how to get a foal slip on ?

[Beatrice5]

Okay we have done the touching all over and picking up feet, I can put her rug on her but haven't done it up yet as she keeps walking off so I thought I'd put a foal slip on teach her to lead then be able to do the rug up.

She'll pop her nose in the foal slip but then shoots backwards and away as soon as I try to reach over her head with the headpiece. Yet I can touch her ears and top of her head when she is not suspitious of me having an ulterior motive ( ie a foal slip in my hand)

She is just over two weeks old I don't have a stable so can't corner her and really don't want to get kicked again particularly so how do I do it?

Also she loves to have her withers and back scratched but does like to scratch me back. When she tries to nip I hiss at her and she gets the message but is this asking for trouble. Do you let your foals groom you back. I do it with my older horses and they love it but is it asking for trouble with a foal?

Many thanks x

 

[holiday]

I personally, as you dont have a stable, would try with a little lightweight halter as then you can slip it quickly over her ears and not have to fiddle trying to do buckles up, once she has that on you can then start putting your slip on so she gets used to you doing it whilst you do have hold of her.

If shes happy for you to touch her ears etc it would be easier as you can always drop it over the ears first, or get her used to you just stroking her over the top of her neck etc with it.

Good luck its hard without a solid corner!!!

 

[BallyshanHorses]

Have you anyone to help you.When I am on my own I usually back the foal into a corner and put on the headcollar.She will stand after a few few days when she gets used to it.
I wouldn't be encouraging her to bite either.

 

[CrazyMare]

I started mine by getting the noseband and headpeice undone & foal in a corner.

have the headpeice in left & right hand and superquickly getting it round and done up. Then doing the noseband up as foalie is in the corner.

Two weeks is quite a bit older than I would like though - 18 hours old was when I started.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

find her itchtchy spot usually withers or between back legs, distract and get the leather foal slip on! then keep handling. back end is usually friendlier than front end! do not accept mouthing or biting. grooming and reciprocating is another matter!. instill manners now!determinieyour space and push foal away if getting in your space!

 

[Holly831]

I tend to get them on when foal is relaxed, will she let you approach her when she is lying down?
If you scratch her neck and do the slip up around her neck without putting her nose in and then move it around, up her neck and around her ears.

I must admit I have a slip on mine within hours of birth as it is so much easier and I hate pinning them to get headcollars on!

Good Luck

 

[Vickijay]

Dottie was exactly the same, I started by scratching her on the withers, neck, bottom etc with the actual slip so she wasnt fussed about that. Then I practiced just putting her nose in (carefully!) and out, with lots more scratches and good girls, then I practiced moving the strap around her ears, more scratches, then I had no trouble at all doing it up.
It only took about 5-10mins and was no fuss at all.

Also have I missed the photos of her??? Are there any???

x

ps I did that with her loose in the field!! Although she was a bit older

 

[KarynK]

With babies you need to teach them pressure and release first. Put one arm round the chest and the other round the backside just below the tail (like a sideways cuddle). Hold them and the minute they stop struggling release any contact with their bodies, don't take your arms away just take the contact off, only do it for a couple of times then let them go play for a while.

My little one born this morning knows already in two attempts of this lesson to stand still and no pressure. The rug is on now on out in the paddock at 5 hrs old.

With the foal slip put the top strap around the neck lower down, slide it into place at the poll then gently do up the nose piece until they get used to it, that way you have control if they try and leg it.

NB the cuddling needs to be done when they are small as if you leave it too late they are far to big strong and opinionated to learn it!!!!!

 

[JanetGeorge]

I teach mine from day one that an arm around their neck CANNOT be escaped from - they are HELD. It's easy to do when they're a day old (rather harder at a month - although almost doable!)

When I want to put the foal headcollar on, I put right arm OVER the neck and hold. Raise noseband to nose and take the offside of it with right hand as left hand lifts noseband over nose. The right hand brings the headpiece over the poll. Job done!

I limit scratchies with my foals. It does encourage biting - and some will get SO keen on it that they DEMAND it (week old foal reversing into you saying 'scratch my bum' is quite cute. 6 month old colt on his way to 17hh doing it is NOT so cute!)

 

[the watcher]

As others have said, day 1 is the best time to start this but all is not lost.

If you have a long enough rope or bandage you could try a kind of home made figure of eight manoeuvre just while you are teaching the foal to stand still and once you have acceptance of that then move on to the foal slip

 

[LynneB]

I do give my yearling colt scratches, he loves them on his bum and I hope he stays entire so want him ok with people handling him in close contact etc as he is not over handled and out with friends a lot..but it is always on my terms and if he tries backing in he gets pushed away.

I would never encourage any of the foals to reciprocate with the scratching and grooming, have you seen how hard they do each other? lol