Question 'bout patience and babies....

I mean young horses! Not little people! Anyways...I am torn when working with our two youngsters - Am I being too easy on them or not? Let me explain...

I always seperate them from the herd, either one at a time in the RP or one there and the other in this other little area out where we board if the hubby is there with me. When I notice their attention staring to drift back to the other horses we call it quits. Particularly the older filly - she gets antsy and goes to the gate and won't move, but just gives me her "mad ears" and stares at her buddies. I always get at least one more 'something' out of her before I turn her back out - make her back up so I can open the gate, pick up a hoof, something anything, but I do let her go. My little skitz will start to cry about it and weave and pace by the gate. Somedays we'll get 10 minutes of 'playtime' in and somedays they'll stick by my side for hours, mostly just hanging out with me petting them and rubbing all over them at this point.

So...am I right in assuming it is their attentions spans at this age (think 8 months and 18 months) and calling it quits or should I be asking for more - particularly with the older horse? I don't want them to be anymore herd bound than they already are (they are I admit it) but I also don't want to push them past their mental boundaries that come with youth? Any thoughts ya'll??

We bought my youngest horse home at about 8 months. He went straight into a nice safe yard with a horse next to him. From this he wnt to a larger area. He could always see the other horses but is rarely in with them. They're only in together when turned out in a big field. This seems to help reduce a lot of separation anxieties as the other horses are there but not to close. He's 2 now and I don't have any problem taking him away from the others. There may be some calling out but no real "acting" up.

You really need to think about weaning these 2 if you want to do anything. The 18 month old should be behaving much better than this by now.She shouls tie up, wash feet trim groom etc with no or very little squabbling.

In the end its up to you how tough you are. This is just what I think and you don't have to agree :)

It's not that they squabble with me the whole time - I just feel as though they get bored. Kind of like "what does this silly looking thing want me to do next ...oh...wait...what's that over there?" It all starts well, they pay attention, do what I ask (usually at first, sometimes after a few tries) but they just seem a little... ADHD I guess you would say...after a while? Does that make sense?

Example: not always but...even the barn cat can be more interesting than me some days and not so much on others...so maybe I am being too easy you think?

Hi, I've always learned that the way you teach babies is to just wean them off each other if you want to do it in a gentle way it wont hurt them either way; its just your preference. I would if you have a second pen you could put them in for half the day separate them for a few hours a day and make it longer an longer till they no longer need to be next to each other. Even if they put up the pacing fight that's a little problem compared to the one youll have on your hands if you don't separate them when they are young.

The way I do it is I just separate them eventually they stop pacing and get over it. Its not bad for them they know their limits. Clingy horses are very hard to deal with when you begin to ride them. Trust me. Eiher way you are being a little too nice lol that just shows how much you love them though even if you have to show a little tough love its okay they will love you no matter what lol.

Yea maybe a little, sounds like you need to get them to do more. Possibly keep what you do to 30 or 40 minutes or even less but keep them busy and working the whole time. And be firm, insist that they are with you not off with the barn cat.lol.
After they've worked a bit they'll probally stand better for the grooming. Both of you should enjoy this bit lol.

Lunging can be a good tool or if theres any trail equipment around that's good to play with, You can do a lot of groundwork while they're young in prep for when they're ready to break in. Perhaps some of the videos or dvd's from the big trainers would give you ideas, but don't get stuck on one persons method look at all of them.
I got a lot out of Monty Roberts, a little out of parelli, and a lot from a friend whos not withus anymore and was well known iin AusQHA.
G Luck :)

Thanks guys - I think we are going to start splitting them up more and more often too. I am also going to start asking for more from the older one too. She's had a month to adjust to her surroundings and she is older - which I tend to forget. Still though...I wonder if they get bored. I mean really, watching the cat wander around? I think I am just too worried about trying to do too much too fast, ya know? Guess this is my sign to move forward more. Thanks again!