love it when they accept it with ease, LOL!

I have been battling that "hay belly" appearance as well in my 3mo filly. I picked up the fact she was very watchful and excited when the mares went into the round pen for lunging. Some of my group strongly suggested getting her out into the round pen along with all the regimental training she was undergoing. So I started her in the round pen, and have been working the pace upward at a good rate.

I think this is a great start, and with yours falling into 7mo's, this would put you closer to the ground work for future tasks, and with more ease. If they are willing and interested, then go for it! The round pen will help work up the muscles and conditioning, and make future tasks more familiar providing ease of training in that area. As for how often, you will have to feel that out. I am working mine at twice a day (morning and evening) for 15min durations. Her "hay belly" is pulling up and she is much more streamline. I noticed big growth in her quarters as well. At first 10min was a challenge as she didnt have the stamina for it, but on the second go there was a big difference!

[seerfarm]

Originally Posted by Midwest Paint

IMO, sounds like you are on a great track and yours is very receptive to everything you have put out there! I absolutely love it when they accept it with ease, LOL!

I have been battling that "hay belly" appearance as well in my 3mo filly. I picked up the fact she was very watchful and excited when the mares went into the round pen for lunging. Some of my group strongly suggested getting her out into the round pen along with all the regimental training she was undergoing. So I started her in the round pen, and have been working the pace upward at a good rate.

I think this is a great start, and with yours falling into 7mo's, this would put you closer to the ground work for future tasks, and with more ease. If they are willing and interested, then go for it! The round pen will help work up the muscles and conditioning, and make future tasks more familiar providing ease of training in that area. As for how often, you will have to feel that out. I am working mine at twice a day (morning and evening) for 15min durations. Her "hay belly" is pulling up and she is much more streamline. I noticed big growth in her quarters as well. At first 10min was a challenge as she didnt have the stamina for it, but on the second go there was a big difference!

My personal opinion here as someone who does train weanlings......please stop the round penning!

Round penning on a youngster barely old enough to be weaned is highly damaging to there joints, ligiments and bones. You may not see it now, but it won't take long for the damaging affects to show up.

[cowgirlspurs]

Agreed-the constant bending and stress put on their whole body could have serious after affects as a grown horse.

Hay bellies are mostly due to the body's immature digestive system. Perhaps instead of hay get hay cubes and soak them for eating, my babies get a probiotic when weaned and stay on a processed feed that is already broken down. They also get milled flax seed and lots of grass.
Take your baby for good brisk walks-play with him out in the field-I find babies forget they are horses when first weaned and if you don't engage with them and play they get a little depressed-playing seems to energize them-a fast metabulism is a good thing.

[Midwest Paint]

I think there may be a misperception when I state "round-penning" as training options.. LOL!

When it comes to working a weanling, or even a yearling in the round pen, you dont need or want to push the horse beyond a safe level, but you do want to encourage a good conditioning. An example, I do not put mine into a full lunge, and I also dont work mine beyond a reasonable amount of time. I start with a good fast paced walk and even up to a trot. But with the trot, it is very short in duration. I wait for the exasperation of fluid, heard by the sneazing. A good nasal flaring is an indication that yours is opening up and breathing.

Now, this is no different then if you were to leave your weanling with her mom out to pasture. A variety of exercises occurr naturally out in pasture. The mare takes wind of something and runs, with weanling to follow, horse play, running, jumping, kicking.. all natural and no harmful activity. Round penning can be done in the same manner, in that you dont push for something not already naturally available in other circumstances.

So why round pen, when pasture works "just as well"? Well, first, you're preparing for a show. Other then the givens, such as training and preparing, this also promotes an early education to the weanling of working in this atmosphere. When it does comes time, down the road in many years, all the work and practice will aid in your next steps!

IMO, taking walks together and exploring neat new places is another fantastic idea already brought up here! This will also help with confidence and build bonds that will help in the ring!

[seerfarm]

...have been battling that "hay belly" appearance as well in my 3mo filly.....Some of my group strongly suggested getting her out into the round pen along with all the regimental training she was undergoing. So I started her in the round pen, and have been working the pace upward at a good rate.....
At first 10min was a challenge as she didnt have the stamina for it, but on the second go there was a big difference! I am working mine at twice a day (morning and evening) for 15min durations.

No, no misunderstaning or miscommunication.

For a 3 month old baby...just old enough to possible be weaned , Anything other than leading and walking in straight lines on a controlled leadline is risk. It is one thing for them to bolt or run with Momma but a roundpen, first of all constrains paths and or changes of direction they might would take. Working a set regimen on one so young daily and even twice a day puts undue strains on open joints, thin bones and weak ligiments. Sorry....but not something that I can agree with as healthy or beneficial. Just my personal opinion as one who trains weanlings, yearlings and Two year Olds.

[Rumonek]

I COMPLETELY agree with seerfarm... NO NO NO NOOOOO Round-penning! Absolutely not, under any circumstance!

[Rumonek]

For some reason, I can't edit, so this is what I forgot to put: not puting the foal on a "full" longe is even worse! The smaller the circle, the harder it is on their joints etc..

You can do "crunches" with your colt... stand him and just poke into his belly and he will "tuck" it up. Obviously, not HARD mean poking, just a touch should be enough My boy took 2nd in his halter class to a two year old, and he was only a month old, and all I did was have him follow me around while I rode his mom at a walk and trot, and stretched his tail (he's a NSH)

[reiningfan]

I am not a fan of round pens for youngsters. Some people assume it's the work itself that stresses the limbs, tendons, ligiments, etc. But it's the way they have to move in a circle that does it. 10 minutes trotting in the round pen would be WAY more stressfull to their growing bodies than 10 minutes of a person leading a weanling/yearling at a trot in straight lines. I prefer short periods of work and being led or ponied over using a round pen.
I also think a round pen can be used the wrong way. Too many people don't realize that they are actually "chasing" the horse around the pen. We want to drive them around, not chase.

[kaykay]

I show a lot of weanlings and I never ever round pen them or work them. A healthy weanling will work themselves just playing in the pasture. I only train them to lead and stand. If you have a weanling with a big belly its because they are not getting enough protein. All foals here are fed equine jr and then when they are weaned more equine jr. That way they never get that big bloated belly. A lot of people way underestimate how much feed and protein a weanling needs. Here is a picture of our weanling at his first show.

[reiningfan]

Wow, kakkay, I'm not a big mini fan, but that weanling looks GREAT.
Any particular brand of equine feed you use?

[kaykay]

Thanks so much reigning! this is a double registered colt (shetland pony/miniature horse) I SWEAR by Purina Equine Jr. I will be honest and say with all the price hikes I switched to a cheaper feed last spring for about a month, and boy was the feed store WRONG. The feed dealer said it was the same but the truth told on my weanlings. If you feed Purina Equine Jr everyday you will not get those big bellies. I will never feed young horses anything but that.

[reiningfan]

I can't get the Purina feeds here. Is there any way you could PM me the nutrional info from the label?

[seerfarm]

Here you go reiningfan...it is all I use as well!


http://horse.purinamills.com/products/Equine_Junior.asp

[kaykay]

Yeahh theres the link!! I also want to point out that my weanlings are fed this feed free choice. It is in front of them all day and night so they can eat whenever they feel like it. When they are yearlings I will start feeding them on a schedule but I think the free choice is the key to great looking weanlings.

Also I never supplement with this as you can throw the values off. This feed has alfalfa and beet pulp in it so there is no need to add those. mine are on pasture with this feed. If they were not on pasture I would add some grass hay.

Good luck with your weanlings!