Hi Ginamarie
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I would like to see a lesson on this too. In fact, it would be great to see lessons on EVERYTHING to do with handling foals like imprinting, teaching to lead and basic ground work. Everything.
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In the interim, if you have a copy of "From My Hands To Yours", there is a section on how to use the foal handler to handle the foals and teach them to lead. We are using the technique explained in the book to the best of our ability, and it seems to be working really well.
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Kind regards,
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Gen

I just put a foal halter on my Tricka when she was about 5 weeks old and asked her to follow me. It didn't seem all that difficult at the time but I am sure there was plenty for me to learn too and it would be good to get it right at the beginning of their education. This seems like a good idea.

Hi, Can someone please explain to me what the Foal Handler is? Thanks

Also, is 4 months old too young to start using the small dually halter? I have had a normal halter and lead on my colt but he keeps trying to bite the lead (or me) and when leading he barges into me. I have used the medium dually on his mum and it was magic! Any help would be appreciated.

I don't think it is ever too early to use a dually if your horse needs to be disciplined and it sounds as if this young fellow does. The small dually should do the trick but do go gently on him initially until he is used to it. Sorry can't answer your Foal Handler question but I am guessing it is someone who has trained themselves to help out with handling foals. Sounds like a fun job for anyone who loves horses and especially foals. I did everything by myself with Tricka from birth until now and it seems to have worked. Very soon I will need to get someone else to ride her so that she does get experience with other people but I will be careful whom I choose.

Hi jenny and MaggieF,
The foalhandler is a piece of equipment, as described in "from my hands to yours" by Monty.
You can find it at page 136.
It consists of a thick cotton leadrope, fairly long, in a configuration that makes a figure eight.
I quote:
-" The length of the rope is determined by the size of the foal. The points where the rope comes together becomes a natural handle.The figure eight can be adjusted to fit the intended foal. the two loops made by the figure eight format are slightly diffent in size. Place the smaller loop over the foal's head and fit it comfortably just in front of the shoulders. Use the larger loop to encircle the hindquarters of the foal. The size should allow for the rope to fit comfortebly just below the large hip muscle." etc.etc.
With this in place you can apply a little pressure to the chest of the foal, holding the center-grip area, or to the rear of the foal, always relaxing at the slightest reaction.
Hope this answers your question,
Miriam

Hi Maggie and Miriam, Thankyou for your advice, I have the small dually halter on order and will be sure to go slow with it, as I have with all his training so far. I have tried the 'bum' rope which sounds the same as the foal handler but that doesn't stop him bumping into me..it kind of makes it worse as the pressure from behind makes him jump forward (usually in my direction!). He does follow me without a lead and as you can see by my profile pic, I used that fact to introduce him to the float (which he loved because there was food in there! lol) Its just the nipping and crowding that gets a bit frustrating, I always 'act' dominate when he does this and chase him away but he still tries it on, so I'm hoping the dually halter will help. My last foal (years ago) was a filly and she never tried to bite me..is it a just a colt thing??

Thanks Miriam for the info re the foal handler. I have checked it out now and had a good laugh at myself!! I guess it is best to say nothing if you are not sure as has been suggested by others on forum! The dually should really help out here Jenny. I didn't have one for Tricka when she was a foal but she didn't try anything naughty either. She only started being difficult when she was four years old and after I had broken her in. I gave a few details of this the other day on another post. The dually worked miracles to correct her naughty behaviour. Good luck!

Hi jenney and MaggieF,
Fillies are in general less invasive than colts, I guess the boys need to do their "stallionexcercises"! With the foalhandler you also have a loop at the chest, so you can ask the foal to step back, if he's invasive.
MaggieF, I don't agree on saying nothing if you're not sure. In my opinion you have to ask questions to understand how things work, not only questions but also using your imagination helps understanding. So please don't stop thinking "aloud", if you would not have done so, there woulndn't have been a reason for me to explain about the foalhandler to you. I think we're often in our own way, out of fear of making mistakes. Still we learn most from our own mistakes. Keep the good work going!
Miriam

I have a 1 week old colt and a 5 almost 6 month old and this information will help tremendously. My 6 almost 6 month old is a nipper and often times more than a nip. I used one of Monty's tips the other day. I tapped him on the shin and he didn't like it to well. He backed away. I have been wondering about the dually halter and using it to halter start him. I have a regular halter but he didn't want any part of it. Is it to early to wean him and get him started with the halter and some ground work? thanks again for all the information you have already given.

Holly

No, I dont think it is too early to start to wean him and get him going on some ground work, for me it has always been the earlier the better to startt halter training. I always tried to get a halter on my babies when they were about 3 months old, not that I weaned them at that age, just haltered them and started teaching them to lead. It always worked out well for me. That is just my opinion, though, I am sure others have their own ideas. And I always weaned them at about 6 months.

Hi Holly,
If you feel your foal is ready to wean and have some youngster as company for him, you could decide to wean him now at the age of 6 months. Is he eating well, solid food and hay or grass? Important is that his gut is used to the food he'll have to rely on entirely after weaning. At this age a foalhandler is not such a good idee, since the foal has much more strength, plus you want to teach him to lead, with his nose at your shoulder. The foalhandler would have you standing at his shoulder, holding the "grip" at his withers. If you have already have him accustomed to the smallest Duallyhalter, this is a much better idea at his age.
If you have difficulty getting the foal used to a halter, you could start with a "butt-rope" and make the transition to halter-pressure gradually.
All groundwork is possible now, don't overdo it and give him time to rest. You might be interested in the "imprint training" as described by dr.Robert M.Miller, Monty adepted this method for use at his farm, also described in "from my hands to yours".
Have fun and be consistent!
Miriam

Thanks for the advice. Yes he is eating well the hay and some grain. He still nurses some from Mom but a lot of the time I think is like a comfort issue. He doesn't like it when he gets in trouble for nipping and have tapped him on the shin for it as described by Monty. He looked at me like that wasn't nice and ran to Mom and acted like he wanted to nurse but then didn't nurse. I do have "From My Hands to Yours" I haven't gotten to read a lot yet, but did read about the biting and nipping because the boys all like to nip or bite. I also will have to get a dually halter ordered for him and maybe I can use it in the off times on my daughter's shetland pony. She has bad habits too. So glad she doesn't bite or nip though. She just likes to get into your space and rub her nose on you.
Thanks again and I will have fun with him. Let you know how things are going.

Holly

Hi jenny,
hope you dont mind me joining in,and I dont know if it will help you, but why not try using the bag on the end of the stick toy. If you wave it softly towards to his rear and at the same time gently start to bring his head round towards you he will learn to keep his head to you at all times, this will enable you to make sure that he stays out of your space.
Make him aware of the bag every time he tries to barge or crowd and he will learn to respect you.
I imprinted my foal from 5 minutes old by placing my hands in his mouth, playing with his ears and all over his body, he is now at 3 able to be touched and handled everywhere. I just started to back him gently and he is loving the attention, no fear at all, which is great, and he still stays out of my space.
I hope this helps, the information I got was from a guy called Richard Maxwell, who trained with Monty when he did his first visit to the Queen of England.
His attitude is the more they get to experience with you at a young age will make it easier for you in the long run.
Sandie