Oh how I've missed the challenges of a halter baby! Poor Bella didn't know what hit her this weekend. Her every day routine got smashed when we practiced 'setting up' for 2 min each time I turned her out in the indoor. (I put all the horses that are stuck inside out in either the indoor or our 'one horse' turnout 2 x a day while cleaning stalls)
I do want to add a disclaimer at this point. I do lunge babies at this age (5-6 months) for 5 min every 2 or 3 days for 2 weeks. I only do this until they know "how" to lunge and then I stop until they are yearlings where they get a refresher. When the babies are away from home at multi day horse shows they need to be able to release some energy in a safe manner. All they need to know is how to stay on a circle and be stoppable. I also spend about 5 min per day (usually broken up into at least 2 sessions) on how to 'set up' for a judge, have someone walk around them, and how to trot in hand. Once Bella is home at the end of the month she is going to live in the new run-in shed with Chilly, which she more than likely will like more than showing, but she loves the attention right now!
And after 5 days of only me handling the studs the mouth action has been shut down big time! Both are well behaved but tend to nip, and I cant stand that! The Goodbar stud just returned home from a trainers in the USA a couple of weeks ago and is still grumpy and sullen mannered. Hopefully if we can get him back into work again he'll feel better if he has a purpose in life. Some days I would rather deal with stallions than mares or geldings any day!
 |
| Bella Baby, getting ready to be halter horse! |
 |
| Chevy, 4yo stallion by Radical Hour |
 |
| One of Bella's appaloosa characteristics, the white around her eyes. (she is a solid but has stripped feet, and the spotted skin in several areas) |
 |
| Rusty 2yo stallion by Goodbar, out of an IA mare. |
 |
| Chestnut on the right is Chilly, then Mister then Jeanie (the mother of Bella) |
