Formative pruning Oak seedlings

[fagus]

I should know this but would welcome any views.

 

I have a couple of red oak seedlings which have some sentimental value.I nurture them a bit in the garden as I don't want rodents or rabbits to chew them. I have shortened lower branches a little bit to train them but wonder should I just leave them and let them sort out a natural leader themselves.

 

In my time I have planted thousands of whips and have just let sort themselves out, but close planting before thinning helps shape them.

[woodyguy]

Red oak have a pretty dominant leader, so you can probably just leave them for a year and see what they do. The ones I did that to this year are growing away strongly with only one leader.