Games for Foal

[Lisa McLachlan]

Hi Everyone

I've got an 8 month old foal, rather a cheeky, full of herself type foal actually. I handle her everyday and go for walks etc, but she's a clever little madam (eg, she likes to untie her mums lead rope and take her for a walk herself) so I'm looking for something a little extra to stimulate her brain. I've heard of clicker training but don't know anything about it, I'm not sure about parelli, as I know some have reservations about it.... Any advice appreciated?

Lisa

[ros]

It's tempting, isn't it, but my feelings are that it's better to let youngsters have their playtime with horsey companions - who after all are the best teachers of manners - and save human games for later when there's a purpose to them.

It's very easy to regard young horses as pets, like dogs - particularly the bright ones - but I don't believe you can play with a young horse in the way that you might with a young dog, because it's too easy to instill a kind of over-familiarity which can cause problems when your cute little foal becomes a big strapping horse! I've seen it happen, and although physically the human usually comes off worst, in the long-term it's the horse that suffers. That's when it goes wrong, of course.

That's not to say you shouldn't EVER play with a foal or youngster - just that you must be extremely careful what sort of games you play, and you must also be aware of what constitutes a "game" to a horse, and I think if you're in any doubt whatsoever, it's much safer to leave Playtime in the field :) Baby horses have plenty of interesting things to learn about, and some very basic stuff, like being led, moving over, picking up feet and so on, should really be enough to keep them occupied.

[Dizzy]

Turnout with other youngsters (if its possible) gives foals the chance to to play and have a good hooley around. It also gives thier Mums a well deserved break.

I also agree with Ros, stick to the basics and keep each session short and sweet.

BTW its lovely to read that your foal is still with Mum at 8 months, so many are weaned much younger. My horse ran with her Mum, her half sister and a herd of about 15, of various ages and types until she was just over a year. We lost her Mum then, she then stayed with the herd for another year. Her Mum and the other horses gave her a far better education and playtime than I ever could.

She's always been and still can be a cheeky miss, and I've seen her get many a flea in her ear, from older horses, but it taught her respect, and how to live and get along with other horses - not all of them saw her as a lovable cheeky youngster. A couple regarded her as a right royal pain in bum, and didn't make any bones about telling her! But she's clever and was quick to learn, who's backside you didn't nip and who not to push in front off.

These are valuable lessons for a youngster, and stand you in good stead when you're handling them. I, like you handled mine most days, but only for about 5 or 10 minutes, I'd bring her in, give a quick scratch or groom, pick up her feet then turn her back out. She has always loved to come in, throughout all of her life, I've never had to catch her (only when she was tiny, but then I caught Mum anyway) unless she's laid asleep, she comes as soon as she sees me.

This is her as a 4 yr old, making her way over to the gate.

Al the best with your youngster.

[Heather]

Hi Lisa,

Good to see you posting again, by the way! I agree with Ros, let youngsters play with others and wait until they aer a little older. CT is great, but I feel that it could make a youngster a little too precocious, unless you really know what you are doing.

Heather

[Lisa McLachlan]

Hi Everyone

You've hit my worry straight on the head. I only have the mare and foal together. Mum's very good with her but the baby really could do with a herd. I don't have my own land, but am starting to look for a new house with a few acres so I could get a few more horses. It's really hard to find places down here for horses so I don't really have the possibility of moving them. I also started the Strasser method about 6 months ago, and although the best thing I could have ever done, it means I need 24 hrs turnout 365 days a year, which can also be difficult to find. I will take all of your advice, and back off a bit though.

Thanks for your kind words as well Heather. I haven't been on for a while it's true, I've had some major life threatening stuff going on in my life, which has kept me pre-occupied. I'm up and running again now, although health wise I still have a little way to go. I really want to start my lessons again with Della, so I must contact her soon. As I've mentioned above, I did eventually go down the Strasser route and I've got a wonderful trimmer called Tracey who travels to me once every 4 weeks. The shoulder problem I had with my mare, which I spoke to you about before went completely after the first trim. It was wonderful to watch, she immediately came up higher on the withers after the first trim, so I've put it down to some sort of muscle tension or something. Her feet weren't that bad and weren't far off Strassers sort of recommendations but she had absolutely hideous bars. Anyway, will stop rattling on, it's great to be back, and I'm really looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

Take Care Everyone!

Lisa

[Lisa McLachlan]

PS: Dizzy - what a stunning looking horse, you must be so proud!

[Jay.o]

someone said that putting young horses with other young horses wpuld be good but i dont think it is such a good idea.
i had timmy and connie together for a onth and they got on very well. they ran and played about and had a lot of fun. but they didnt have a ny respect for anyone that went in the paddock with them !!! so we split them up and but timmy with an older shetland thats 12 and he has alot of manners and very capable in the right hands and connie went with a 37 year old mule !
they both have alot of respect now and calmed down alot !
timmy is now three and already had a rider but not backed and schooled hjust exsperimenting !
connie has grown up a bit but still is a foal inside but has a lot more respect for people in the field ! jack taught her well !

good luck with you horse though !
just try schooling while out on the walks.
like walk, trot halt all to voice commands and its training him up well but not in a boring school ! we are out on great walks in the sountry !

i will post a link to a great site that some one on here recommened to me ! i liked it loads !

[Jay.o]

here the link !

[URL=http://www.equusite.com/articles/trick/trickHome.shtml]

[Jay.o]

didnt work !
sorry i will try again !

http://www.equusite.com/articles/trick/trickHome.shtml (http://)

[Jay.o]

i cant get it to work. so here is the link to the thread i satrted and the link is one there !

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15566 (http://)

[Jay.o]

right i give up now cant do it !!!!
i am sorry for all this wasting time and space !