Katie Van Slyke Gives Woody and Benedict Early-Morning Workouts — And Explains Why Movement Matters During Growth Spurts

Katie Van Slyke is adjusting the farm schedule around Tennessee’s intense heat, and that means some of the youngest horses are getting to work before most people have even finished breakfast.

Katie said the area was dealing with what she described as a heat dome, so horse work was starting early in the morning before temperatures became uncomfortable.

First on the schedule were Woody and Benedict — the young boys Katie jokingly referred to as the “wiener boys.”

But their early-morning session was not simply about burning off extra energy.

In fact, Katie says both youngsters are naturally pretty lazy.

The short round-pen sessions are being used for two important reasons: encouraging appropriate movement while the youngsters are growing and teaching Woody and Benedict to be comfortable working independently instead of becoming overly attached to each other. Reel05.txtTXT

Tennessee’s Heat Changes the Daily Routine

Katie’s first challenge had nothing to do with the horses themselves.

It was the weather.

Despite the calendar moving toward fall, Tennessee was still extremely hot.

That meant Katie and her team were shifting horse work to the early morning so the animals could exercise before temperatures became oppressive.

Woody and Benedict were the first horses of the day.

Katie’s video showed exactly how early the routine had become when she joked that Woody was probably thinking, “I’m tired. It’s 6:00 a.m.”

For these young horses, though, the timing offered a safer and more comfortable way to get a little movement without asking too much of them in the heat.

Why Are Woody and Benedict Being Worked?

Katie anticipated that followers might wonder why such young horses needed structured exercise at all.

The answer starts with weaning.

Katie explained that they are still waiting for the remaining foals to be weaned, which is expected to happen in October.

Eventually, all of the youngsters should be able to live together again.

For now, however, Woody and Benedict have been dealing with what Katie described as a little “buddy sour” behavior.

In simple terms, the two youngsters had become very attached to one another.

Katie and her team wanted to help them learn that being temporarily separated is not something to fear.

So each youngster gets individual attention and a short session away from his buddy. Reel05.txtTXT

Woody and Benedict Aren’t Exactly Running Around the Pasture

Another reason for the sessions is much simpler.

The boys are lazy.

Katie said both Woody and Benedict go outside every day.

They have turnout.

They have space.

But apparently, having access to a pasture does not automatically mean they use it for exercise.

Katie joked that they might as well not be outside because they often just stand around.

That is where a small amount of intentional movement can help.

Katie emphasized that these are not intense workouts.

She is talking about only a few minutes of running around each day — roughly five minutes.

The goal is not to exhaust them.

It is simply to make sure their growing bodies get some controlled movement. Reel05.txtTXT

Woody May Be the Laziest of the Two

Woody, or Woodrow, received plenty of teasing during the session.

Katie said he genuinely does not like to move.

Even what should have been a faster gait looked like something Woody would happily avoid if given the choice.

Katie jokingly described the pace as his “top speed.”

Still, she managed to get a few steps from him.

And for Katie, that was enough.

The objective is not conditioning a performance horse.

Woody is still young and developing.

The sessions are meant to support that development without overdoing it.

Young Horses Can Go Through an Awkward Stage

Katie also addressed something horse owners know well:

Young horses do not always look polished while growing.

Woody and Benedict are currently in what Katie jokingly called their “gangly little donkey” stage.

Their bodies are changing.

Their legs seem long.

Their proportions can look awkward.

And that is completely normal.

Katie explained that raising young horses requires accepting that they may go through periods where they simply do not look finished.

There can be a temptation to feed more in hopes of making a youngster look bigger, rounder or more impressive.

But Katie said growth spurts complicate that approach.

Growth, Nutrition and Movement Have to Stay Balanced

Katie’s bigger point was about balance.

Woody and Benedict have access to everything they need.

They go outside.

They have free-choice hay.

They receive grain.

Their nutritional needs are being met.

But Katie does not want to push their appearance at the expense of healthy development.

She explained that if a youngster suddenly goes through a major growth spurt without enough appropriate movement, that can create concerns.

That is why she would rather tolerate a temporary awkward stage than try to force a young horse to look physically mature too soon.

As Katie put it, sometimes owners simply have to “accept the uglies on the babies.” Reel05.txtTXT

Woody Is an Especially Important Case Because of His Size

Woody also presents another consideration.

Katie expects him to become very large.

She said anyone who has raised particularly big foals understands the concern that can come with major growth spurts.

A rapidly growing youngster can change dramatically in a short period.

That is another reason Katie is paying attention to movement and development rather than focusing only on appearance.

Woody might look a little gangly right now.

Katie is not worried about that.

She believes he is going to grow into a very impressive horse.

For now, his job is simply to grow safely and learn the basic lessons expected of him. Reel05.txtTXT

Then It Was Benedict’s Turn

Once Woody finished, Benedict came next.

Katie immediately pointed out one of Benedict’s current training challenges.

He does not like the grate.

Apparently, that had also been an issue during the previous day’s session.

But Katie praised Benedict for being brave.

These small experiences matter because the purpose of working with young horses is not only physical exercise.

Every unusual surface, new environment and small obstacle becomes an opportunity to build confidence.

Benedict may hesitate at the grate now.

But successfully navigating it can help him learn that unfamiliar things are manageable.

Benedict Looks Tiny Next to Woody

The difference in size between the two boys is hard to ignore.

Katie joked about how tiny Benedict appears compared with Woody.

She also pointed out Benedict’s fluffy appearance and called him handsome.

Their contrasting body types are particularly interesting because the two are actually related.

Woody and Benedict are half-brothers.

They have different mothers but share the same sire:

VS Code Red. Reel05.txtTXT Reel05.txtTXT

Despite sharing a father, they have developed very differently.

One is Katie’s “little Western boy.”

The other is the much larger youngster expected to become a giant.

It is a useful reminder of how much influence the dam and individual genetics can have, even among half-siblings.

The Round Pen Serves Two Purposes

Katie described the short round-pen work as a “double whammy.”

The first benefit is physical.

The youngsters get a controlled amount of movement that puts appropriate load through their developing joints and legs.

Katie is deliberately keeping it moderate.

She does not want excessive exercise.

She simply wants enough movement to support the young horses as they grow.

The second benefit is behavioral.

Woody and Benedict are learning to be separated from one another and still have a positive experience. Reel05.txtTXT

That lesson could become increasingly important as their training progresses.

Learning to Focus on a Person Instead of Each Other

Katie also explained that these sessions are helping the boys build a relationship with the person handling them.

In roughly two years, that same person may be involved in starting them under saddle and doing more advanced work.

That makes the foundation being built now important.

Katie wants Woody and Benedict to learn that the handler is someone they should respect, listen to and focus on.

Instead of constantly worrying about where their buddy is, they can learn to direct their attention toward the human asking them to do something. Reel05.txtTXT

It is a small lesson now.

But it could make future training much easier.

Benedict Is Apparently Lazy Too

Woody may get most of the jokes about refusing to move, but Benedict apparently is not much different.

Katie called Benedict a lazy boy too.

That makes the structured movement even more useful.

If both horses naturally preferred to spend turnout standing around, simply giving them a large pasture would not necessarily guarantee that they were moving enough.

A few intentional minutes in the round pen solves that problem without creating a demanding training program.

Their Half-Brother Relationship Makes the Comparison Fun

Knowing Woody and Benedict are both by VS Code Red adds another interesting layer to following them.

They share the same sire.

But they have different mothers and very different builds.

Katie pointed out that this helps explain why the pair does not look identical despite their shared paternal genetics.

Benedict is smaller.

Woody is expected to be huge.

Their personalities may also continue developing differently.

For followers, watching two related youngsters grow side by side provides an interesting look at how half-siblings can inherit different combinations of traits.

All the Babies Will Eventually Be Together Again

The current separation plan is temporary.

Katie said once the remaining babies are weaned, all the youngsters should eventually be reunited.

That is expected to happen within the next few weeks.

Until then, Woody and Benedict can continue working on independence.

The goal is not to permanently keep them apart.

It is simply to make sure they can function separately without becoming overly dependent on one another.

Then, when the larger baby group comes together, they should have a healthier foundation for interacting both with horses and people.

Katie Wants the Other Foals to Have Another Round-Pen Experience Too

Woody and Benedict are not the only youngsters Katie wants to work with before weaning.

She said she thinks the other babies should get out with their mothers in the round pen at least one more time before separation.

That would give them another controlled, positive experience before their routines change.

Once everyone is weaned, the youngsters can all be together again.

That will start another new chapter in their development. Reel05.txtTXT

More Horses Were Waiting After the Boys

Woody and Benedict were only the beginning of Katie’s morning.

After their short sessions, she still planned to work with several other horses.

Katie mentioned riding Ethel and doing some work with Daphne.

With the extreme Tennessee heat, getting an early start was necessary if everyone was going to get attention before conditions became uncomfortable.

It made for a busy morning — but one built around adapting the schedule to the animals rather than forcing them to work through the hottest part of the day.

For Now, Woody and Benedict Are Allowed to Look Awkward

Perhaps the most important message in Katie’s update is that young horses do not need to look perfect every day of their development.

Woody is gangly.

Benedict can look awkward depending on how he is standing.

Both are growing.

Both are still babies.

And Katie is comfortable allowing them to go through that stage.

The priority is not creating a perfect photo.

It is raising sound, confident young horses.

That means appropriate nutrition.

Turnout.

Controlled movement.

Good handling.

Positive experiences away from each other.

And patience while their bodies catch up with all those long legs.

Two Lazy Boys With a Lot of Growing Left to Do

For now, Woody and Benedict still have plenty of time before anyone expects them to become finished riding horses.

Katie said the person working with them now may eventually be the person starting and riding them approximately two years from now.

That means these early mornings are laying very basic groundwork for a much longer process.

Today it is only a few minutes of movement.

A grate Benedict does not particularly like.

A lazy Woody who would rather stand still.

And a lesson in being separated from a best friend.

Later, those experiences may help produce horses that are more confident, responsive and comfortable focusing on their handlers.

The two VS Code Red sons may look like “gangly little donkeys” today.

But Katie already sees what they could become.

For now, Woody and Benedict just need to keep moving, keep learning — and survive those awkward baby growth spurts one early morning at a time. 🐴❤️ Reel05.txtTXT