Re: Still looking for an answer

["Bonita B. Young" <corky@foothill.net>]

Susan,

I think the main thing that any young horse has to learn is the pecking order.  I
don'tknow any way for them to learn this than to turn them out with other horses.
This doesn't have to be a pasture evan a half acre turn out will do.  Ponying will
help but IMO there is no substitute to having them loose with there peers.  I am
fortunate to have a 100 acre pasture to turn mine out on.  I raised a two month
old orphan, I put him in with a maiden pregnant mare and she taught him the ropes
( all though she thaught he was her baby }.  The next spring {after he was gelded
} I turned him out with my other horses in the pasture and he got along just
fine.  Good luck.

Corky

Byrds  Valley Ranch,  On The Tevis Trail

Susan wrote:

> I didn't receive much in the way of responses the first time so I'm reposting
> this and wording it a little shorter in hopes of some additional responses.
>
> If you are unable to provide a pasture for a young horse to be raised on, is
> there a way to approximate that turnout (i.e through ponying) -- I'm sure it's
> not the same but better than nothing.  At what age would I start doing this --
> and upto what distance,  frequency, etc?
>
> Thanks.     -- Susan