HC Tv, parelli foal training

I didn't see the program that is being discussed but I use a figure 8 rope to teach my foals to lead. I work alone and by use a long lead around the chest of the foal and the backside and holding it in the middle of its back I have backward and forward control of the foal, I do this for the first week or so of the foals life and they never forget it. They wear a headcollar but are not led from it until they are older, When it comes to leading from the headcollar, I use a bum rope and have no problems keeping them coming forward. By doing it this way leading is easy and I have also found that when they are being loaded for the first time (maybe as a 3 year old) if they are hesitating, dropping a rope over their bum results in an immediate forward step into the box. They don't forget and its not scary for them. I can't understand why you would put one around their belly, between their front legs and to a headcollar!!:confused:
 
Yes quite! I can't understand why anyone would want to do anything to a week old foal apart from coo and marvel at it!

But, each to their own... :)

FWIW... my foal did nothing but get bossed about by her mum till she was 9 months old. Still managed to show her in-hand and lead her and teach her to back up and go sideways and lift her feet up on command...

I highly recommend the book by "Tally Ho - Teaching horses basic stuff without ropes or carrots" On offer on Amazon at £59.99 hardback, signed.

:D:D:D:D

I jest people, I jest! :)
 
FBurton;

Good question you asked earlier. I don't know what's right or wrong. Whatever makes them solid citizens. But they do need their time being babies. Personally I don't spend time desensitising and yet I've managed to raise unspooky horses that trust what I ask of them. I raise jumpers so don't want mine walking over tarps. Yet they are unconcerned by flappy bags. Most of the time they can be found trying to stuff their heads in looking for goodies.

I have a client which sends us unhandled younsters to start. Once going they are no different. Obviously we take our time. As foals you can go into a field with mine pick up feet and clean and dress a cut with no issues. It doesn't take oddles of time to handle them efficiently and learn what is expected of them. Headcollars to me are learn how to have them on and off. Not how to wear it. Do they go through periods in which they pretend you've taught them nothing? Why sure. But we don't panic and start going crazy on them. They just try it on now and again to see if they can get away with it.

Problems are people that want to have the perfect behaved foal and overdo the process. They will be fine if you keep it simple and let them be babies most of the time. We all have that one foal that makes us realise these facts. I know I did.
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
FBurton;

Good question you asked earlier. I don't know what's right or wrong. Whatever makes them solid citizens. But they do need their time being babies. Personally I don't spend time desensitising and yet I've managed to raise unspooky horses that trust what I ask of them. I raise jumpers so don't want mine walking over tarps. Yet they are unconcerned by flappy bags. Most of the time they can be found trying to stuff their heads in looking for goodies.

I have a client which sends us unhandled younsters to start. Once going they are no different. Obviously we take our time. As foals you can go into a field with mine pick up feet and clean and dress a cut with no issues. It doesn't take oddles of time to handle them efficiently and learn what is expected of them. Headcollars to me are learn how to have them on and off. Not how to wear it. Do they go through periods in which they pretend you've taught them nothing? Why sure. But we don't panic and start going crazy on them. They just try it on now and again to see if they can get away with it.

Problems are people that want to have the perfect behaved foal and overdo the process. They will be fine if you keep it simple and let them be babies most of the time. We all have that one foal that makes us realise these facts. I know I did.
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I'd agree with the above. I've had a look at FBurtons links and I'd also agree that if you don't know what you're doing, leave well alone. Although I would encourage people to be aware that these techniques are out there and to go away and learn them before subjecting foals to the usual handling they get. Thats the problem with a lot of this academic research, it's not carried out very well, yet, some massive conclusions are drawn. Very often incorrectly.

The fact is foals need to be handled and it's far better for them to be easy to handle and not stressed, which is what this is all about. No one is saying that they can't have time to behave naturally as foals, and 'be foals' of course they can. A lot of the criticism is emotive, idiotic, ill informed rubbish, as usual. So whilst people are thrashing about looking for something disagree with, or to be outraged or upset or angry about, we'll just carry on doing what works for us, which is putting the horses first, mentally, emotionally and physically.:)
 
I think that I need to relax when we talk about methods. My only problem has been people that want to use a method with no feeling of horses in general and make a mess of it and so then I say, yup another messed up horse. When that's not fair. It's just who is applying what to what. The advantage of working with so many horses over a long period of time is that you never say never and you keep learning.

My first 2 foals read the "how to be a good baby" book. I thought I was a genuis. Then Abba came along. She pushed boundries from day one. She was so friendly and so outgoing and I was over the moon with my dream filly that I waited for since age 7. Well talk about almost making a complete disaster of her. Thankfully I had a husband that can deal with these things. I decided for her and me it was probably best I left her handling to him. She is 7 now and quite chilled and well mannered but I know I messed up some things and I'm not proud. After her I handled foals matter of fact. This didn't mean I couldn't love them and have moments of gushing loony. It just meant boundries had to be followed. It got much easier after that.

Most people are afraid to talk of their failings. To me it just means I have the capacity to learn. Do what's best for the horse. It really is as simple as that.

Terri
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
I think that I need to relax when we talk about methods. My only problem has been people that want to use a method with no feeling of horses in general and make a mess of it and so then I say, yup another messed up horse. When that's not fair. It's just who is applying what to what. The advantage of working with so many horses over a long period of time is that you never say never and you keep learning.

My first 2 foals read the "how to be a good baby" book. I thought I was a genuis. Then Abba came along. She pushed boundries from day one. She was so friendly and so outgoing and I was over the moon with my dream filly that I waited for since age 7. Well talk about almost making a complete disaster of her. Thankfully I had a husband that can deal with these things. I decided for her and me it was probably best I left her handling to him. She is 7 now and quite chilled and well mannered but I know I messed up some things and I'm not proud. After her I handled foals matter of fact. This didn't mean I couldn't love them and have moments of gushing loony. It just meant boundries had to be followed. It got much easier after that.

Most people are afraid to talk of their failings. To me it just means I have the capacity to learn. Do what's best for the horse. It really is as simple as that.

Terri
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This is so true. I have had period of having a 'method', and lots of personal evidence that it works, and then a horse comes along to confound me. I can't even work out with my current boy whether I've screwed up on a couple of things or whether - given his complex personality I've been his saviour.

He is an example of how NOT to handle foals. he was ignored apart from when something - gelding, microchip, feet trimming - needing doing. Then he was pinned down with force and made to comply. I like a bit of benign neglect, but built on a relationship of trust, and some basic ground rules established early on.
 
This is an interesting discussion. I was a bit sad the other day to see monty Roberts marketing a foal version of a dually which seems similarly unnecessary, surely, unless you have already taught the foal incorrectly. Too much too young in my book!
 
Morgan123, I don't know about similarly unnecessary, because people have a total misconception about training foals, but I do know a Dually or any of Monty Robert's other contraptions would be the last thing I ever put on a foal. The aim of ALL training should be softness and lightness with feel no matter what age or disposition of the horse or foal, you just are not going to get it with a pressure halter like that, and using one on a foal is a real bad mistake.
 
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