Taming a wild foal?

[classic_astra]

im in the process of buying 6 ponies, of which 2 are foals of about 6 weeks old. none of these ponies have ever had any handling, apart from eating at full neck stretch out of a bucket!

im just wondering how difficult it will be to tame a foal, with mother present?

bearing in mind the others are wild too, and i only have a field with no shelter to put them in to deal with them!!

all fun and games!

any tips or suggestions?

many thanks x

 

[JanetGeorge]

Is it too late to back out of the purchase??

With no facilities, it will be very difficult indeed although it COULD be done. But it will take a HELL of a lot of time and patience. It's almost impossible to work on 6 ponies at once without containing them in a small, safe yard - and if one runs, they all run.

 

[cruiseline]

If the mothers are also unhandled and run at the first sight of a human being, then you really have got your work cut out with the foals, they will instinctively copy their mothers.

Good luck, you might need it.

 

[clarejones]

Don't do it unless you have the facilities and alot i mean alot of time . I rescued 8 wlesh mountain ponies and foals all were wild. The foals weren't a problem we individual stabled the foals for about a month and handled them everyday the older ponies were a nightmare in fact we were only able to tame one the others are still with us living wild we can only trim their feet twice a year and we have to have the vet out and rugby tackle them into a corner of the stable to sedate them it costs a fortune because we have to do it iv, in the bum is not enough their adrenalin counteracts the sedation! Although they are small they are so difficult to handle one of them kicked my husband and carried on kicking when he was lay on the floor in agony another has bitten the farrier good style! we have just had to accept that they are literally wild animals and luckily with us having 90 acres they can roam around that. And like Janetgeorge said once one runs they all will run and it doesn't matter if a fence or person is in the way they will do anything to get away from you. If you decide to still have them best of luck to you but please be really careful i would never take on something like that again it's time consuming, expensive and i have had no joy or pleasure in it.

 

[The Original Kao]

Kao my filly was virtually wild when she arrived with us at 4 weeks old (her dam was very over protective and so she never got the handling)
we got hold of the dam (4 of us) 1 stood in the corner of the field holding the dam, another stood next to the dam in the corner and 2 of us herded her into the corner beside her dam. so she was penned in. 2 at the back held her in whilst the 1 in the corner would get the head collar on. we had to catch her like this a lot until she was nearly 4 months old. and for some reason they couldn't catch her unless i was there

guess she knew i was gonna buy her eventually

she's 15 months old now and comes to call in the field, so she suffered no ill effects from the cornering etc

 

[classic_astra]

i know i have my work cut out, ive had alot of wild ponies before, ive had two youngsters about 5months old from the sales,and three 3 yr olds,i have help of my other half and my mum, were hoping to seperate them a bit, so the 2 ponies without foals are in together and the two mares and foals are intogether. the foals are already very inquisitive, and i was hoping if i can get mums trust then the foals might be a little easier?

im also trying to get a field shelter up that i can put a gate on so that might make life a little easier. as i said ive had a good deal of experience with wild ponies, but not too sure on the foals!

 

[The Original Kao]

well kao's dam became very friendly but after 2 weeks Kao still wouldn't let us near her head and she had a foal slip on which was getting tight on her head. so we had to just go in and corner her as the softly, softly approach was taking too long.

 

[JanetGeorge]

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im also trying to get a field shelter up that i can put a gate on so that might make life a little easier. as i said ive had a good deal of experience with wild ponies, but not too sure on the foals!

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A field shelter with gate - or even a stout post & rail yard or a round pen would make life MUCH easier - as would seperating the two mares with foals. If they CAN'T run away, then they learn they don't NEED to run away; every time they succeed in fleeing, it re-inforces the instinct that says "run"!

Foals are no different to older wild ponies, except they DO have that inquisitive streak which can be used. Until you have a way of containing them, I wouldn't attempt to catch them - every time you try and fail it will make it harder. Just try to get their confidence in your presence with lots of advance/retreat (ideally, YOU retreat before they do!) A bare field and hand feeding will help - take in an armful of hay, stand near it. Let them know you are the bringer of nice things. Do NOT, though, attempt to grab one! I wouldn't even take a lead rope near them while they're loose - a horse who is caught - and escapes - is FAR harder to catch than one who has never been caught!!

 

[Crystalbank_stud]

Big project, but I guess you need support right now.

In my opinion is the mares you need to deal with first because as already pointed out above, when the mares take flight the foals will automatically follow.

I have my foals with halters on by four to six weeks old and coming in and out of stables with Mum too.

Make as much use as you can of the field shelter and if you put a gate on there then DO make sure the foal cannot get a leg through. There is no way though that the shelter will cope with thay many and it means you will have to work damned hard swapping and changing, but my fear is that you won't instill enough confidence in one before it's time for another to come in.

At least the mares are used to being fed so the food aspect may help a little.

Do you have anyone that could help you out with stabling?

It's important you bring these foals up correctly as there's enough bad stock out there.

 

[classic_astra]

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It's important you bring these foals up correctly as there's enough bad stock out there.

[/ QUOTE ]

dont worry they are not going to be sold, untill they are completely handlable, as i dont want someone else undoing hard work by letting them go too early.

 

[foxviewstud]

ok i started out with 2wild ponies straight off dartmoor one yearling filly and a four yr old mare who was in foal the filly looked on the mare as her second mum but she came around so much easier, it took only a few dys in a field before the filly was ready to be handled, the mare however took about a yr before i could fully handle her BUT i am the only person that can do anything with her. since then i have had several wild ponies all have come around with trust and time apart from the welsh pony i have who no way no how will come round. i would say the foals will be the easiest because they are not set in their wild ways like the mares will be, i would def get the mares without foals in and handled, if the foals are already nosey they should come round really quick, when we have foals about that are wary i just sit out in the field daily but ignore them, its always worked for us.

 

[kerilli]

if you can get the mothers to accept the handling, i think the foals watch and learn.
i also think that when they realise that you take all hay and feed, and ask for very little in return (just being able to stroke their neck to begin with, for example) the penny drops that you are a Good Thing.
i bought a well-bred tb x hann yearling filly from a reputable breeder and on getting her home discovered that what i had thought was just "a bit nervous" was actually "terrified and flighty". it was like having a wild deer around for the first 6 months at least. now she's 99% better... 2 years on.
very best of luck, tons of time and patience and kindness, and be careful because wild youngsters can do daft things!