Getting Colt Ready For The Show Ring....

I was wondering if any of you (and I'm sure you do ) had any tips for helping a colt shed out and get conditioned for halter classes...?

He is a 6 month old colt, big boy, but quite hairy... his first show should be in May or Late April.

What are some tips to getting him into halter shape, and getting rid of all of his winter fuzzies in time for the show?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

I forget who it was... forgive me, but it might have been Bluejay or Lynn or maybe 7cedars???? Having a blonde moment here!
Anywho, they said to worm him/her 3x's (1 wormer, then wait 2 weeks,
then 1 wormer again, then wait 2 more weeks, then one last dose of
wormer).

So far it's been working pretty good, not to mention he's passed all his worms!

I just dewormed him a little bit ago... But could do it again..

Well anyone have any suggestions for a conditioning program to get him in halter shape?

I would put it on a daily work-out schedule too. I pony mine since I don't the luxury of a golf cart!

Blue Jay suggested the worming every 2weeks x3. I tried this and compared it to the power pac to see how it works and I was pretty pleased honestly it is way cheaper for me as Ivercide is only about $2.00 a dose vs $50.00 for a power pac also I read about doing a dose of ivercide on day 6 of a power pac may try that as I had a mare rubbing her tail 1 week after a power pac but she was in horrible shape when I bought her. I think worms are the main problem with the woolies and one dose isn't going to do the trick Peppy is on a daily wormer with the trainer and he has never looked better great stuff.... then I would get a good fat supplement for a nice shiney coat and lots of long trotting if the colt is young ponying is my preferance (if you don't have a 4 wheeler or something like that) as a round pen will probably be too tough on the joints for the amount of work to get them nice and tone.

Okie, doke, here we go. Six-month old, so ya gotta keep that in mind!

First off, most definitely the worming. He needs to be up under lights from 6:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. The whole entire area of the stall needs to be lit, not a single dark spot. Must have superior feed... and what I mean by that is, I use a 14% pellet with 6% fat. If he's used to alfalfa, a must at all times. Alfalfa is a big key of a halter horse. If he's not used to it, introduce it slowly. Additives, I also give mine some loose minerals in their feed - don't worry about whether it binds to the food or not, if they need it, they'll eat it; if they don't, they won't. And the only other thing I'll put on top of my feed is corn oil, but work up to about a cup a day, or wheat germ oil - not the stuff you get at the horse supply store, but at a health food store, and you only need to give about a tablespoon a day!!!

On your feeding, whatever he gets twice a day, you need to split it up in to 3 feedings. Then increase SLOWLY! For instance, when I was working Scamp at the same age as yours last year, he got 1 1/2 scoops in the morning and night, and 1 scoop at noon.

Work-outs. First, any horse must understand lounging. I always take mine into the round pen, and as soon as they understand lounging, then they're out of there! Round pen is only a tool, and should be used for that only. And the only reason I teach mine to lounge is if they're going to be shown, so I can lounge them at the shows.

Second, once lounging is accomplished, then you get a golfcart, 4-wheeler, pony horse, whatever, and the first week, a nice slow trot for no more than ten minutes to get him going. Have a friend help you with this now - make sure it's in a safe place, no other horses in the pasture, arena, whatever, gates are ALL CLOSED - trust me on this one! HA!

Second week, neck sweats. One neoprene sweat, and that's it...put it on before work-out, and start off at a very slow trot, if you've got hills, utilize 'em, then work up to five minutes of a long trot, and then bring them back down to a very slow trot. When you come back to the barn, make danged sure they are WALKING! Tie up for one hour with neck sweat.

Third week, one trash bag, one neoprene, one throat latch, same on the work-out... Now, on these work-outs, the horse will tell you whether he needs more or less. Make danged sure though when you tie them up, that their breathing is back to normal, offer water BEFORE you tie up.

After sweating, and since you're in Canada, either rinse down with warm water or get a sponge and a bucket with warm water and do it. Make sure he's dry before you put him up.

Try to work up to two neoprenes, one trash bag and a throat latch. I won't put anymore than that on a baby. If you're getting foam, which you probably won't yet because it's still cold up there, you're getting fat off. If you only get sweat coming off, you're losing water only, not fat.

Rubbing. I use a little oval rubber curry first, all over the body, then a rubber mitt, and then a horse hair brush for finishing. This needs to be done BEFORE the work out and AFTER the work-out. When you get close to showing, two weeks before, you need two times a day of the rubbing. I've never used a vacuum, kind of takes the fun out of it, but I know people that swear by it, but I still use the old fashioned way. And you do one side till you feel like your arm is going to fall off, rest a minute, and then do the other side till you feel like your arm is going to fall off.

And, of course, if you need to blanket, then blanket. If it's still cold when you work him, you'll need to put a light blanket on him. You don't want him to get chilled and get pneumonia.

Good feed, good hay, lights, good rubbing and a good work-out is what will do it.... not all these additives. If you can do it the same time every day, that's even better. Also, make sure where you're working him at has SOFT ground.

All horses are different. Watch him like a hawk. If he starts putting on too much weight, either up the work-out or lower the intake. But you lower your feed, not the alfalfa. Also, he must have one entire day off to romp and play. With my young'uns, I gave them 1 1/2 days. If you see him getting hot, then up your work-outs, 7 to 8 minutes of long trotting versus five.

Actually, I used to take a watch with me and count it... and at first, you'll need to do it. But I don't anymore. I wait until I see their muscles and veins popped and I'll go for another round on my "track" and then start bringing them down.

I don't know how your schedule would be, and our weather is a lot different, but I'd feed at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning, whenever the lights came on, wait at least an hour and a half to two hours, and then get them out, start rubbing and the work-out, and then the tying. Then at noon, they get their snackie, and they're napping the whole afternoon, which means, you've done your job. They're happy and content.

7cedars wrote:

If you're getting foam, which you probably won't yet
because it's still cold up there, you're getting fat off. If you only
get sweat coming off, you're losing water only, not fat.

I didn't know that! Lookie I learned something new today! Does that go
for regular workouts too? You know sometimes if you're working really
hard, like when we work cattle you gets lots of foam?

Yep... goodness gracious, sorry my post was so danged long.

And I'll add this... you ask me, TripleJ, Bluejay, Kelly, Tara, any of us halter folk, and you'll come up with different things. Even with my own horses, I'll have to change something; what works for one doesn't always necessary mean it'll work with another, even full siblings. So keep that in mind.

Mostly, use your common sense and watch them like a hawk... I mean, like a hawk... watch their legs, how they're eating, their weight gain, heigth, etc....I just know what works for me and my schedule.

And for gosh sakes, you've got to get Denny Hassett's halter book - it's a must!

I have his book if someone wants it I will give it to you, otherwise I will give it to my kids to look at and then let them tear it up.

Why Tara? I thought it was extremely informative. And you might want to put it on E-Bay, it'll get sold in a heartbeat!

Well, for the most part what the book says I either knew or do a little different. For me it was not worth the money, I do not mean I know it all because I don't but whats in that book I already knew.

Great book for people starting out though, for sure. I got more out of a vdeo set I bought made by Ted Turner. I bought it oh about 7 years ago or more and I will still pop it in from time to time.

If someone wants it I will give it to them I am not going to bother selling it if someone here can get some use out of it.

That's so funny... I have the same videotape of Ted Turner's, and I found myself thinking... I paid how much for this thing. HA!

I noticed he's got another set or another video out, too... have you seen it?

LOL I thought that when I read the book, I was like well darn theres a waste of my money! It would have saved me learning the hard way had I bought it years ago though so I can see where its great for someone who is getting started.

Any takers?

Tara, if you have a paypal account I can send you some money.... let me
know how much you want for the book. It sounds like I could use it
being new to all this show stuff.

Tara wrote:

LOL I thought that when I read the book, I was like well darn theres a waste of my money! It would have saved me learning the hard way had I bought it years ago though so I can see where its great for someone who is getting started.

Any takers?

lol I'd pay some money for it too! lol

Wow, LOTS of great information here! I am trying to soak this all in!

After doing a lot of thinking... I think that I would like to show a little halter, so thank you everyone, your information is invaluable to me.

I'm takin notes

WORM -WORM -WORM, GROOM- GROOM -GROOM ... A colt that age should ale get 6 to 10 pounds (oats of you can get them... sweet is not good) grain a day and alfalfa (what ever he will take). No more then 6 to 8 minutes a day at work (long trot is best. this builds muscle. Unlesss you have a tummy then it is trot, canter trot canter not stoping in between). Sweat his neck and do not feed high fat. Wrap his legs with polos (not too tight just to support). Picture of the colt would help..

And, of course the lights and blankets.. My lights are on timers and come on at 6a and of at 10p.

alright everyone.... the first show, which I had hoped it wouldnt be.... is a breed show.

Do you think I can get him ready in time? I know the other horses have an advantage as they were not born in september.... but oh well.

I am still looking to get a neck sweat, but it will definetly be here long before the show. Anyone reccomend somewhere to buy one?

Also, can anyone possibly remind me how to band a mane? and keep a mane that stands up a bit to lay down? (his mane is very thick.)

I try to always take my new ones to open shows; if you can, go; if you can't, then you can't.

Denny Hassett's book is perfect for explaining on how to band a mane. I just don't know if I can explain it well enough... I can show ya, so hop a plane and come on down here to Texas... HA! Or go to Minnesota and see Kelly - that might be closer.

On young'uns, I don't pull their manes, but I do on the big'uns. Jazz's is extremely thick... lots of work there... ARGH!

I use Supersweats on my horses, but I do have a couple of other ones that I use as well... just pick up any horsey catalog or Google necksweats, and I'm sure you'll find tons. Do a little shopping, you might find a good deal.

would this work? (keep in mind I am shopping for both my stud, my mare, and my colt)
http://www.horse.com/products/gift-0__sku-BHA12.html

http://www.greenhawk.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-BLD1717.html?L+scstore+nckf6160ff54c054+1175589823

http://www.greenhawk.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-BLD1719.html?L+scstore+nckf6160ff54c054+1175589823


im still looking....

The first and third ones are fine, but don't use a neoprene jowl wrap... you need one of those fluffy ones - sorry, still on my first cup of coffee, so things aren't kicking in yet.

You're going to need a smaller size for your young'un. For the older ones, I'll also put a big supersweat on, that sort of comes down to their withers and down their chest a bit, and has a surcingle thingy to attach under the belly.

I'd get 2 for young'un; and if you're going to sweat the mare and stud at the same time, well, you'll need sets for them, too, unless you swap them out. On the grown horses, I use 3 necksweats. One that's like the first one; the second one is like the third one, and then the big one I was telling you about above. And all of the fluffy neck wraps.

I ordered the http://www.greenhawk.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-BLD1719.html?L+scstore+nckf6160ff54c054+1175589823 for my adult horses,

and the

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=GXQB5HE7BKHF8LP5S4UQWWH2CSUDDD97

For my colt. I am still looking for jowel sweats.... Do you need a smaller sized one for a colt?

I found this - http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=GXQB5HE7BKHF8LP5S4UQWWH2CSUDDD97&pf_id=13325&browselist=433&parent_name=Boots+%26+Sweats&dept_id=436&dept_name=Sweats+%26+Mane+Tamers&area=&aid=&bb=&np=&yp=&c=&sort=&ipp=&r=0&addtocart=true&qty=1&pid=FM-J1&name=fleece-lined%20jowl%20strap,%205&price=1195&a1=&a2=&a3=&a4=&a5

I am ordering it.... Will it work?

Quite honetly the fleece jowel wraps are not used on a working sweating basis. They are used on a horse in the stall etc but not for sweating. I personally have seen no benefit on using the fleece wraps when left on a horse the way some people use them.

Neoprene throatlatch sweats yes, fleece no but that is my personal opinion for whatever it is/isn't worth.

Tara wrote:

Quite honetly the fleece jowel wraps are not used on a working sweating basis. They are used on a horse in the stall etc but not for sweating. I personally have seen no benefit on using the fleece wraps when left on a horse the way some people use them.

Neoprene throatlatch sweats yes, fleece no but that is my personal opinion for whatever it is/isn't worth.

awww crap! Thats what I was thinking of getting... But maybe it would work if I put a garbage bag underneath it? I already ordered the other one...

It really sucks not knowing from experience what stuff works, and what doesnt.... I know the Morgan Barn I work at keep these types of fleece jowel wrap/sweats on their horses 24/7 except for when riding?

Well don't order it? I have seen no difference in horses who are stalled with the fleece wraps on then those who aren't which is why i said do not order it they are a waste of money.

edited to add this is my opinion people should do whatever they feel they need too.