Where do I put my weanling / yearlings?

[fatorangehorse]

I don't normally have youngsters. This spring I'll have 2 coming yearling geldings @ my farm. (Both @ different locations now). Should I turn them out alone together? That would be easiest for me, and I definitely want them to be together - to play exercise together etc. Or should I mix in a calm older gelding? My pastures are very large, so there's a chance they would not have visibility to other horses. I wondered if i just had the 2 of them together if they would be more likely to work themselves into a tizzy in a thunderstorm or any other thing that riles them. Do i need another horse to give them confidence or will they find their own?

thanks

[bloomingtonfarm]

I have four (turning yearling) in the same paddock together but they were too laid back in my opinion so I decided to introduce a gelding one year older with them to give them some 'sparks'. I wanted them to move around a little bit more and I knew that one just loved to play but in a gently way.

And it did wonder. All four of them are more playfull and get more exercices and get even smarter! It was a pretty good decision but if it had not worked he would had been returned back subito presto!

I believe it is good to put an older horse with them as long as he is gentle, has no shoe, and mostly has good manners as they learn the bad and the good as fast!

[Home Again Farm]

IMO it can work well either way.

[Go Fish]

I think either situation will work but I like the idea of putting the older gelding out with them. I find yearling geldings to be the WORST little buggers...it's like they turn obnoxious just to punish you for performing brain surgery on them. Perhaps the older gelding can teach them some manners. I know a couple of broodmares will do it, for sure.

[Movin Artfully]

Above posts are good- either way will work. We do turn out youngsters together...but at the first sign of pesty-ness...mix them in with older horses.

[okggo]

Depends on the horses :)

I had 2 yearlings and a weanling out together. The one yearling took the alpha spot and as she is really REALLY bold, they stayed nice and sane. But....she was getting WAY too big for her britches and turned into Ms. Tude. So I put my alpha gelding out with them. Now the filly is much better behaved but he is the worlds biggest chicken and they run in fright at everything. Moral of that story, lol, you can't win so just go with what works best for you ;)

[Bravestrom]

I have an older gelding out with my colt - who is now a 3 yr old stallion - it has been really good for both of them. My gelding is 9 and pretty sedate - so the stallion keeps him moving and the play alot - my gelding seems much younger and the stallion has learned great manners.

I have older mares with my weanling fillies - they have taught them the social hierarchy they need to learn and manners.

Also, they seem to watch over them.

[jdeboer01]

I've got four weaners out with a gentle, benevolent alpha "auntie" mare. She's been great, as she has taught them proper socialization and respect. :)

One of the weaners is a colt, who I am leaving intact for the time being. He'll be moved in with a pregnant broodmare, probably before Spring and the hormones kick in. I'm sure that this particular mare will instantly put him in his place if he starts to get fresh! :lol:

[YankeeLawyer]

Either way should be fine. Personally I like to put my weanlings/yearlings with an older, laid back gelding. The mature horse puts manners on them and shows them the ropes. He is a super babysitter.