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. 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. Care is needed
to keep colts separated from mares in heat. Some colts start
showing an interest in mares at a very young age and some
particularly precocious individuals may be able to breed a mare.
Although a colt is not technically reproductively mature until
it is about 2-3 years old many a breeding accident has happened
with a colt thought too young to be fertile. Gelding
(castration) can be done as soon as the testes have descended
into the scrotum. If the prime reason for a horse's existence is
as a pleasure horse than the sooner gelding is done the better.
Although some breeders may have reasons to