Keeping Track of the Yearlings and 2 Year Olds

This time of year it is easy to lose track of the yearlings and 2 year olds. As you can see from this picture, they could care less, but they enjoy the scratching and treats I frequently bring. We are breeding the mares, keeping a sharp eye on the new foals, starting the 3 year olds, and marketing the 4 year olds and the stallion. The younger horses are out in their big pasture living on mainly grass. Since I have someone else who handles feeding the grain, I have to be sure that I put my eyes on those youngsters at least once a week, if not more often. I know that the people feeding them would let me know if anything were awry, but sometimes they can miss the little things you don't notice when you see them every day.

Today I went out to their pasture to check their waterer and to see how much they have grown in the last few days. Their manes were suddenly long and shaggy! We had just had them all in in the spring to bath and trim them up for the summer, but even though they had shed all their winter coat those manes were wild. Soon they will be matted with burrs and if they stay this long they will be horrible to clean up. They look hot under all that hair, too.

They need the socializing with a human other than at feeding time, also. I like to see that they all will come up to me to be petted and scratched and that I would have no trouble catching them if I needed to. I put my hands all over their head, in their ears and mouths, and run my hand up and down their legs. I try to get out any burrs they may have in their mane and tail and look for any nicks that should be cared for.

Before I left the barn today I added this to the list of things to do next week - schedule some days or evenings to pull manes on yearlings and 2 year olds. It doesn't sound like a high priority, but that's because I won't let it get so bad that it is!