breaking being the wrong word! Dear All, I have a challenge! I have a client who has a 5 month foal who isn't halter broken. He has a halter on as he was put in a crush before he was delivered. He arrived maybe 6 weeks ago now and he has a field buddy who he follows to go in and out of his stable. He lets his owner stroke him now for a short period of time, however my challenge is that I can only work him in either the large field of the medium sized stable. I have worked him in his stable and he has turned his bottom on me and kicked out. In the field he is curious but with 3/4 acre to play with he has no incentive to join up. I have achieved a very loose join up and he will let me pick up his grab rope, bend his head to the right and left and do presssure release to drop his head, he will also follow a little however as you'd expect when he meets resistance he flies back and he's away! We are going to try a smaller section of the field however it can only be fenced with tape so obviously I cant launch into a great join-up as I may scare him into the tape. I wondered if anyone has any ideas as to how to progress with getting him accepting pressure and also clipping on a rope etc? I can get him to stand next to me for about 10 seconds using arcing to center him a bit, I have also tried standing very close when he eats, with my long line swinging slightly and clipping the rope so it makes a sound. Not invading him just being there so he gets used to the movement. This is not a problem but as soon as he finishes he's off and about not wanting to talk to me!! I'm sure there are some bits on here so if anyone can point me in the right direction that'd be great! I have not worked with a very young foal, before so am keen to take direction! He is a robust little thing so think I can try a few MR friendly tactics without upsetting him too much.
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Hi Becky. I keep finding youngsters like this all over Scotland! It is so easy when they are only a few days old but for whatever reason people seem to neglect this first vital step. Put both pals into a much smaller area. At this stage Join up isn't vital - foals are subservient to the older herd members. I use an area 3 meters by 8. That's not a crush but is enough for 2 plus you. Try scratching him & walk away - do not use a grab rope. Come back, scratch his withers & walk away. If he turns his back end to you, step in close & scratch his butt with both hands. Remember to use the breathing exercise - large breath in & blow it all out. That'll help you remain calm. My yearling colt (2013) was a doddle to do this stuff with. My filly (2014) was completely different. I thought having done it with Kirk the filly would be easy - no way. I really had to use lateral thinking. I couldn't get near her at all for the first week. Answer, go on my knees in the field. Not only did this make her curious but bolder because I was smaller. Once you have built up some trust you can expand your scratching to all areas of his body & then, when you can scratch his head, you can finger the halter & remove it. YES, get it off. If he gets caught up whilst in the field there will be great difficulties helping him & avoiding injuries, vet bills & human damage when he has this level of distrust. Introduce the new halter gradually. Let him smell it. Rub him with it. Flop the strap over his neck, allowing him freedom to retreat when he needs to. When he is positive, walk away. I'll bet you'll be amazed how quickly he'll come around to the idea. My filly took 12 sessions of 5 minutes each to go from 'you cannot be serious' to ' hey, I can this - easy'. Keep the sessions short, give lots of praise & make it easy for this little fella. Baby steps. By Christmas he'll be leading anywhere. Good luck, cheers, Jo.
Hi Becky C,
What a wonderful challenge you have at hand, be confident, nothing too abnormal here! The suggestions Jo wrote above will be of great help, remember this is all first- time-experience for your foal, let it be a positive one...
I'd like to add to Jo's advice, that when in a stall with your youngster, you can do a "stable-Join-Up". Everytime he turns his bud towards you, send him away, as soon as he looks at you, become passive immediately. Sending in a stall of course means making small circles along the walls, this should not become a burden for their joints. Keep it short, just a few steps, until he learns that you are passive, when he faces you.
This will keep you out of the kick-zone and with that it'll keep your adrenalin low.
Horses synchronize with other living beings, so if your adrenalin is low, he'll realise that there's no reason to worry.
Now when he's learned to face you, start making movements with the back of your hand as if you'd be stroking his whithers, just to let him get used to it. Next step would be getting closer and closer, until you actually touch his whithers and walk away.
It may surprise him in the first place, but let him digest the fact that your touch didn't hurt. So now come back in the same manner, mind your breathing and your bodylanguage, keep your shoulders parallel to the horse's spine, this way you're less invasive. Approach and retreat will help him so that he'll end up searching for your touch at his shoulder. Scratch like horses do when mutually grooming, he'll like that.
Have fun and keep us posted!
Miriam
Hi! Thanks so much for suggestions! I can literally touch his forehead before he roars off or swings his arse round so not sure how I can scratch him to get him used to it? I know if I can touch him we'll prob be well away like Jo says. I will update you as to the smaller paddock idea I think realistically it's the only way forward. I forgot to say in the stable when he literally first arrived I went in and did the stable join-up and he moved to the place nearest the partition he shares with his buddy and where his hay net was and he let me move close and scratch his whole head and up his neck however after he'd been at the yard a couple of weeks and I wasn't involved with him its like he's got a little more 'cocky' as such and now goes to boot you if you move into his space. No hesitation! No one has touched him to inspire this I think it's just self preservation and maybe when he first arrived he was so overwrought he just decided to take the path of least resistance! He's obviously not mine and his owner wants the collar on, I'm confident his field is safe so I'm not overly concerned and I have used the grab rope- it's actually a very short leather strap no thicker than a flash, just to do pressure release and allow him to feel pressure and drop his head. This is most effective when I bend down and drop my head also. Would like to say I'm confident enough to get down on my knees but he's sharp with those back legs and already a big one! His field buddy is also 16.2 and heavy with it so just wouldn't want to make an error and get my face rearranged....!
Hi. I wasn't suggesting you go on your knees - that was the breakthrough point for my filly. Scratching should start at the withers. That's where his mother would have scratched him. I agree, initially he was probably overwhelmed. It's a shame he was not given a daily short session, 5 to 8 minutes. That's worked Incredibly well with my youngsters, who are confident & co operative as well as inquisitive & curious. I am regarded as herd leader - when a car crashed into a tree outside their field with much noise the herd took flight & lined up behind me! Cheers, Jo.
Is it best to immediately start join-up at weaning time?
Hi mcox10,
At weaningtime foals are too young for roundpenwork like we would do with other horses.
Their bones and joints have not yet become strong enough for the short turns and circumfrence of a roundpen. Cartilage turns into bone in the course of their growingprocess, stressing it would cause damage.
So, this doesn't mean you can't do any work with a weanling! You can do short sessions of groundwork, helping them to learn to lead, picking up feet, basically build up trust. Keep sessions short and let them sink in, latent learning is one of the most gratifying things to watch. When you get it right, repeat maybe three times and then stop. Next time you come back to the lesson, it will be easier. Taking away pressure is the best way to show that the foal has understood what you wanted.
Let us know how you're doing,
Miriam
You all will be interested in the new series FOAL EDUCATION with Leigh Wills! http://www.montyrobertsuniversity.com/training/2031188920
Hi. Really enjoyed the 1st instalment on 'handling foals'. I admit I opened the lesson with some trepidation as in my case it came too late, Kirk was born in 2013 & Holy Moley is now 8 months old so if I'd got it all wrong the damage is already done. Fantastic! I got it right. I kind of knew that because Kirk & Moley are both friendly, confident, calm & fascinated by anything new. When Kirk got a hoof over the bottom strand of the fence he simply waited for me to come & free him, no injury. If something does spook them my herd come to me if I'm there. The youngsters have learnt that from their elders, not me.
Just a little comment what one of my clients found recently with their new 7 month foal, whilst letting it feed he saw hay on it's forelock so he bent down to remove it, he ended up getting kicked very quickly. Just a reminder that the foals are completely new to our behaviour patterns and what we might think is a perfectly normal thing to do, the foal will interpret it into equus. It only took a week of incremental training with this foal and you can now do anything around her head and she's relaxed. Her next stage is to approach from behind and being able to stand behind her whilst she is eating. I focus on training things that the owners might do around their horses without thinking which can be misinterpreted by the foal. These are owners that are not necessarily interested in learning new techniques, but expect their horses to know.
Very good Jo, it's a great feeling when they wait for you when in trouble :D
x
I would second Debbie's comment about Leigh Wills' videos on the UNI
http://www.montyrobertsuniversity.com/training/2031188920
I had the pleasure of assisting Leigh for two months during the foaling season in New Zealand and the method she uses with the foals is second to none in terms of safety, efficiency, low adrenaline and your foal's success for the future. She is absolutely the foal master! It's also invaluable in understanding the differences between foals and older horses so you know which methods to utilise with either and why some may not be suitable in certain circumstances.
All the best with this youngster.
Definitely take a look at Leigh's Videos on the UNI, they will be very helpful to someone starting out with young foals.
I have had similar situations with yearlings that hadn't been handled at all. I found that by approaching them in the pasture on Horseback I could more easily achieve a join up in the larger space, as well as getting a really nice follow up and rubbing of vulnerable areas that I was able to reach from horseback. This work built a lot of trust with the yearlings and that carried over into other areas: first saddle, ponying and first rider. I do have to say that this wouldn't be possible without a safe mount to work off, and I am very thankful to have a great gelding that works with me in these situations.
Leigh Wills videos were so great when our colt was born. Also the imprinting methods of Dr. Miller. Spencer, our colt has only his Mom and us, no play buddies. Now at 5 mo. he is really full of himself and very playful and a typical nippy stud colt, but too big to play with. I just got my green Dually and it truly is magic. He was leading well the first time in the round pen, stopping and turning both ways. Above all he never tried to nip and was so relaxed and quiet. I tried putting my arms around his head..carefully of course... And he just gently rested his head against my chest. That was the perfect time to end our first session with the Dually. Have done a second session, again with great success..all very relaxed. During the second session, Spencer walked over a tarp, even picking it up in his teeth, and I gently put the tarp over his back,etc. This acceptance is due in a huge part to his Mom, who was shown extensively and who is very curious and calm.. Spencer sees that Mom is O.K. With scary stuff, so he accepts a ball, pool noodles and a feed bag filled with straw as his toys. The Uni is invaluable as we can return to it as often as we want. I also went to Flag Is Up Farm for the Intro course. Unbelievable how much there is to learn, even after almost 30 years, breeding, raising, showing lots of horses. May we never stop learning.
A bit long..oops
Use the green Dually on your young horses, be gentle, but it sure works wonderfully..
Lyn
Great story Lyn, all hail the Dually!! I wouldn't be without my Duallys! While your gentle mare clearly has an influence, don't play down your part in it Lyn; you've clearly done a great job with both of them! :-)
although I have not had the opportunity to be this close with a foal I am fascinated by all this info, stories etc. and will defiantly check out these lessons! thanks for sharing and good luck with your babies!
Hello Becky I`ve been starting foals for 25 yrs as we have a breeding farm with Egyptian Arabian horses. You have your work cut out for yourself with he foal being 5 months of age. They can become very strong, both in the head and body. I would strongly suggest that you get the little guy in a smaller area and desensitize him first to just standing comfortably beside while you caress him with your hands. I have always felt the hands are one of the most important training tools that we can use. Do not allow him to turn his butt to you {use your join-up principles} and make him move. The movement is the direct line to his brain. He already knows this from the older horses that he runs with. Try and create a happy learning environment and make him feel good. FEEL is the operative word here. Our training with the foals start immediately after the foaling process is complete with the messaging of the fetlock while gently moving that area and stretching the ligaments. These few moments, prior to the foal standing for the first time, seem to pay many dividends for the baby in the way he moves about during the first week. They are not walking around on their tip toes. During this fist week, I introduce my set of hoops { 1" dia. 18" round plastic} one around the neck, one around the butt, and leading lessons are started {about 3 min a side} until they learn to give to the subtle directional pressure. This usually takes about 3-4 days of 4-3 times a day. We do not lead them with a halter and lead rope during this stage of development because their necks are so very fragile in proportion to their strength a foot. Getting these babies under control is so important because their hooves need to be dealt periodically thru the foaling stage. Remember,with any baby, the DNA thru their hoof development is set into action upon birth. With that said, these horse as foals are set-up to travel up to 20 miles a day to stay up with the protection of the herd. So a baby`s hoof development goes into an accelerated mode for the first few days-week. Being keep in captivity, the hooves are not naturally trimmed, so we must keep that part of their development in check. If you can`t handle the baby, how are going to trim the hoof and keep it true to the individual? This is so-oo important with our foals as it keeps hoof pathologies at bay. You can do this Becky--step by step. Make a note of your daily progress as it`s those moments of writing and reflection that the answers make themselves known. Let me know how it`s going. Bud
So pleased to see you say too '''' Do not allow him to turn his butt to you ''''
I see too many that think it's cute their little foal want's a butt itch, but it soon changes when they're taller than the owner and the demands for butt itches become more and the owners become scared of the back end of their horses.
Hi Bud - the hoop idea is interesting I've not come across that. I've seen/used Montys "figure of eight rope" but using ready made hoops has got me thinking :-) What do you feel are the advantages of hoops over rope?
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BTW I also agree re: butt scratching!!
He Vicci and thank you for your comments. The main difference {ropes vs. hoops for foals} is I believe that the hoops are easier to handle. This is because you stand quietly by the foal scratching and soothing while cradling the hoops in one of your arms near the elbow. Then just quickly slip one hoop over the head while continuing to scratch and soothe. Then place the other over the butt and your ready to desensitize the baby to pressure. Notice how closely this puts to the baby, I believe this is a win-win proposition for both foal and handler because you FEEL each other and intimacy is reborn. This exercise takes a few days to become solid, but it`s non-invasive psychically from a negative point of view. The hoops the themselves are made out of 3\4" vinyl,hot water, piping and duct tape together to form the hoop {about 18" for the head and neck area and 24" for the butt area} These measurements can be adjusted to the size of the foal. With patience, there is absolutely no trauma brought about in these lessons. Give this a try and let me know what you think. Bud
Hi Bud and all,
That is a very interesting post!
In September I was in Colorado to do Anna Twinney's Orphaned Foal-Gentling Course, there's a lot you write about that was discussed and put into practice during that week. My experience of working with Ararbian- and Maremma-weanlings is much the same. What I use is a horseman's rope, but your hoop seems a great idea! Haltering comes naturally if all other steps of gentling are in place.
Miriam
Hi Guys! Since my original post the little chap isnt so little anymore and he's going well! Shortly after that we were leading him around and he didn't try and break away from me. I don't work with him now although he's at my yard as he's just growing and chilling out with his owner. I think the difficulty was just that he had got to that stage and no one had touched him at all.
I'm with you all- if I ever breed from my girl or buy a foal I will be on it.. Monty Roberts style! hair dryer/plastic bags/ crisp packet scrunching and halter training as soon as is reasonably possible. Much easier when they're smaller!
Glad things are going well Becky :-)