Couple more things....

I meant to mention a couple of things you can do with the babies to help with training later. One is to use a fly mask as a yearling in the summer. It does help with the flies, but also helps later when starting to use a bridle, and even the blinkers for driving. That putting on and off of something on their head, and the vision change with the mask, is just one more thing to add to the daily life, and makes acceptance much easier as they get older. Hosing in the summer time with the babies (weanlings and up) is most important. It is a great desensitizing exercise with the water touching them everywhere, also they learn to stand while you are doing something. Also walks on the trails is most important. This gets them out of the pasture and into new environments, and away from the gang and with you. Pick a couple of outings, such as an expo and a local schooling event and let the youngsters just go and see what this is all about. We won't be going far this year with gas prices, but it is still a good idea to plan a few outings somewhere, again hiking in the local forests is always fun.

Spring is here, and so is the new lush grass. Make sure you are ready for the summer grass battle with the ponies. I rotate some of mine on and off the paddocks with and without grass. It even helps to keep a fan in the loafing barns which lures the ponies in for the heat of the day to lose the bugs, thus limits the grazing, and I keep hay in the barn, which encourages them to graze out of the sun on the hay. Here in North Carolina I keep the paddocks mowed down, but fertilized (just reduce the nitrogen) to control the spread of weeds, but you want the root systems healthy, so some fertilizer is needed. Grazing muzzles work for some, just make sure that you don't leave it on 24/7. Anyone would need a break from wearing that device, but it works and lets a pony be out instead of standing in a stall all the time. I keep several of my ponies on Quiessence which certainly helps with those cresty necks....should be a link on my website for Foxden Equine for more info on that. Most important, keep these ponies in work, even if you just take them for walks somewhere or trotting in the round pen for 10 - 15 minutes a day would be good. I am starting to hike with the various ponies with the grandchildren....good for everyone! I just found a great company... www.OutfittersSupply.com ... that has packing equipment....some of the velcro and cordura stuff is great. Check it out! Am off to make a new edition of "Roy the Boy".....my breaking dummy.....as it is time to get Jitterbug going under saddle this summer, anyone interested in making one, give me a call and I will happily walk you through that process. I'll be home for a while getting the visiting broodmares settled in, come visit anytime.