at what age would you start to walk out in hand ?

[tessybear]

Was looking through adds for foals for sale around the same age as Dolly a couple had been walked out in hand already. I was wondering what age wuld you debate going for a short wander down the road and back with Foal following mum, baring in mind she has seen traffic over the fence and doesn't bother anymore and also leads very well.

Or would you just leave it till they are older ?

 

[GlamourPuss86]

If its a quiet road and she behaves to be led I can't see the harm in a short wander just maybe have someone following you on foot to keep cars back as well as the people leading.

 

[Suelin]

I would not take the foal on the road until you can lead her about in a headcollar. Definitely not loose.

The last foal we had I walked out from 6 months on the roads behind another experienced horse. Previously I had walked him about in the field/yard so that he was used to voice commands. You really need to have hold of a horse however young if there is any remote possibility of traffic.

Good luck though, you sound as if you are having lots of fun with this unexpected baby. It's a very lucky baby all in all.

 

[tessybear]

If its a quiet road and she behaves to be led I can't see the harm in a short wander just maybe have someone following you on foot to keep cars back as well as the people leading.

Yes quiet back lane Sister leading tess, me dolly and dad behind us in a hiz-viz and mum infront hi-vized lol ! Thank you

I would not take the foal on the road until you can lead her about in a headcollar. Definitely not loose.

The last foal we had I walked out from 6 months on the roads behind another experienced horse. Previously I had walked him about in the field/yard so that he was used to voice commands. You really need to have hold of a horse however young if there is any remote possibility of traffic.

Good luck though, you sound as if you are having lots of fun with this unexpected baby. It's a very lucky baby all in all.

She is perfect to lead in a headcollar, walks up and down the drive in the headcollar and round the field etc Would never dream of having her loose on the road.

She would be beind her mummy who is bombproof under almost any circumstance so a perfect role model. Not for miles but a quick wander up and down the road.

 

[Suelin]

Sorry Tessybear, I misunderstood your post. Good luck with it all.

 

[tessybear]

Sorry Tessybear, I misunderstood your post. Good luck with it all.

Dont worry probably the way i wrote it ! Would you leave it longer then ?

 

[WelshD]

I think it's a lovely idea however being boring I would consider the insurance aspect. My insurance says must wear a bridle out on the roads, I'm not sure if a headcollar or even a filly slip would suffice. Also check the category - insurance for my two year old isn't valid once he leaves my property because I have chosen the cheapest 'just growing up and eating grass' category

If Dolly doesn't have her own insurance I wouldn't risk it personally. Dolly is fab and has been such a star so far but I'd be hesitating

As for your actual question (sorry) I'd say the odd walk at such a young age would be fine if the foal can lead independently which to me would mean able to walk away from it's dam if necessary

 

[tessybear]

I think it's a lovely idea however being boring I would consider the insurance aspect. My insurance says must wear a bridle out on the roads, I'm not sure if a headcollar or even a filly slip would suffice. Also check the category - insurance for my two year old isn't valid once he leaves my property because I have chosen the cheapest 'just growing up and eating grass' category

If Dolly doesn't have her own insurance I wouldn't risk it personally. Dolly is fab and has been such a star so far but I'd be hesitating

As for your actual question (sorry) I'd say the odd walk at such a young age would be fine if the foal can lead independently which to me would mean able to walk away from it's dam if necessary

Oh yes didn't think of that eeep ! Thank you , will have to look into this

If insurance is okay with it (doubtfull though ) it would be nice, she leads away from mum if anyting happened and this needed to be done.

 

[HBM1]

Do you have a space where you can have parents' cars drive past her, eg on your driveway - just putting a car on and slightly revving the engine etc. Have people beep their horns whilst she is in the field (eg drive past field where she can see/hear them and do it)....? The more you can expose her to at home, the better. Knowing Dolly though, she will lead mum on the road, not the other way around! lol

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn't!!!

I'd expect a 2-3 month + foal to lead to and from field/yard sensibly and that would be it.

I honestly wouldn't be faffing around with taking an unbroken youngster on the roads in hand. They would do that under saddle with a nanny.

 

[tessybear]

Do you have a space where you can have parents' cars drive past her, eg on your driveway - just putting a car on and slightly revving the engine etc. Have people beep their horns whilst she is in the field (eg drive past field where she can see/hear them and do it)....? The more you can expose her to at home, the better. Knowing Dolly though, she will lead mum on the road, not the other way around! lol

We do, however drive way is stones? but she will have to get used to the noise ! will bring little chunks of carrots to persaude her it's fine

Thank you will spend a few days building her up .. oh i know ! she is an independant, head strong little girly

 

[HBM1]

We do, however drive way is stones? but she will have to get used to the noise ! will bring little chunks of carrots to persaude her it's fine

Thank you will spend a few days building her up .. oh i know ! she is an independant, head strong little girly

If you have a friend with a motorbike may be worth having them come around and do a few revs too

I am glad someone else's foal is eating carrots! I have never had one who would have a clue what to do with one before Riley came along last year. He is a carrot fiend and eats them up and down length ways like an ear of corn! lol

 

[tessybear]

If you have a friend with a motorbike may be worth having them come around and do a few revs too

I am glad someone else's foal is eating carrots! I have never had one who would have a clue what to do with one before Riley came along last year. He is a carrot fiend and eats them up and down length ways like an ear of corn! lol

Hmm will have to havea think of anyone local who has one !

Oh she loves them, took her a while to tell the difference between my hand and the carrot though Brilliant she has to have hers split up into smallish chunks at the moment otherwise she cannot chew them and ends up dropping them ( much to Tessy bears delight )

 

[scarymare]

I wouldn't tbh.

It's actually pretty pointless and a huge risk. You can't hold ANY horse in a headcollar if it panics not even a foal (might be OK with a fabella or sheltie LOL). I'm sure if any damage was done to people/cars etc you would defo be held negligent. People do it though, there have been several threads on here but I always tend to look at the 'what ifs'.

What would you be trying to achieve? If its independent leading then behind the mare isn't ideal and if its traffic proofing then there are better ways as its totally different for them when ridden (leader is out of sight). You are much better with a good role model when older.

Still to each their own!

 

[tessybear]

I wouldn't tbh.

It's actually pretty pointless and a huge risk. You can't hold ANY horse in a headcollar if it panics not even a foal (might be OK with a fabella or sheltie LOL). I'm sure if any damage was done to people/cars etc you would defo be held negligent. People do it though, there have been several threads on here but I always tend to look at the 'what ifs'.

What would you be trying to achieve? If its independent leading then behind the mare isn't ideal and if its traffic proofing then there are better ways as its totally different for them when ridden (leader is out of sight). You are much better with a good role model when older.

Still to each their own!

Thank you thought this would be the case !

We wont be keeping her so wasn't sure if people want this in something her age, seen the world slightly ? What about as suggested above about turning cars on, moving cars around drive way ?

 

[HBM1]

Ps I should have said my views on getting her used to cars etc at home was instead of taking her out..not as a build up to it...if I was buying a foal I would not expect them to have had any roadwork. I don't trust the average road user.

 

[tessybear]

Ps I should have said my views on getting her used to cars etc at home was instead of taking her out..not as a build up to it...if I was buying a foal I would not expect them to have had any roadwork. I don't trust the average road user.

Thank you , shall just do stuff with her on the safety of our property !


We didn't know what people would expect from a foal when buying

 

[Jools2345]

i wouldn't bother especially as you are not keeping her, no one expects to buy a weanling that has been road walked and it would put me off TBH as i would suspect the foal has possibly done too much on immature limbs.

i would expect a foal to have lived in a field with its mum, possibly others if facilities allowed and to have been in a stable, i would expect it to have had the farrier attend its feet and had the vet for a health check and jabs and be good to lead. thats it nothing else, i would not require them to tie up, be used to water or anything else

 

[Hackie]

It's actually pretty pointless and a huge risk... What would you be trying to achieve? If its independent leading then behind the mare isn't ideal and if its traffic proofing then there are better ways as its totally different for them when ridden (leader is out of sight). You are much better with a good role model when older.

Still to each their own!

^^This^^ I have no idea why you would feel the need with a baby still on its mum. We do very little with our youngsters over and above the basics, and its never done them any harm.

 

[CrazyMare]

I expect my foals to walk to and from the field. Go to one or two shows. Have their feet trimmed. Have their vaccinations. I like them to wear a rug

Nothing else.

 

[tessybear]

Thanks guys ! Panicked we were not doing enough after seeing this ad !

She is much happier snapping poles and escaping little *****

 

[AmyMay]

Just another post to say I wouldn't either.

 

[Clava]

I wouldn't!!!

I'd expect a 2-3 month + foal to lead to and from field/yard sensibly and that would be it.

I honestly wouldn't be faffing around with taking an unbroken youngster on the roads in hand. They would do that under saddle with a nanny.

I feel the same.

 

[Sandstone1]

So have you decided not to keep her then?

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

As a child I used to ride with one of the most respected people on the NF. One year she was using a mare with foal at foot for rides out.
Used to go out on hacks with us, and when we stopped for a break, the foal would have a drink.

Proper old school I think.

She's still going strong BTW, and is probably one of the most knowledgeable people about forest ponies and has done masses to promote the breed, everybody knows her.

 

[Alyth]

IMO It's great to take them out of their field and go for walks....Mum will be a calming influence and the foal will find seeing new things interesting - especially if you can take the time to let her investigate something she is not sure of.....good for her hooves as well!! But as said, keep to quiet roads where you are unlikely to meet much traffic....we did this with all our youngsters so when we first started riding out it was nothing new or scarey!!

 

[DosyMare]

When I viewed my foal he wouldn't even let me touch him - just kept running round his mum. When we collected at 4 months he had done nothing.
I wouldn't expect them to have walked him on the roads - in fact that's something I would want to do with him first.

 

[legaldancer]

From an insurance point of view I really wouldn't.

If she'll lead well in the field that will be a bonus for a future buyer. If you really want to bring her on in some way I would have thought some "spook busting" such as walking over a tarpaulin etc or past plastic bags would be safer and just as valuable a lesson.

 

[muckypony]

You can't hold ANY horse in a headcollar if it panics not even a foal (might be OK with a fabella or sheltie LOL).

I have two yearling shetlies, a tbh, I think I could hold two 16.2's easier sometimes!! Lol!

I took mine on the road for the first time when they were 7 months, they were perfect no matter what came past (However walking on a different surface was a big deal!)

I would probably say wait a while, I wouldn't have thought she would really remember it much at this age? And also, they get so tired I would think she'd get half way down the road and need a kip