Good temperment or handling?

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magic104

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My yearling has just undergone major surgery, but his attitude has been fantastic. He went into the vets for gelding, but the operation was more complicated so he ended up spending a week at the vets. First of all he loaded first time & he has not been on a lorry since last year when he went with his mum to the Trak breeders show. He has been prodded & poked & not once has he misbehaved. He came home Monday & has taken to box rest like his sire. He walks out so quietly & endures his wounds being cleaned with nothing more then the odd lift of his leg. He has been a complete super star.

I believe this is down to being handled along with a good temperment, though the vet thinks it is more handling. It is easy for me I have only ever had 1 foal at a time, so have the time for this. But how do people cope if their youngsters have to go through surgery/box rest etc if they have not been handled much? I think temperment is all important & I am not so sure that this years foal would be such a good patient despite all the handling.
 
Well done you. I bet you are so proud. I agree that it is temperament and handling - with the trust having been developed between the two of you.

We have one like that at the yard (in fact they've all been good really). Makes them a joy to be around.
 
I had this when my boy was kicked in the field as a yealing - he trapped a nerve in his shoulder but we x-rayed to make sure !!

no sedation or anything and he also had to be cross tied overnight as the x-rays were taken the next day !!

my vet put it down to handling and i also like you think good temprement worked as well - I had to hand walk him for 2 weeks and he had to go out on his own - he never made a fuss !! he is still a colt (at 2yo now) and still impeccibly well behaved !!

I just hope the next one is the same !
 
Thank you, & yes I am very proud of him. If he carries on in this vain he will be a doddle to start when he is older. He is not the biggest, but then last wks H&H proved they dont have to be. He is such a sweet heart & I am now quiet pleased he never sold earlier this year as I will enjoy seeing him develope. That is if he can stay out of the wars, so far he has managed to run into a wheel barrow at 6mths, which entailed a wk of box rest & he was kicked a couple of months ago when he was due to be gelded. The joy of horses!
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As always with these 'nature or nurture' questions, it's probably a bit of both!

It sounds to me as though your foal does have a naturally calm/laid-back temperament, but has also been very well handled, and trusts those caring for him.
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