Hi everyone,
This is follow up thread on my mare's foal (Twiggy) that was born May 10th 2011 - http://www.horseforum.com/horse-breeding/brandy-finally-foaled-86205/
"Twiggy" (the foal) is now 4 months old. Time goes on, she got so big last month and also someone actually bought the momma (Brandy) that we had to wean - it was really easy and they both were ready, as Twiggy did not hang with her mom much anymore and readily ate grass, hay and her grain and was quite independent. Momma was ready to have her old job back (trail horse) and was sold to a loving home only about 1 hour from where we live. Here is what Twiggy looks like now. She is still blue roan tobiano, she did go thru her "I might be a red roan" phase but decided to keep blue roan coat on for now haha. She is getting so big, I think she will be bigger than her 2 year old auntie (bay paint filly in pictures below) when she is a yearling.. she got her mommas face and eyes (can't see in this pictures sorry, darn flies) and got her daddy's badonkadong which doesn't seem like it's going to stop growing any time soon LOL. She is halter broke at this point - just working out some small kinks at this point. She loves to be groomed and will stand nicely for hoof cleaning, in fact will have my farrier give her first trim in the beginning of October, she is ready.. It's amazing how quickly they change.. She is very attached to her "auntie" as all the other boarder horses are gone and it's only my horses at this point, so I am having a little bit of trouble, because I want to take my 2 yo out of the farm to go trail ride, but can't leave the foal alone.. the guy who owns the farm has 1 mare and 1 stud, but even the mare is kinda crazy, so don't want to leave the foal with her. I have started doing little mini trips with the foal in hand around the farm, so that she gets used to not be stuck to her aunt, because last thing I want is buddy-sour horsey when she grows up. Any other suggestions on how to get her used to being alone, while I take the 2 yo for ride?
Thanks guys The name was actually suggested by other members on this forum in the foaling thread
**anybody got idea about getting her more independent?**
I've never had this problem, but if it were me I would put her in a stall with some hay while I went for a ride with the other. I would be nervous about leaving the foal outside alone only because I wouldn't want her to get upset and do something that might hurt herself.
Or if she has to be outside, maybe start out only going for a 10 minute ride, and then gradually go for longer rides once she realizes it's not a big deal.
"whitetrashwarmblood" thanks for the tip.. I am actually worried she could hurt herself in the stall, maybe if i put stall guard up.. in the stall door, cause the sliding door is half solid and half just open window.. I am worried she would try to jump it.. and she probably wood, also I am little worried she would literally crawl up the walls... the top part of the sides of the stall have have metal bars, I am worried that her hoof could get stuck in there maybe?
Well, while the foal is out in the pasture, take out the 2 y/o and just ride her around the farm/yard. That way the foal can still see her, but they're separated. Once she gets comfortable, go down the trail/road for a few minutes then come back.
Dumb question: So I know that you have taken Twiggy out to get away from auntie, but have you take AUNTIE out for longer and longer amounts of time?
I think she will be fine in the field by herself, and after a few of the now u see me now u dont with her aunt that she will soon realize that she'll be back....
I have taken auntie out 1x time for a ride and that was when there was another gelding in the pasture with the foal (he has been adopted and he's gone now) and even with the gelding being in the pasture with her, she was stirring up some serious dust LOL.. whinning and calling Nova (auntie). Nova is actually thankful for any moment she gets to spend without the foal at her side, cause Twiggy is superglued to her at all times, so when I took Nova to the indoor arena and Twiggy was out there with the gelding Nova was NOT responding to Twiggy's crying. If it were her momma, then I would have heard it! LOL
Yes you guys are right I need to start taking Nova for rides without the foal more, because till not I have been only riding in the outdoor arena with the foal on the loose running around us.. but not really with her being separate. We just weaned her about 3 weeks ago.. so I wanted to give her some time to get used to being a "separate entity" LOL
I just did not want to hurry things as first her momma left (and we did it the same way - I started taking mom away for rides with the foal being with auntie only) then one day mom was on the outside of the fence and Twiggy could not suck milk anymore.. then 1 week later momma said goodbye :-(
so now I take her auntie away and I feel so bad to leave her in the pasture alone.. poor baby, there is no other horse.. hard to ask 4 month old foal to be "a big girl" now..
LOL, ur making her human, its hard not to sometimes. BUt U dont have to be gone long with Nova either. Go around a building let her eat for 5 minutes and bring her back.
She is very pretty and rare for me. I've seen Blue roans but not like this. Tobiano. I have a red dun tobiano whom I'm in love with. Her color is pretty. But not a rarity. I want more pics!!! Posted via Mobile Device
You can see how she's been growing..
"mbender" <---yes out of 12 different combinations I got the blue roan tobiano I thought I was never gonna get...
They are spoiled rotten, they eat better than I do, they have better clothes, you know how it goes...
Why are you riding a 2 year old? 2 is far to young to be backed! and why have they got long ropes that they can tie themselves up in around their feet?
Someone needs to calm down. People ride 2 year olds everyday, as long as it's done properly it's less detrimental then an idiot riding a 4 year old. And letting them step on a leadrope teaches invaluable lessons about NOT panicking when they get tangled. She's not unsupervised in a pasture.
Hey Jake and Dai
Yes now I remember it was You!! Thank you for that !!! That name stuck and we call her no other name I am thinking on registering her with Pinto assn. naming her "Twiggs on The Run"
Macambre Nicolaj -
thank you - that is exactly my answer - my 2 year old has been started nice and easy.. She was mentally ready to be started when she turned 2 in January, and her training is about control not speed at this point.
-Neither of my horses freak out at their lead rope when they step on it, instead the learn to give and take a step back and the pressure on their face goes away.. horses learn from release of pressure..
In fact - Twiggy (the foal) is very well halter broke at 4 months old and letting her step on her lead rope played a big role in halter breaking her - OFCOURSE I leave her halter and lead rope on her only when she is superwised
My 2 year old doesn't pull back when tied and again I thank the "leave the lead rope on the ground to be dragged and stepped on" method
Alright did take Nova for a ride off the farm, Twiggy stayed in the pasture and did stir some dust she was running around whinning frantically. But once we got out of her sight she stopped
- we came back 10 minutes later and she just stood there still. Than she noticed us and started running around again .. but at least she knows her auntie will leave and come back, she will get some serious exercise doing this! :lol:
She is so pretty! And her Auntie is really pretty to!
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