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Horse Behavior and Training

Lazy Colt

By:
Camieree
Date:
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Hi,

I just bought my six month colt two months ago and after using all of Monty's desensitizing and join up techniques I still can't get him to trot or canter in the round pen. He barely walks when I send him off. He is practically a two on the temperament scale but worried he's not getting enough exercise with just walking. Any advice?

Thanks, Kim

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
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Hi Kim,
Your colt is too young to do regular roundpen work, his joints are not yet ready for it.
You can do groundwork with him, but his exercise he'll have to get from playing with other horses/ colts in the field.
The cartilage of a foals joints turns into bone in the coarse of his growth, damage can occur when worked too early.
You might "pony" him from the back of another horse, but still he's quite young.
Let him be a foal, concentrate on the relationship and his groundmanners and don't push ...
Have fun,
Miriam

Camieree
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Hi Miriam,

He doesn't have access to a field or other foals. He's boarded at a facility in a 24x24 pen for now until he grows a little and he can go into one of the 50x100 pens. I've been walking him around the facility on a regular basis. Do you think that's enough exercise for now? He is doing great with all his other training. Thanks, Kim

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
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Hi Kim,
Your youngster needs daily contact to other horses, his education is mostly done by other horses in a herd, even a small herd of two or three. Of course it's important to work on him groundmanners too, you'll want him to cooperate with humans, but first of all he needs to be a horse among horses at this age. It's enough if you come in daily and do some groundwork, like picking up feet, or haltering and backing up. Short lessons are best. What he'll learn from other horses is his social language.
It may not seem easy to find company for him, but it's essential for his growth, meantally and physically, that he knows he's a horse....!
Sorry to put so much weight on this, but I think it's so important.
Miriam

JoHewittVINTA
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Hi. This is one of the saddest situations I have heard of in a long time. Clearly you care very much for your foal but how can it be that you would want him to live in such a horribly unnatural way? This is just cruel. It's the equivalent of keeping a young puppy in a cage in an empty house & visiting it daily. Horses are herd animals. To keep this baby in solitary is wrong! It is unacceptable! You need to meet his needs so you'll HAVE to change his living arrangements. No matter how well intentioned your choice was, he will be hugely disadvantaged if you fail to give him equine company & room to play, graze & be a horse. I'm sorry if my response seems harsh but I have bred foals & what you describe horrifies me. If you can't find a herd for him to join where he has company & grass you should pass ownership to someone who can provide these essentials. Jo.

Camieree
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Wow...thank you so much for your comments!

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA
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When you adopt a horse from the BLM, you HAVE to keep them in a small corral about the size you have your foal in until they are broke to lead and can be safely moved to a larger place. It does no harm to the horse, in fact, it is easier to handle them that way when all they have to focus on is you. I know some people are going to blast me for saying this, but its the truth. Maybe you can look around for a better place while working with your baby. Yes, he needs other horses, but for a few months, its not going to hurt him.

JoHewittVINTA
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Hi. This last post just goes to show the different requirements globally. In Great Britain, Intelligent Horsemanship represents Monty Roberts & promotes his methods. There are times when horses have to be kept alone, but only for a short period. In this country it is generally accepted that horses need the company of their own kind & foals need hierarchy of other equines. My foals were raised with both their parents which is very unusual. I have very confident & fantastically co operative youngsters. My concerns over the foal in this post start with the very young age he has lost contact with his mother & continues through the 'work' he has been given. I don't think he's lazy - I think he is miserable! Depressed! Misunderstood! Generally Unhappy! If the law in the US is this wrong then it needs to be changed! Cheers, Jo

JoHewittVINTA
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PS. To train a foal to safely lead takes between 7 & 11 sessions of about 5 to 8 minutes each. This is my experience with my youngsters who had the support of their herd as the training was done in the field with the herd all joining in, voluntarily. My personal view is to keep a foal alone for more than a short period (less than a fortnight) unless under the direction of a vet, is WRONG!

vicci - UK (North Wales)
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Hi phanto - this is most interesting. What is the BLMs thinking behind this?

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA
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First, you have to understand that BLM horses are WILD. They do not understand fences, usually cannot be caught easily, have no idea what people are, or grain, or treats. If they are put out in a pasture, they WILL run through fences, or jump them and take off for parts unknown. So the requirement is a 6 foot fence, at least 20 by 20, with shelter, fresh water, and feed.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
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Thanks for the explanation, I'm not challenging you when I ask a few more questions, I'm genuinely curious as this is not a situation we have in the UK generally (we have some semi feral ponies). (1) Based on the fact that they are wild and used to being in big herds is that not more of a reason that youngsters should be grouped together? I always think it's better to have one or three or more as 2 can overbond and that can cause massive problems. (2) I understood that the BLM does 'round them up' to brand/tag/worm etc. so they are aware of humans but that it is not always a positive experience because it's about necessity to 'do' things, have I misunderstood this and these are truly wild? Thanks

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA
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These horses are truly wild. They have never been handled in any way. They are captured because of over population and drought and other reasons, but not just for branding or anything like that, that only happens when they are rounded up and put up for adoption. Occasionally they will release them back into the wild, but not often. Although herds used to be huge, they aren't any longer, usually 5 to 7 horses, more or less. They are grouped together in the holding pens, but once adopted, BLM regs state one horse per corral until halter broken at least. It would be very difficult to work with a horse when there are other horses around, and these horses cannot be led to another pen. They don't lead. They are completely untouched until rounded up for adoptions.

JoHewittVINTA
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Hi. I bet this is not done at such an early age either & I would think the pens would be conjoined so they would still have the company & support of other horses. Cheers, Jo.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
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Interesting stuff phanto, thankyou.

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA
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Mustangs of all ages are rounded up and the colts 6 months and younger are kept with their mothers, older than that they can be adopted alone. BLM keeps horses that are close to the same age together but not every adopter has room enough or time enough to adopt more than one.

JoHewittVINTA
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Hi. Phantom has hit the nail on the head. The BLM keep youngsters with their Mother until 6 months old - but this colt has been away from his Mum since 4 months. The BLM requires horses are kept in a secure pen until they can lead but this fella has been in a pen for 2 months. Adopters do not always have the space & time to allow horses to be in a herd. Who are the important ones here? We have a classic argument here - the horse must compromise because the owner requires it. Monty changed the film industry. It was the norm for trip wires & other really cruel stuff to be used to get the shots they wanted. It was standard procedure. BUT, Monty saw the opportunity to change that, to improve the horses lives. in the 21st century it is the norm for owners to be required to meet the horses needs over our own. Cheers, Jo.

JoHewittVINTA
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Sorry, that should say " in the 21st century it will become the norm for owners to be required to meet the horses needs over their own". A hundred & fifty years ago it was common practice in Britain for children of a very young age to be put to work, in mills, factories, up chimneys. Now it is illegal to strike a child, let alone exploit them. If we continue to push in our enlightened, Monty's ways, we will see our equine friends getting progressively fairer treatment. Whilst it is more difficult to bring established adult riders on board, we can have a massive effect educating teenagers & youngsters. That will have a wonderful knock on effect, globally. The key is for those of us who are convinced to stay focused - United. In Britain we may still be s smaller group but we have each other & our numbers are growing. The flow will become irresistible. Cheers, Jo.

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
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Hi Jo,
If you look at Monty's calender you'll see that he's so often in Britain, I'd say more often than anywhere else in the world. This is only possible when his demonstrations attract an audience, and they seem to do so. I dare say that the group of interested people should be biggest in Britain. This doesn't mean all that attend a demo start working with their horses in Monty's footsteps right away, but there is an interest.
You're right to point out our responsability towards young people, to show them there is a way to communicate with these wonderful animals ( and any living being! ) in a violence-free manner. Still I think that those who own and ride horses, any age, come onto problems that want to be solved. In my opinion it's most effective to give an answer to a question that is urgent to the person. It's there you'll open a door through which they can go towards their own goals.
It's wonderful to be part of that movement, making the world a better place......
Best regards,
Miriam

PierreG
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Hi Jo,

If I die I want to come back as a horse of yours! ;-)

A feeling that I've been having for a very long time now, not sure how it can be implemented realistically yet, is that like you're saying in your comment at 2014-Dec-10 at 17:05PM : "This is one of the saddest situations I have heard of in a long time..." and I'd extend that to every horse that we keep in boxes not only foals. Horses are herd animals, and we box them in alone like prisoners.

Cheers!
Pierre

JoHewittVINTA
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HI. I am so humbled by these last two posts. Miriam & Pierre are so kind. Last month I had Bella put to sleep, Kirk & Moley's mother. She was the best mare! She was pretty, kind, bright & intelligent & she has given all those qualities to her foals. So many horses have 'difficult' lives I will ensure Kirk & Moley have happy ones. Kirk, at 18 months, was flopped over by a 7 year old girl. He had no preparation for this & wore a normal head collar. His reaction was to look me in the eye as if to say "I told you I could teach the little girl. You don't need to use Max. He may know more, but I can do this". He is now busy raising his sister. Humphrey, their Dad, seems to be happy with this arrangement. He is now gelded, as is Kirk, so no more babies. They are my priority. I try hard to give them a life worth having. As much natural happiness as possible, enhanced with warm feeds & much love - it seems to be working! I am looking forward to Humphrey starting under saddle next spring, at the age of 7! The following two springs will be Kirk & in 2017, Moley. So much joy! I'm so blessed! Cheers, Jo.

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