What Can I Do With a Yearling?

What can you do with a yearling? What should you train horses at this age and how much handling should they get used to? Heres an overview of what you can expect when training and handling a yearling.
The official means of determining a horses age depends on its breed. Some breeds count a horses age from its birthdate while other breed registries count age from January 1meaning your horse could either turn one on its specific birth date or on New Years Day. If a horses age is counted from January 1 some breeders try plan for their mares to give birth as soon after this date as possible. This gives the maximum growing time for the foal before it turns old enough to work at age two.

Habits of Yearlings
Yearlings will most likely be fully weaned and independent of their mothers. They will be sleeping less and spend more of their resting time standing rather than lying down. Play is important at this time as is interaction with other horses. Youngsters are very curious and enjoy mouthing anything they can find in their pastures or stalls. Play balls and other safe toys can satisfy their curiosity.  Youngsters will play amongst themselves play fighting galloping and bucking. They need room to move so they can exercise and grow strong. This is also a time of rapid growth so good nutrition is important. It is possible to overfeed a young horse so care has to be taken not to encourage too rapid growth which can lead to joint problems. A youngster should be on the lean side and not pleasantly plump. 
Care is needed to keep colts separated