foal training

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

*** should i be doing with a 7 month old foal??? training

[Mehitabel]

not very much at all! babies need to be babies.

at that age ours will lead to and from the field, be groomed all over, have feet picked up and load, which they learn with their mums as they spend their summer in a field we box to.
then after weaning, they come in for a month or so so they are handled every day, then go out before christmas and that's it except for checking over every day. they then do nothing formal until they're two, normaly, when we start teaching them about inhand showing.

[Jessey]

Or you can do lots - clicker training, playing games, going for long walks (get used to traffic, bridges etc) theres loads of stuff you CAN do but you really don't have to, I try to think of things that I dont want to 'disguss' when they are twice the size!

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

thanks for the replys its just that the stables where i keep my foal keep moaning at me sayin i should be with her more and get her used to bein handeled i lead her in from the field and groom her pick her feet up *** more can i do?? silly people they r

[chev]

Doing too much will just overface her and encourage her to switch off. My colt, also seven months old (nearly 8) will halter, lead, stand for grooming and to have feet picked up, and back up a pace or two when asked. He's wandered up and down t4he road a couple of times.

Over the next couple of months he'll learn to trot up in-hand, but only because I plan to show him lightly this season, and that only because he has a possible future as a stallion.

Otherwise, basic handling is all you really need - yes, introduce some interesting things, maybe hoses on her feet or whatever - but I'd be reluctant to do too much.

Es sums it up for me - babies need to be babies. Work, and training, comes later.

[shandy84]

I personally haven't had one that young, but didn't start any big handling until they were a year and a half, just what Es suggests is fine, you don't need to rush a baby and don't listen to anyone who says you do.

One thing to keep in mind as well is that a baby has a very short attention span at that age so really long walks or handling sessions may well either overload her or just not be worth it as she doesn't pay attention to it after a little while.

[Tarlor]

I don't have a foal but a friend of my family's has a race horse colt. Very cute. But he started the training when he was about a week old. I thought this was a bit harsh but I watched him work with the foal. He uses a lasso thing behind the Ringo's hind quaters to make him move forward and slakens it when the Ringo does the right thing. He also runs his hands over his legs, body and face. The whole thing is very gentle and I was convinced it was a very good idea. It helps with when they get bigger. There is a 2yr old colt that sometimes refuses to float. When the lasso is put on he goes on without a fuss. Ringo's breeding is going to make him a big horse and learning that sort of thing when he is young is a great advantage. His mum doesn't mind. She actually pushes Ringo over to him.

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

sounds abit much that i wouldnt do that to my foal it would scare her.

[nakedescapee]

IMHO, I agree with Tarlor. It's important to teach a foal some of the concepts it will need as an adult horse, and to have respect and trust for its handler.

i wouldnt do that to my foal it would scare her

It's better for the foal to learn respect (not be scared) than for you to be scared of the foal next year when it is big enough to really hurt you.

Clinton Anderson says to "scare" your horse a little and in a safe and kind fashion. Then, it won't be spooky in situations where other horses would be freaking out... a gentle sacking out.

[Jessey]

I think Cherry Hill has written a book of ideas of what you can do from birth to two year olds, might be worth a look. I don't think you will scare her as at this age they are SSooooo inquisitive, introducing something new every couple of months will help keep her stimulated. My friend got her chap at 3 months (don't know why he was so young but it wasn't her doing) and she just did to him what ever she was doing with her older horses, by the time he was a year nothing fased him, now as a 3 year old he is a confident, happy chap. He was lightly driven this year and even when cars came past tooting their horns (yes, very stupid people) he trusted our judgement and carried on like nothing had happened. I also know another foal who found all the fuss and attension all to much and went a bit nasty so she has now been turned away completely. I think you know your foal best so just do what you feel happy with and listen to what she tells you aswell.
Best of luck
J

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

thanks for the advice she likes to pull me when im leading her i do tell her off and she stops also she nips at me sometimes which i have to stop her doing i give her a smack on her nose.

[chev]

Originally posted by xxdebbie_ukxx
sounds abit much that i wouldnt do that to my foal it would scare her.

The point of early handling though is to make sure she doesn't get scared though. What Tarlor describes is what I'd call basic handling - no pressure, no real training as such, but getting a foal used to being touched all over and having people around. If at any point the foal gets scared, you've overdone it, and need to go back a step.

I don't agree with the idea of scaring them 'a little' - sacking out can be a good thing, but there's no need to scare a foal while you do it. Better still, in my experience, is to let them find out about these things themselves.

My colt isn't at all worried about plastic - he's not been sacked out at all. I left a plastic sheet on the ground for him to investigate. Sat there while he sniffed it, pawed it, backed away and went back - he's quite happy for me to shake it out and fiddle with it now without any real input from me at all. All I did was stay with him to keep an eye out.

Other things we've met include bins, traffic, a building site (again, I just stood with him on the lead and talked to him. We watched for a while, and went home.) kids, dogs - all sorts. All of it was incidental - we just met them, watched them, saw they were no big deal, investigated a bit more if he wanted to and left it at that.

I don't do any real 'training' with him - I just try to make sure that when I spend time with him it's fun, and positive, and that way he learns without any other input from me. :)

[AnneS]

I agree with all your answers, but there are too many people who cannot wait with training until the foal is mature enough.

I bought my pony when she was 1 year old. The former owner already had started to longe her when she was 6 month old. Poor little thing did not know what happened to her. It was no slow training, she had to gallop all the time, because they thought that she needs exercise. They just chased her around the circle because she did not want to, they thought. They never realized that she did not understand, because she was a baby. I can’t believe how stupid some people are, calling themselves horseman.

I do not know which harm this did to her mentally, because she has a good character and shows no signs of s.th. being wrong. But physically I believe that it did harm her. Because she was chased in a small circle all the time she got a confirmation fault. Her front legs are not straight, their so called knock-kneed. I think she had it from birth, but it got worse because of the longing.

After I bought her I slowed down her “training” a lot. When she was two, people started asking me when I will break her in. But I stick to my opinion that you should not mount a pony or horse before it is 5.

[chev]

Good for you, Anne S. Glad your pony has a second chance with someone who has her welfare as a priority - I too have a gelding who was broken under the age of 2. He was giving pony rides at fairs by 2 years old. He has suffered damage to his joints as a result - notably his hocks and stifles, where he has arthritis. He's not even ten years old yet.

Seems so sad that people can't just be patient and wait even an extra couple of years sometimes - when it could mean the difference between a long and healthy working life, and an early retirement with joint problems.

To say nothing of the impact that training can have on a youngster who is mentally too immature to cope with the demands made of them.

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

again i thank you for the replys i dont and i wouldnt do any heavy training with her i just wanted to know what i could teach her but u have repyed with good advice and i will try and intruduce more things to her ect plastic sheets bins things around the yard.

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

wonder if anyone can give advice?? my foal has started playing up in the mornings when my friend turns her out she pulls her and wont lt her put the headcoller on my friend has said if it carrys on she wont put her out for me anymore as shes getting to strong and my friend has a bad leg.when i bring her in shes fine.

[chev]

She's probably pulling because she's excited about going out. Your friend needs to be firm with her - when she pulls, a definite 'no' and backing her up a couple of steps until she's listening again should help. When she walks on quietly, praise her.

If your friend makes sure that she pulls the foal's head back round towards her when she pulls it'll help stop the foal pulling away (horses can't pull forwards when they're facing a different direction), and sometimes a longer leadrope can help too.

Putting the headcollar on is just persistance. If your friend can do this in stages - first rub her shoulder, then her neck, then her face, then put the nosepiece over her nose and so on - it's easier than if she just goes straight in and tries to headcollar her. Make sure the headcollar is comfortable and is put on slowly without rushing.

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

thanks for the advice all *** i do when i bring her in shame my friend cant do the same but shes not that good at handleing horses.

[chev]

Wouldit be impossible for you to turn her out? If your friend isn't experienced with horses, especially foals, and has a bad leg to boot, it doesn't actually sound like a great arrangement anyway. It would be easy for your friend or the foal to end up frightened or hurt.

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

yes i know your right but i cant get down there till 11am and all the horses go out at 10am i told my friend to leave her till i get there but she dosent.

[aliw]

Originally posted by xxdebbie_ukxx
i told my friend to leave her till i get there but she dosent.

Then tell her again! She's your foal!

[nutkin]

the foal at our yard is a 9mth old foal and had his first trim today with the farrier. He has just started trying it on with his handlers and does need firmly reminding that he can not get away with it. We have got him picking up his feet nicely and he was good with the farrier today. We are just about to teach him to trot up in hand and hopefully we will start to take him out with the horses when we go out for short hacks so we can start introducing him to strange sights and sounds. He had a plastic bag blow up over his head when it was very windy not so long ago and he was calmer than my mare.

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

when you say firm handleing what do they do shout smack????

[chev]

There shouldn't be any need at all to shout or smack a foal. If you stand up square to them when they play up, take a step towards them, look them in the eye and say 'no' firmly they usually get the idea.

A foal that physically attacked me would get a smack but very little else warrants it IMHO.

Andy (eight month old foal) made the unfortunate mistake of grabbing my face with his teeth two days after I brought him home. So I grabbed him back - held onto his top lip and ranted at him. He never bit me again. No need to smack him at all.

I have smacked foals - we had a colt who double-barrelled me as he went past - I had a halter in my hand and wapped him with it as he went. But the trying it on behaviour is absolutely normal, and best solved simply by standing up to them and firmly making what you want clear. Smacking them really isn't very productive - it might stop them, but it doesn't show them what you do want. Squaring up to them, making them back out of your space and insisting that they listen makes it very clear that you expect them to listen, that you want their respect, and that you are confident enough to be in charge. You earn their respect, their trust, and their attention that way.

It's basically about learning to use the language a foal understands - and a foal will always understand horse better than smacking.

[JustJas]

Kizzy- who I have since she was born- i have spent time playing with- walking out with her equi-mentor- or looking at stuff in a safe place.
As a 3.5 yr old she is chilled and relaxed to new experiences.
It is like playing with any baby- enjoy new experiences.

[JustJas]

And never forget she is your foal! Get to know her and trust your instincts!

[Quest]

murphy (9mths) has started to see how far he can push me i try not to smack him but when he lifted he rear leg to kick me he did get a wallop along with a lot of shouting and swearing - i must admit i did feel guilty when he stood there with his 'i'm sorry mum' look but it is better than my hoof in the mouth look!!!

[xxdebbie_ukxx]

ya i know what you mean my foal turns her backside to me when shes eatin in her stable so i leave her to it as i dont think i would like to be pested when im having my dinner.but if she did it any other time i would shout at her maybe smack her .shes 8 months now and wants to jump about on the way to her field and pull me there but i say a firm no and hold her back but she walks faster then me lol .