Hi!
I own a foal that is 13 days old, and she's my first one. She's really nice, but I have a little problem: she stays glued to me and follows me every time I'm around her. I like knowing that she trusts me, but I'm afraid she could start to consider me more like a horse than like a human. She also often tries to give me some little bites... should I let her do that? and even if I try to send her away to her mom she comes near me again immediatly! What can I do about this?
Ari
hopefully someone will be able to answer your question. just wondering, when she does the little bites, is she trying to groom you? young horses do that
Hi Ari,
First of all congratulations to the birth of a healthy foal!!!
I'm glad to read that your mare lets you touch the foal and that she trusts you so much.
She's nursing from her dam, I think the "biting" might be some kind of searching for milk with a trusted being. Of course you should not encourage her to bite you, but be very careful not to break her trust. As Monty says, don't use any unpleasant stimulus near the muzzle, should you feel you need to discipline her. It's hard to judge from this side of the internet, but I don't think a young foal at this age can really be a threat to you. Why don't you put a little halter on her and teach her some groundmanners in a very friendly way. Still the language Equus is your best friend, use your bodylanguage and your eyes if you feel her crowding into you. She understand her mother's language, she'll be able to understand what you mean when your actions are clear.
I hope this helps.
Enjoy those happy days when she's so small!!
Miriam
Thanks, both for the advice and the congratulations! I think she's really searching for milk when she behaves like that! My problem was exactly to keep a little more distance without breaking her trust (just to be sure she does not walk on my feet, etc...). Actually she did that a few times but she's still so light that it didn't hurt me at all. But I' afraid it won't be so easy when she grows up =)
Hope she'll become a good girl! I think that growing up in a non-violent environment will absolutely help her!!
Ari
I think you are right to be concerned. The most frequent problem I see when people are handling foals is that the animals do not respect the human. But I think you are doing well if you send the foal sometimes away. Also you should not spend too much time with him, he has to learn the Equus langage from other horses. Personally I don't allow the foals to "bite" me. When it happens I touch their cannon bone as I would do it in an adult horse. I visit them once a day initially, then once a week. Good luck.
Rudi
Hi! I just wanted to tell you that everything's going well with my little foal. We're working on good manners and she's improving a lot, thanks to Equus language. She's really smart =) Obviously we didn't do join up (she's sooo little!) but she follows me just as if we did! Looks like I didn't break her trust at all by telling her some clear "no" when it's needed.
Ari
Dear Ari, congrats to your firstborn! Do consider spending less time with your baby - they are hypersensitive the first months of their life and it often only takes 3-5 hours to inprint them too much. Horses are born neurologicaly ready but without their language - they need to "be horses" before too much contact with us humans. It is a delicate responsibility and not as easy many times. Wish you the best and in our book FMHY you get more information on inprinting and possible overloading with information can do. Warmest CI Ann Lindberg
Hi Ari
Congratulations, so glad all is going well. I do agree with Ann; the imprinting is invaluable but then leave them alone a lot; let her Mum look after her with just some short bits of work from you in between to prepare her for times ahead. Keep us updated!
Hi Ari, more advice! I had my first foal 3 years ago and my 2nd is just 10 days old. I spent so much time with my first one. I have so many pictures and videos of her with children and adults cuddling her and laying with her as she slept. When she bit me I hissed at her and flapped open hands at her face very quickly and suddenly so that she jumped away. She learnt very quickly that teeth contact led to an unwanted, but non painful stimulus. She is so wonderful now, as a 3 year old. So easy to handle. Any vet or farrier who comes into contact with her comments on how easy and good she is. All horses are different obviously, but love and common sense prevail so just enjoy your foal and any mistake you make will easily be put right if you haven't frightened her or hurt her in the process. Her mother obviously trusts you to get it right and mothers know best!
Emma