That's one way to teach a foal not to lead.

poor baby. poor thing looks confused.com. trying to do way too much in 1st session. also girl didnt seem to have a clue what shes doing and came across as being a bit agressive.
 
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It wasn't as bad as I was expecting, to be honest. I've seen rougher handling than that. Still, it wasn't brilliant either - the handler lacked feel and the lesson went on too long (imo).
 
It was not the worst I have seen but shows how wrong some 'trainers' can be, our foals are all leading off the headcollar (no rope just hand at that age) in the right hand and mum in the left and picking up their feet without a holder at that age. They are all racing bred TB's and professionally handled from the moment they are born.
 
Just because it wasn't the worst doesn't mean it's okay.
All this proves is that people will employ anyone nowadays. As far as I read the yard owners got rid of that "trainer" and hired another high school student.
I honestly think there should be an age limit or at least a qualification needed to call yourself a trainer.
I dread to think what would've happened to the foal if she had of stayed there.
 
Honestly cannot see too much of a problem there. You need to be firm with foals from a very early age as they grow so quickly into unruly bigger babies!

A lot of pulling and shoving is necessary with some until they get the idea of yielding to the pressure.

The mother did not look upset at all, she was keeping a watchful eye but I saw no distress in her face, ears or body language.

I would certainly not ever put my hand through the headcollar of any equine due to the danger to my fingers. However small they look they are still powerful enough to do some damage. That may be a personal thing though as I have seen many people opt for the holding headcollar route but personally I find a short piece of plaited twine permanently attached to the slip a better option.
 
The video of this trainer when she rides a mare with a 3 week old foal is in my opinion worse,the mare looks really stressed and confused she is probably in pain as had not long given birth.
Her methods are confusing to the animals and make interesting viewing if you follow the videos.
I do think the mares and foals are really nice and must have amazing temperaments to put up with her.
 
She is doing a great job on the foal. She is quiet and steady and at no time does she frighten the foal. This is exactly the same way I handle my young foals. Mine all lead beautifully and have done from just several days old.

The bum rope means that the foal is not likely to run backwards or rear over in fright.

Hands up how many of you that have actually raised a foal from birth!

It's a beautiful foal.
 
Not commenting on the people or any other videos, as I don't know nor have watched them. I don't really see anything majorly wrong with the foal video posted though to be honest. Bum rope's quite a smart idea, not too dismilar to having your arm round their backend for a bit more control. Don't use the rope on our lot we halter break, but I can vouch how strong you need to be halter breaking some of the little ones! Half the time it looks worse than it actually is and as soon as the first initial 'reactions' are out their system, they're usually a doddle to handle after that 'first' time.
Foal was quite quiet compared to some. And most mare's would be 'watchful' with anything going on with their foal.

Beautiful foal too, agreed.
 
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I have raised several foals and tbh my only problem is that it went on for too long and I did not like the fact that she had a rope clipped to the headcollar, if the foal HAD managed to rear then she could have broken her neck if she was not quick enough to release the rope pressure. At that age, I have put a headcollar on the foal but most certainly do not lead from it, I use a lead rope around the back and also across the chest of the foal in a sort of figure of eight. The trainer was firm and believe me you have to be with a young foal. So, although I did not like some of it, it was not nearly as bad as I was expecting.

Loved both the mare and the foal and what a beautiful colour the mare was.
 
There were quite a few things very less than ideal in this as a first leading lesson. For starters, the mare should be helping - we teach our foals to lead from day 1 - going out to the field with Mum. But NOT with a headcollar on. We start with a tea-towel around the neck and a bum rope - and the lesson lasts JUST long enough to get mare and foal to field - with the foal following Mum. Trying to forcibly drag a young foal away from its mother is stressful for both - and stress can cause ulcers in young foals VERY easily!

When we start using a headcollar, the foal just wears it. By then the tea-towel has been replaced with a soft rope around the foals neck (pulling on the head can do damage to the soft bones of the skull - apart from encouraging MANY foals to panic and go over backwards!!)

ALL lessons for a young foal should be VERY short and simple - 30 - 60 seconds at a time is plenty! And one thing at a time should be an unbreakable rule IMHO!.
 
What a beautiful chunky foal! I don't think the video was as bad as some have said but the training left a lot to be desired. As JanetGeorge said, first leading lessons should be with mum helping, by the time our girl was 2 weeks old she was leading out in headcollar with mum, at her side, with one attendant. We didn't use the tea towel this time, choosing to guide with hands at chest and rump, we also progressed to a headcollar earlier than we would normally, more because I had to be able to lead her and mum safely out on my own. I did a lot of work in the stable with her when the headcollar went on so that when we went out with it the hard work was done.
In criticism of the video, the trainer was not releasing pressure quickly enough most of the time, she wasn't using the rope around the bum correctly. The pressure was on all the time rather than just when asking foal to move forward, because of the way she had it knotted, that would have been unpleasant and confusing for the foal. If anything I would have said she was making it hard work for herself and she was trying to do too much without really being effective.
 
i have raised/ am raising my foal from birth...

i think that at two weeks old this is way too much. very very long session. my foal wanted to be with me... came to me and followed me- this one is actively trying to get away from her!

whats wrong with using the mare to teach the foal to lead?? once you have established walking behind or next to mum and the foal is happy to have you attatched and walking beside them, and responsive to pressure and voice commands (only a couple of SHORT sessions- in my experience) then stand the mare and work on slowly but surely walking independantly. worked fine for me with my foal and the many others i have helped with!

i dont like the way she yanked its head so much... but agree that once she had hold that she shouldnt have let go.

dont get me wrong... ive had my fights with willow- but never had the need to wrestle her to pick up her feet at that age (or foot... as this lady only ever picked up the same fore...) i could pick up all three while willow was loose in the field.
 
Not everyone leads their foals to the field!

Mine are born in a field and stay in a field - they don't get stabled. And I've discovered that they don't always wish to follow mum. They also can become very ferel very fast.

I liked the way she worked with the foal, never once did she get rough. SHe was quietly firm with the foal who could see her mum all the time. Neither was distressed. She didn't haul the head aroound - when the foal went away from her she quietly placed an arm over its back and pushed on her shoulder to move her over.

Did you look at any of her further videos. Every one a quiet positive manner and all the foals working willingly.
 
I'm a little suprised that a few people appear unaware of the use of a bum rope, I did think that this was what most folk did when teaching a foal. However, I agree that anything you do with foals should be done in very short sessions and not getting into a wrestling match is always the best policy.

We are lucky I suppose in that we can ride our mares out onto the moor with the foals at foot and let them run about and explore, in quite a safe environment.

We also give them plenty of toys like cones, tarps and balls to play with and cattle and sheep to graze with as I feel this builds confidence for them later in life when they will come across similar things, and I don't want them spooky.

We spend a lot of time just being with the foals as I believe that they should see us as just part of their normal everyday environment.

I know lots of folk don't have the time to invest in youngsters like this, but it is part of their education, seeing people as the decision makers and leaders in their world. This time is invaluable for them and can never be reclaimed as they get older.
 
im sure there are people out there handling foals and horses far worse than the woman in this video... but i wouldn't let her near any of mine.

i dont have a problem with her holding on and being firm when the foal was trying to P off with her- ive had to do that myself.

the session went on far too long and i think it was confusing for the foal. why make things hard for yourself and the foal? why not just do it the simple easy way- using the mare to establish leading?

each to their own: i have no problem with using a bum rope. never used one myself, but would if i felt the need. i just think its simpler and easier on everyone to teach the foal to lead by following mum.
 
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