I bought a yearling.... What do I need to know?

[2LaZ2race]

Ok, so I’m not actually as clueless as the title sounds, I promise!

I had been planning to buy a young horse as a prospect for a while and an opportunity fell into my lap and I just said YOLO.

I have a lot of experience with horses on the track, lay ups, and sport horses, but this will be my first time owning and managing a young horse on my own. He is a June 2023 colt (until next week when he will be a June 2023 gelding!).

I own my farm and I have a quarantine paddock ready, good fencing, a stall with a 12x12 paddock which I can then open to a full acre field. I also have a babysitter for him. I know I can handle this, I’ve managed must worse, but this is definitely out of my wheelhouse and I feel like I’m forgetting something.

What is something you wish someone had told you or had done differently when owning a young horse?

[SLW]

Any young horse I have had was exposed/trained to do things he/she would need to do as an adult:
Hooves cleaned.
Stand for bathing.
Be led over tarps on the ground or any type of safe debri.
Accept being blanketed.
Stand tied for the age appropriate amount of time.
Accept having my hands in their mouth, ears.
Take their temperature.
Load in a trailer. Haul short distances.

Keeps things fun & positive, create trust! Watch out for ulcers, newly castrated, new home are changes that can upset their gut. Good luck!

[RedHorses]

“If it ain’t cute when my 1300lb QH does it, it ain’t cute when my weanling/ yearling/ two year old does it.”

Expect adult manners, but for shorter periods of time. Expecting adult manners keeps your focus on the horse doing a certain thing, which allows you to correct with “do this” and avoid the “stop that” trap.

This was how I trained my foals. I really did have a 1300lb QH too!