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Post by lampshade on May 21, 2012 9:52:40 GMT
Hi
At what age do you start to halter train a foal? I have a 2 week old foal (my first) who had her halter fitted at 1 week old. She is quite happy to approach me head on but backs off if I step towards her or to the side of her. Can anyone who has experience with foals give me some tips on halter training. I would like to aim towards being able to lead her to and from the field soon. ;D
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on May 21, 2012 11:23:52 GMT
Do you mean a headcoller/foal slip that is on permanently rather than a halter proper? In which case my advice would be to leave a foot or so of baler twine dangling from it so that you can if possible get hold of that very quietly rather than have to fiddle about attaching a rope. But I don't bother with mine until after weaning, I find it easier not having the dam around. At this age I just wander around them in the field and try to get them used to my presence - mine are out 24/7. Easier to do the training if they are in part of the time as you can then start by leading them out to the field, having got hold of them in the box.
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Post by lampshade on May 21, 2012 12:45:35 GMT
Hi Sarahp its a foal slip that she has on, leather. Though it already looks like she is growing out of it. I can get hold of the strap but then she pulls back. At the moment they are in a barn at night and out in the field during the day. Baby follows mum to and from the field. But the older she gets the more curious she is and she does tend to wonder a little. I tend to have someone walk behind us to the field, this usually works without any problems. I do eventually need to get to the stage where I can lead them both to the field myself. This will take time i'm sure. I am just worried about doing this correctly so as not to have any problems in the future. ;D
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Post by jeanslater on May 21, 2012 12:51:56 GMT
Mine always walk too and from the field behind mum on a headcollar from the day they are turned out. Just clip a lead rope to the foals headcollar and let it follow its mum, its suprising how with just this little effort they learn to behave on a lead rope and to walk.
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Post by lampshade on May 21, 2012 13:11:53 GMT
Thanks Jean, i will give it a bash. I will try to walk them round the barn tonight first, that way if the foal throws a wobbler she is on soft ground. Will then try to turn out and fetch in using a leadrope from now on. I think I just need to grow some b*lls and get on with it. I suppose it is best done now before she gets any bigger. Thanks for your replies x
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on May 21, 2012 15:06:12 GMT
Try not to get into the habit of letting her back and get away from you or she will learn that she can and keep on doing it. Try having a lead rope with clip in your hand when you get the strap and clipping it quickly onto the ring before she goes. And do adjust the foal slip as she grows so that it doesn't hurt her by being too tight. I'm afraid that my system is so different that I'm not sure what I can say to help, obviously jeanslater's come in and out daily too so she is far better placed then me to help you.
I put a headcollar with twine attached on at weaning, at which point they come into a box for the night and out in a field just across the yard in the day time. I start by holding them by the head and getting them used to the feel of that, moving the head around without trying to lead, and walking them round the box, all on a leadrope, and at that stage letting them follow a nanny out into the field in the morning until they are happier with the leading round the box. I may let them follow in until the leading out is well established and I can catch them in the field too, it's a gradual process. Oh, and I swear by using a rope halter for leading, put on over the headcollar which is really only for catching quietly without lots of fuss. The next stage is groundwork on the halter in the yard, only a few minutes a day, until they will go forward, back and do turns on the forehand with ease at very light aids.
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Post by Kaseyleigh on May 24, 2012 14:47:43 GMT
Its funny how different foals act mine lets you do anything with her and shes only a week and 4 days old loves having her head collar on and being fussed with bless her it will come with time the more you mess with your foal the more they will trust you.
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on May 24, 2012 14:57:31 GMT
It is possible though for them to get too familiar so that when the time comes for you to expect more discipline of them they have no respect for humans at all.
I'm basically a one man band, and two of my mares with foals this year are uncatchable anyway so wouldn't let their foals talk to a human being. So it's easier for me to do them on a one to one basis after weaning, I find they come to hand really quickly. But there is no one right way, people and circumstances differ and it's what suits each owner.
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Post by lampshade on May 24, 2012 15:35:16 GMT
Hi
Since the weather has improved these last few days I have left them out in the field. The first evening I got the closest I have managed since the day of birth (when mum and baby were shattered). She was in a playful mood and let me touch her from the other side of mum. She will come up to me will let me touch her face but if I move forward or to her side, she's off. This morning I needed to put some sun cream on her nose because it looks abit sore. She let me do that. I guess its going to take time. I need to alter the halter soon because she's grown so fast, that will be interesting. I'm just going to take my time and see how things pan out. ;D
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