Can you over handle foals?

[soph21]

both me and my friend are getting foals in sept/oct, their half brother and sister!! im having ''bertie'' a bay colt and she's having ''masie'' a little coloured filly. their kept next door to my horses. we go and see them about 4 times a week, we brush them and play etc and put headcollars on and pick their feet up, someone said the other day that you can over handle them, are we doing too much? i would ratther go and do this than get him in sept and he's totally un touched!!! whats you're opions?? thanks xxxx

 

[Michelle73]

I think what you're doing is fine. However, when I was breeding or should I say mother had the stud farm I was the daughter-groom! I used to play with the foals within the first week, by the time they were a month old they were fairly humanised to say the least. Looking back with the maturity that I have now, yes I had over handled them. If they'd been re-homed with someone who didn't know how to do the right ground work then these foals could have ended up being bargy disrespectful obnoxious horses. I hasten to add that all the foals I played with who I have met as adults are beautiful well adjusted animals and performing in XC and affiliated dressage. So I would say it only becomes over handling if you don't know what you're doing because you can spoil them.

 

[vieshot]

I dont think you can over handle them if you are doing things correctly, my youngster is brought in from the field each day without fail and sometimes groomed, feet picked out, taken for walks etc. I think as long as your still demanding respect from them and training them correctly, not JUST PLAYING all the time theres no problem.

 

[soph21]

he's 3 months old now and i didn't have much to do with him for the 1st few weeks and it doesn't help that his mum is wild and the only person that can get near her is the breeder!!! but he's bold as brass but i think if i hadn't persisted and made the effort he would probably be quite timmed!!!

 

[custard]

I don't think you can over handle them but some make the mistake of treating them like dogs/puppies and it isn't funny when you get a 500KG 'labrador' bouncing about in your face!