Advice please... New foal...

[shandy133]

Hi all....

I am just wondering what others do regarding handling new foals?
I have just bought a 10 month old, unhandled appaloosa. He is sweet and genuine and not scared.
I am just wondering what first steps everyone else uses?

here are some pictures. the first taken in autumn,the second today - 10 mins after his arrival.

Thanks

 

[Spiritedly]

What do you class as unhandled? He has a headcollar and leadrope on in the first picture which would infer he has had some form of handling?

 

[asommerville]

There was a post on this morning from a girl who had just bought an ish foal....should have some answers hes very nive btw

 

[shandy133]

What do you class as unhandled? He has a headcollar and leadrope on in the first picture which would infer he has had some form of handling?

He has had headcollar on, but does not really understand leading, so i would personally say that he is not "halterbroken" as i class that as able to put headcollar on/off and basic leading. I think if the headcollar came off i wouldnt see him for a while...
not that he is scared - just young and doesnt understand.
x

 

[Spiritedly]

Personally I wouldn't do too much with him yet, just get him used to being caught and checked over each day and start working on picking feet up ready for the farrier. He is rather nice. Has he been gelded?

 

[shandy133]

he still has his balls - they arent very obvious so he must be hanging onto them - but will be gelded as soon as they appear....

thats what i was thinking - dont normally get them that young,as buy them over 3 normally. but couldnt resist him - he is identical to my spotty i just sold.

but just wanted to find out what others have done with their foalies.

xxx

 

[Kallibear]

No rush to do anything with him: he's got months to learn.

I'd have him on his own in a stable or small paddock until you can catch him reliably and he lets you touch him all over and leads ok (he should also be isolated in case he's got anything nasty). A couple of weeks is all it should take.

Spend the next couple of weeks teach him to put a headcollar on and off (over the existing to begin with!), to lead and to be touched all over. After than you can teach him to tie up and pick up his feet. Other than that there's not anything he NEEDS to learn apart from possibly wearing a rug.

I'd then turf him out with lots of friends and do nothing more than basic handling with him, apart from maybe some trailer training and a couple of shows, until he's 3.5.

 

[jeeve]

Our new foal is now just three months she is a quiet little thing, and leads nicely and allows us to pick up her feet. I think that is essential for just basic care of any horse. It did not take long to teach, one lesson a day for two to three days. Lessons were short maybe 10-15 minutes each.

When you ask him forward just take a feel on the lead rope, not a pull, and ask him forward, he may stay still, go backwards /sideways or whatever, instant release once he thinks about or actually does take a step forward. You can create some energy with a whip, tap him behind or wave a stick/whip behind, that may be enough to encourage a step forward (sometime you need to help them find the right answer to your question). As soon as they realise what you want they pretty much just do it. Then you repeat a few times and ask for 1-2 steps, and then when that is happening next time a few more and so on.

 

[mturnbull]

I have a 10 month filly who i got after weaning who had all the correct up bringing ie halter broken feet hoses and over the last few months i have just pottered about with her. I find a relaxed attitude from you and using there inquisitive nature makes for stress free learning. Introduce things slowly but with my filly i handle her similarly to any older horse so things such as tieing up or plaiting or loading are now a walk in the park for us! I adore my filly and cannot wait for the years ahead, getting a foal is the best decision i have ever made and by the handsome looks of your boy i dont think your going to regret it!