Recommendations for good books

[zeldalithgow]

about what I can do with Trevor, or just tell me what you do and don't do with a youngster .

[leannwithconnie]

So exciting Zelda!!
Can't offer advice regards schooling and training but I would think just get to know him and love him to death for the first few days. xX

[SuzieP]

Can't recommend anything personally, Zelda - I'm sure Anna and others who have loads of experience with youngsters will make suggestions. What about this tho - gets some good reviews:

www.amazon.co.uk/Birth-Backing-Complete-Handling-Young/dp/0715312847/ref=pd_sim_b_1

[greydales]

Zelda when I got Cherry at 6 months I did a lot of inhand stuff with her, and particularly clicker training which both she and Olivia picked up really quickly. I wanted them to be able to walk on a loose lead and the clicker helped a lot with this (they didn't always walk on a loose lead though, such as when bringing them in/turning them out which was sometimes hugely exciting ).

You can do an awful lot inhand, such as the basic comands of walk, trot, stand, back). You can get them used to all kinds of stuff on the ground and train them to walk over or investigate scary things etc. (use your imagination as to what you can introduce them to!). Also it's useful to teach them to load at this age although I expect Trevor will probably already be experienced in this!

They need to learn ground rules straight away and are usually very quick to pick up vocal commands, in readiness for lunging/long reining. IME the youngsters have picked up stuff just as easy as the older ones, or even quicker

A good book to have is Alexander Kurland's 'Clicker Training for Your Horse'.

[sammy]

Zelda, I have the clicker training book and the from birth to backing book both mentioned on here and both woth buying.
Agree with the first comment though, love him to bits and bond with him.

[sck1]

A friend of mine is using a Richard Maxwell book about training foals - cant remember the name but it has alot of common sense stuff in there.

[tinkerdorisalison]

Yes lots of cuddles

make sure from the very start he respects your space.
picking up feet is good for trust
decide what words you are going to use - back/over/whoa etc and use them all the time, even when the comes to a halt on his own beside you say whoa, he will catch on in no time. I have already started saying come round and come over to alice when we are leading and going left and right in preparation for her driving career ;D

have fun

[NFK Dumpling]

I agree with the above - my biggest mistake was not to insist on respect for my space and it is essential if you intend to show in-hand and for general safety.

ETA I had to be very strict with Musk last summer, which wasn't very fair on him, because my behaviour with him meant that he was in charge of me rather than vice-versa.

[zeldalithgow]

Thanks, I've bought the Birth to Backing and the clicker book, they look good.

Alison that's a good tip thanks