What do you expect a 4 month old Foal to do?!

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EquestrianFairy

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my girl is 3 months and 2 weeks, what would you expect her to be able to do at this point? I understand every one has different ideas but in a general way?

So far, shes been trimmed and i can pick her feet out (needs work though)
Shes almost halter trained
I am able to spray her (fly spray)
Fully groom her
Wash her face/eyes with a wet sponge
I can place my coat on her and take it off (representing a rug)
She loads perfectly with mum
Comes to call (again, with mum)

My girl doesnt seem to think she needs her mum for anything except milk, shes very very independant and its only ever mum who gets stressed when shes not around rather than vice versa.

Thanks
 
Thats loads! The foals at my yard are just turned out with their mums and never handled. I think they've been in the lorry a few times but that's it.

You're doing really well with yours
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Ooo fab, thats always good to know!

Its not my 'expertise' in training im afriad- as i actually know NOTHING about foals but shes so laid back and relaxed (as is mum) so i think thats helped no end.

Shes also very much her own horse, i think as she grows older that may pose a problem if she gets abit too big for her boots.
 
ours at work are about the same age and we are in the process of grooming, picking feet up (have all been trimmed) having their head collars on and leading, still in early stages tho!
 
Well, mine's pretty much the same age (born 26th April) and I can groom her all over and pick up her feet . . . . . . BUT she has gone completely backwards with regard to halter breaking. I started putting a leather foal slip on her at about 3 weeks old and worked with her for about another 4 weeks at which point she would actually lead. I didn't bother with another headcollar or foal slip until they came home last weekend as I figured the ice had been broken, so to speak. . . . but now can I get a foal slip on her? No way! She's VERY sharp and I discovered yesterday (trying to get a foal slip on her) that she can jump 3ft 6 from a standstill so at least I know she can jump!!! I wouldn't have bothered pursuing it at the moment if it wasn't for the fact that the vet is coming a week on Tuesday to vaccinate her mother and microchip her . . . . . Unfortunately I don't have stables at the field they are in so it's not easy to corner her and I'm not going to try walking down to the stables as, although the lane is very quiet, she is an independent little madam and I don't have help . . . . .
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Troy is 5 months, but at 4 months he could exactly the same as your except he was halter trained at 5 weeks because I have to lead him down a drive with cars coming up and down so this was the most important thing for me. He is also very good having his feet picked out as he has had it done from day one every day.
 
Shes still very much left to being a baby, i just wanted to make sure i was doing everything all ok so far.

Mum is retired so her and baby have a field of 2 other foals and 2 other mares and they get on pretty well.
 
Sounds like you've got the basics covered. I would just keep on reinforcing those. I bet she still sleeps loads doesn't she? They are so cute at that age
 
Sounds pretty similar to mine, who was born on 8 June, she hasn't been brushed (we are lazy!) but has had water on her face, legs, back etc, still touching her all over, headcollar goes on once of twice a week, and yesterday we led her and mum around the field, saying walk on and whoa as required - now that needs a lot of work in the near future! Feet and legs no problem, she has seen farrier twice, has had plastic shoes on for joint straightening, not too keen but now the joints are straight we will be on basic rasping so should become easier for her and the farrier. She gets fly sprayed sometimes, her bum and nipples touched (this was esp important as until she was born, I wasn't able to touch the mothers nipples or udder, she would boot you) and hugged/played with/lent over in the hope she will remember me leaning over her when she gets backed. Her mother is old, and doesn't play with her, so I am hoping to reintroduce my gelding with them, as he plays and she and him are besotted with each other, over the electric fence!
 
By 4 months old, yes I would certainly expect all of that, including being totally halter trained. I would also expect the foal to remain at home happily in the field whilst the mother is taken away for an hour or two to be ridden.

Sounds like you are doing a fine job.
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Mine does most of the things mentioned, hmm farrier, had a bit of an altercation with one trimmer as he reckoned her feet weren't wearing enough and he wanted to trim her soles and toes back.......now have a lovely new trimmer who doesn't want to practise his mustang rolls on my horses.
Although Isabella is really independent and only goes to Lola for food, preferring Zeus for company, there is no way I can take her out of Lolas' view. The foal would go but Lola goes beserk,simply lead the foal around the barn (out of one door, and in the other) and the mare is over the door! It's one of those things that I am not going to push, and as the mare isn't ridden, and I'm in no hurry to wean, we'll take our time over this one otherwise there will be an accident.
 
We always put a foal slip on our foals by 3 days old. We used to show at county show level - Mare and Foal classes amongst other things so our foals had to be bomb proof. They were used to being bathed, loaded etc etc.

I can however, remember one foal who had a difficult mother but she was outstanding and we halter broke the foal in the trailer at Devon County Show
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because the mother used to take the foal away from us! (going back 15 years) anyway, we won the championship that year!!!!
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Both mare and foal were outstanding - Welsh Sec C with mare was Synod blood lines and the foal was by a stallion who's grand sire was Menai Fury.
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