Lill
Well-Known Member
How do you halter/headcollar break your foals ? And at what age ?
We have one who has been easy and one who isn't being so good!
We have one who has been easy and one who isn't being so good!
Halter/headcollar breaking?
- Thread starter Lill
- Start date
Guinness
Well-Known Member
How is it being naughty? We start off by "squashing" ours in a corner, an arm round its chest, one round its quarters so it cant move then you should be able to get it on. Now at about six months they are all pretty much perfect, of course they all have their bad days!
Penniless
Well-Known Member
Our foals each have a new leather headcollar which we find so easy to put on whilst they are laying down asleep! We generally put a headcollar on before they even go out on day one - except one foal who didn't have a headcollar on for a week because she was so small and then our vet managed to get a premature foaling headcollar from one of the big studs. Never had a problem with any of them and the next day whilst they are standing next to mum and seeing her have hers on, they will just stand and have theirs put on. Even at 2 days old, once they've had the headcollar put on, then we just lightly hold onto it and get a very soft brush and just smooth it over them and pick their feet up and tap them with our hands. As much handling in the first 48 hours we find imperative to get a laid back well mannered older horse.
Spot_the_Risk
Well-Known Member
I handled ours loads on the day she was born, and she's very easy now, just been in the field with her today, gently tweaking her nipples and she couldn't care less!!! Had fingers in ears, up the nose and thumbs in mouth today too, feet picked up, tail pulled around, and stood in front of her, held her ears and 'revved' them like a motor bike! Foals are fun!!!
Headcollar gets put on every couple of weeks, we are gentle but firm and it's not an issue.
Headcollar gets put on every couple of weeks, we are gentle but firm and it's not an issue.
vicijp
Well-Known Member
Put headcollar on all newborn foals first time they are turned out, let them walk by mum to the field then take it off. Put it back on to bring them in. Slowly progress to walking beside them, no leadrope, then leading them properly.
After a couple of weeks I barely handle them at all. When they come in to be weaned they have never forgotton what they were taught at the start.
After a couple of weeks I barely handle them at all. When they come in to be weaned they have never forgotton what they were taught at the start.
JanetGeorge
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Put headcollar on all newborn foals first time they are turned out, let them walk by mum to the field then take it off. Put it back on to bring them in. Slowly progress to walking beside them, no leadrope, then leading them properly.
After a couple of weeks I barely handle them at all. When they come in to be weaned they have never forgotton what they were taught at the start.
[/ QUOTE ]
Pretty much what I do but we 'lead' foals out from day 1 - with a tea-towel around their necks and an arm around the back-end. After about a week we clip a lead rope to the headcollar, but still keep the tea-towel (or soft rope if the tea-towel is outgrown!) around the neck and do minimal leading from the rope. By the time they're 3 weeks they're leading from the headcollar without it ever having been an issue.
Once they're at that point they only get handled when they come in with mum for worming or foot trimming - they get 5 minutes reminder handling each time - but nothing else.
Put headcollar on all newborn foals first time they are turned out, let them walk by mum to the field then take it off. Put it back on to bring them in. Slowly progress to walking beside them, no leadrope, then leading them properly.
After a couple of weeks I barely handle them at all. When they come in to be weaned they have never forgotton what they were taught at the start.
[/ QUOTE ]
Pretty much what I do but we 'lead' foals out from day 1 - with a tea-towel around their necks and an arm around the back-end. After about a week we clip a lead rope to the headcollar, but still keep the tea-towel (or soft rope if the tea-towel is outgrown!) around the neck and do minimal leading from the rope. By the time they're 3 weeks they're leading from the headcollar without it ever having been an issue.
Once they're at that point they only get handled when they come in with mum for worming or foot trimming - they get 5 minutes reminder handling each time - but nothing else.
pocomoto
Well-Known Member
On the day they are born I teach them pressure and release and it's a lesson for life, and I also handle their feet, when they are that young they are still really flexible, as nature intended from the birth process, so if they throw a bit of a strop they are at less of a risk of injury.
I usually leave them a few days and then lead them every few days for a month or so and pick their feet up regularly, that does it. Mine are never a problem to tie up as they have worked out the only way to release the pressure is to take a step forward and have had regular visits from the farrier, who I get to handle them even if nothing needs doing. I also get the dentist to have a look as well when they are young.
I usually leave them a few days and then lead them every few days for a month or so and pick their feet up regularly, that does it. Mine are never a problem to tie up as they have worked out the only way to release the pressure is to take a step forward and have had regular visits from the farrier, who I get to handle them even if nothing needs doing. I also get the dentist to have a look as well when they are young.