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Post by domane on Dec 16, 2010 23:26:38 GMT 1
Just need a bit of reassurance please. I have a 6m Welsh D colt, William. He's been with me (and my other two) for a month now and he's bonded really well with them and everyone generally gets on really well. He's been very accepting of everything - luckily my other two boys are laid back so he's just followed suit. He will be gelded in the spring.
I lease 4 acres and have to walk across the field to reach the stable block. Plus I poo-pick daily so the others are used to me being out and don't take any notice of my pottering about but William is just starting to challenge me. I know that foals have a penchant for being unpredictable and playing (ie, runnung up to you then spinning away double-barrelling as they go) so I'm always on my guard when he's out, but in the last couple of days, he's been starting to run at me with intent and when I stand my ground and growl at him he will spin off and do the head toss! You know the one they do when they're irritated. At the moment the growling is working but I'm wondering whether he will take it a stage further and if so, how would I deal with it?
I also have an 18m traditional yearling who I've had for 6m and he is a big cuddly teddy-bear poppet so I've never had any worries from him.
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Post by laurac on Dec 17, 2010 10:19:06 GMT 1
Hi I'm no expert on youngsters to be honest but he certainly sounds like he is challenging you, I would certainly do something like jump up and down and wave your arms around if he starts to ignore the growling or even carry a lead rope and swing it round in circles to get him away (not hitting him he with it) If he doesnt start to repect you and your space If the problem doesnt resolve quickly I would invest in an RA visit to nip the problem in the bud MTA - is it worth getting him gelded before the spring? those hormones probably aren't helping Good luck
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Post by happysnail on Dec 17, 2010 11:00:42 GMT 1
A white plastic bag to flap is very effective too or a bottle with stones in it. Colts are very into testing boundaries and at the age because of the hormones in his physical and social development. He's at the stage where a stallion would throw him out the herd but he's not a man in his own right (even though he thinks he is ) Give him firm and consistent boundaries - send him away if he does anything to challenge you and if you're handling him do a lot of moving him around. He sounds really cool. Do you have pictures?
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Post by outoftheblue on Dec 17, 2010 11:23:36 GMT 1
All the Welsh breeds do this head toss and not always because they are irritated. They can do it when excited and when playing and when thir food is coming etc etc. My grandaughters little FR pony does it when she sees he rider, who she adores and it is coupled with whickering so its definately not irritation. However, back to the colt - I am not sure about the plastic bag - he might hate them for ever - of you do that. I had a small plastic box with a few walnuts (in their shells) in it (same thing as bottle and stones I guess) and shook it at Sparky as signal to go away when he was out in the field and I was busy there. His mother took the signal and started to tell him off for 'mugging' us in the field! I guess you don't have that option. Otherwise, I agree, lots of handling and putting him where you want him - or maybe have him gelded sooner? Sparky was 9 months and changed overnight from a big and boistrous colt into a big and boistrous gelding but without the colt edge. Good luck.
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Post by happysnail on Dec 17, 2010 12:07:23 GMT 1
With the plastic bag, it depends on how you use it and the "language" behind it (integrity and intent of what you are communicating). It works if you use it as a startle with definite send away body language. The flappy white shape and sound is really attention grabbing so amplifies the signal in a situation that may be dangerous like being charged. The horse doesn't develop a fear of the rope/line if you use it to send away as long as it used without pain and fear and the same is true with plastic bags. It's a startle and send away not a chase or predatorial pursuit. The stallion doesn't spook at plastic bags, tarps or feed bags when you're out riding or in the yard but out in the fields it is a good back up if mares are in season etc.
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Post by june on Dec 17, 2010 13:39:51 GMT 1
I'd guess it is to do with him still being entire. You'll probably find that when he is gelded he becomes a much nicer horse to handle. Ours was gelded at 6 months. He went from being quite stroppy to being a lovely horse to handle within a week or so. The difference was quite amazing.
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Post by SarahW on Dec 17, 2010 13:59:38 GMT 1
It's completely irrelevant but my New Forest pony who must have been one of the ones "improved" by an Arab influence way back in her past, head tosses when she is excited, annoyed or more recently trying to kidnap the local stallion. She succeeded! It is an Arab thing......
I agree with everyone else that it would be useful to set up some gentle boundaries with this little one.
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Post by mandal on Dec 17, 2010 14:27:47 GMT 1
Funnily enough it seems to be my mares that do the most head tossing! ;D Even the Shetland mares have been observed to do it during their 'mad' hoon sessions! To me it seems to have various meanings depending on the context. I know what I interpret as the 'I'm the greatest' one well though!
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Post by domane on Dec 17, 2010 22:38:27 GMT 1
Thank you for all your helpful comments... this is the little man in question Vet came out to give him his first vaccination and said that although things are dropping, he's not ready to geld yet. I was all for having him done straight away but she thought early spring would be fine, before my Welshie mare tenant starts her seasons. Vet is back for his second jab on Monday so I'll ask her to have a feel again as I've learned that Welshies are notorious for retaining a testicle (that'd be just my luck! ) I might mention that he's possibly getting a little more confrontational/possibly hormonal too. He's not scared of plastic bags as I have a wooden hay box which I fill daily using GreenGold bags which get flapped and chucked about so he'd relate that to food!! ;D I do, however, have a bottle with stones which I now remember I used about twice with my yearling when he went through a bit of a bargey stage (bit forgetful these days, it's my age!! ) Having said that, I'm sure he knows I've been "dissing" him - he was the perfect angel today!! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by happysnail on Dec 18, 2010 10:11:12 GMT 1
Lol! He's gorgeous. Welshies are the best!!
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Post by outoftheblue on Dec 18, 2010 17:42:09 GMT 1
He is really sweet. They grow up so quickly that you will look back at the baby years and wonder where they went - I do with my baby who will be six in 2011.
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Post by narkymare on Dec 18, 2010 18:40:50 GMT 1
i am no expert at all but just to let you know i know my boy has recognised me when i walk up the lane to his field because he tosses his head when he sees me - every time, its like a yay!!!!!!! mummys here!!!!x
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icarus
Intermediate Poster
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Post by icarus on Dec 20, 2010 7:47:56 GMT 1
Our sec b weanling although an early foal was castrated about 3wks ago now, was the worst pain in the rear colt ive ever had! luckily both testicles were there! But he does the head toss when he is excited just high spirits im pleased to say. He is now 3wks later perfectly behaved and a complete sweetheart! You would not believe its the same pony.
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ruby
Olympic Poster
Posts: 720
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Post by ruby on Dec 20, 2010 17:14:13 GMT 1
Just wanted to say what a great little man you have there, reminds me so much of what I imagine my very much grown up Sec D would have looked like, who incidentally also does the head tossing at feed time and when galloping down the field to see me when he wants to come in! They have very similar markings and that 'look' in his eye on the 2nd picture, I'm sure you will have a lot of fun with him! ;D What is his breeding?
I don't have tons of advice on the field situation, except to say be wary of getting yourself into any situation he perceives that you are being aggressive, or confronting him. These Sec D's can be opinionated little whatsits and although mine wasn't a foal when I had him he was largely unhandled and had made mincemeat of people who had tried to 'assert' themselves in the field with him, they had tried taking lunge whips into the field (which I know nobody here is promoting). I see that he is halter broken, which is good, so just make sure he knows that you are in charge at all times through careful and consistent handling in non-confrontational settings, which should lessen his 'interest' in trying anything on in the field. Sorry that's not very specific, but I hope it makes sense!
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Post by domane on Dec 20, 2010 22:28:06 GMT 1
Thank you all for your lovely comments about my special baby. I am delighted to report that he's been an angel since I panicked and posted.... I'm now 99% sure he was actually wanting to play rather than "challenging" me as he's been such a sweetheart since... today he followed me around and kept me company whilst I was poo picking and only got a little playful once so I just growled and he leapt away from me. But if he DOES start trying to assert himself, I've now got some wonderful tips PS Ruby... he's a Brightlands boy....
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