Yearling's At the Sales-behavior

[O'Leary]

I've posted before about this being my first yearling sale at Keenland and in the Tbs ( done the qhorses) and I have a question. I know it's 6 months away, but I"m already thinking about what's her reaction going to be when she comes off the farm, where all she's been around is her mom, and old horse and a gelding. Not alot of activity goes on around here so you could say she's rather sheltered. She's been to the vets, and I even hauled her to the farrier just to get her out and about , but I'm concerned when she gets to the sale grounds, in the walking ring and the sale pavillion what her reaction will be...I've thought about taking her to some open shows locally and hanging out, but what do the big farms do. I know there's alot more activity going on on the farms, but even then that's a comfort zone for their horses too and Keenland's the big bad dark unkown.......Is there's a legal "nerve pill" that's allowed or do you just hope your wild child is on it's best behavior?.......I feel like a worry wert. I want to play straight and legal, but if hebal relaxants are allowed sign me up....I think I may need some for myself before it's all over

[teb]

I think you will be surpised how well the handle going to the sales. We prep a few horses each year and we are very small. Our yealings lead a sheltered life as well. Out on the grass, surrounded by 120 acres and no real activity. Ours have to get on a van and ship across the Irish Sea to England for sales and we have never had a problem. Even with ones I think are going to be silly, they do just fine. You could take her to shows and hang out, that's never bad. I had a foal last year who was weaned at 5 months. I really wanted to take him to a foal class at my local show. He was 6 months and I elected to take him without his mom. I spent a couple of weeks walking all over the farm and going diffrent places. He loaded like a champ, had bandages on, got braided all for the 1st time on the day. Got to the show, he had to go by big gypsy caravans with the big colored cobs pulling them and he never batted an eyelid. He was the only one in class without a mom and the only one who could walk properly. He was also the only TB cross out of all Draughts so he did really well. I was so proud of him and realized they can handle more than we think. Your filly will be just fine. Don't think you will need herbal relaxers.
Terri

[LSB]

I agree with teb that almost all of them seem to handle it very well, even the ones that have been pretty sheltered. We sold a weanling last November and I was concerned for the same reasons you are, but she settled in very well. Maybe it's sensory overload and all they can figure out to do is fall back on their training? If your yearling is like ours, you probably won't have any problems.

[O'Leary]

I agree..she'll probably do just fine, it's me that'll need the nerve pill

I had to deworm her today, and she absolutely hates that and will fight me tooth and nail over it, so I had to come up with a solution that'd work for me doing it alone. Hubby was in bed sick and I was just tired of the fight. So I tied her and let her paw alittle, as she always does, and then I took some bailing twine and ran it back around her ears and down the side of her face, running it through the side loops on the halter and when it touched her lips she thought it was hay and started mouthing at it and I let it slip into her mouth and I tightened it up with just enough tension in it and tied it off. While she was mouthing it I eased the cap off the wormer behind my back and brough it up from underneath her head where she couldnt see it coming and when she had her mouth open playing with the twine I eased it up to her mouth and shot it in........... ....hehehe She didn't freak out as usual and seemed rather perplexed that I fooled her. I just hope it works next time