leading a foal

[jessikaGinger]

how did you go about it, i let willow follow at the moment, but yesterday i though hmm why not so on went the lead i was well prepared with grippy shoes and gloves and she went NUTS!! she didnt manage to fall, go over etc but we had a 20min battle then she finally did one step at a time (took forever)

i dont want it to be a bad experience she got lots of 'good girls' and patting but how long did it take urs? she's 5weeks old

Ta

 

[Tempi]

I dont know any foal that dosent go ''nuts'' when you first start teaching them to lead. You obviously need to make sure you have someone else there with you leading the mare so you can focus on the foal, also it makes it a bit easier as the foal will follow the mare still. Its when the foal wanders off, dosent follow the mare that the ''leading'' starts. The foal will obviously pull back to start with as they wont understand what the poll pressure is, you need to be firm and hang on (!) and as soon as the foal gives you release the pressure and give the foal a pat and then carry on. Leading a foal isnt easy to start with, some are quicker than others with it.

My current foal took ages to lead, shes seriously strong and even when she went to stud a month after she foaled the stud said she was very strong for her age and had some problems with her. Shes fine now.

When my gelding was a foal he picked it up a lot quicker, but then he was a lot more laid back than my fiesty little filly!!

Im no stud expert though and im sure someone more knowledgable will be able to explain it a bit better.

You must do it when you have time, and you need to have lots of patience and not get angry with them etc.

 

[the watcher]

You need some help with this so a second person can deal with the mare, then you can lead mare and foal close together side by side.

The foal WILL put up a fight, this is almost inevitable. so keep your sessions short with lots of positive reinforcement. The more you do the quicker your foal will learn and you will see an improvement within a week if you do a little daily

 

[jessikaGinger]

i did have 2 back ups my dad leading my mare who quite frankly couldn't give a ***** what her foals doing a friend on hand just as back up and me and my poor arms holding on for life

she did start going abit doe eyed after pulling back so long but she soon came back to life

my plan is to do it every night when im bringing them in and let her follow on a morning

in general she has picked everything up quickly i.e picking her feet up working the water drinker..
although i still have battles getting her head collar on

 

[AengusOg]

Foals respond very well to pressure and release training from an early age. In fact they take to it much better than most older horses. Pressure used gently to teach them how to benefit from its release will have them leading nicely in no time at all.

Initially it can be done in a stable, or small safe area, whilst they are standing with their mother.

Much better than them feeling held against their will and 'going nuts'.

 

[air78]

Totally agree with AengusOg.

You need to teach your foal to understand how to release pressure; a good way to start is to use the figure 8 rope/ bandage technique... I'm sure someone can piont you in the direction of a vid clip of this, but maybe your foal is a bit big for it now?

If you are going to use the headcollar, the easiest way to start is to stand a meter or so away from the foal at it's side, level with the head, then ask them very gently to the side. as soon as they move 1 front hoof release the pressure, move around to the other side and ask again. release as soon as they move at all. They'll move forward in a zig zag fashion, but will get the hang of it in no time

Remember horrses are 'in to pressure' animals, so keep all pressure light and not fixed with a foal. The easiest way to get a foal to go over backwards is to apply fixed pressure to the leadrope, pulling forwards.

ETA just found this vid clip... it's not perfect, but show how light your pressure and how quick your release needs to be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv7F00ZKKlI&feature=related

 

[jessikaGinger]

thanks for the advice regarding pressure, tonight she was much better with the actual 'realising a rope was attached' no rearing etc she wasn't exactly willing to walk on at 1st but once she realised pressure stops when she walks she was fab

someone said ohh i didnt realise ud been practising (i didnt tell them i hadn't)