[SweetIron]

I have worked, ridden and been around horses a lot in my life, and am comfortable around most of them. But foals are something I was just never really exposed to!
My friend's mare foaled about 2 weeks ago, and now there's a bouncing baby QH colt at the barn. He is always contained of course; either out in the seperate fenced-off paddock with his mom, or in their stall. But it just seems like foals are so prone to unpredictable behavior! One second they are calmly standing there, the next they explode and are bucking around the field! It doesn't seem like they give you any warning signs of "exploding" like adult horses do.
Any tips on reading a foal's body language/behaviors? Yesterday I noticed him looking curiously at me out the stall door; nosing at the metal grid thingy. I don't want to sound stupid, but I am afraid that if I open the stall door, he might kick me! I knew an experienced horseman who had several ribs broken by a young foal this way; maybe that's what planted that idea in my head. I do open the door to water them, but that only takes a second and he is usually by the far wall behind mama.
Any advice from you foal-knowledgible people?

[Jeblina]

I was the same way when I first met my foal...I was so afraid that he was just gonna bowl me over and not even care....But now that I've spent more time around him...I have gotten the opportunity to learn his temprament and personality....so I don't have to worry as much. I went into this whole experience of raising a foal knowing that "yes, I will catch a hoof a time or two" and in fact...he kicked me for the first time yesterday when I stopped riding his mother and wouldnt let him nurse until they were back in the stall...he got mad and kicked me!!! The little ****! I took the reins and smacked him on the butt...but it didn't even phase him...silly boy! Anyway...young colts are generally more curious than anything. The guy who got kicked probably was dealing with an older foal.

[jutland]

my foals have always been really bubbly but never mean!! i mean yeah they like to taste you but thats about it!!!lol

[SweetIron]

It just seems like they're unpredictable. At least this one is! I am just used to being able to (pretty much) read what a horse is about to do next based on its body language.
Hopefully by watching my friend's little guy, I will learn how to read foals better.

[BestofPrincess]

I personaly dont find them unpredictable, but then again I have known older horses who act the way you described. Then there is also the fact that we imprint all our foals at birth so Im sure that makes a diffrence too

[AutumnAttic]

Im fine with foals, but little kids make me nervous lol.. I absolutely cannot baby sit..

[horsetrainer]

I would highly recommend Clinton Anderson's Handling Foals Weanlings and Yearlings 6 DVD set. It addresses the new foal and how to deal with the new mare and tells you everything you need to be safe and get them stared on training at an early age.

[Trevor-Runner]

ahahah they are quite random and unpredictable! That's why we love them so much.. right!! they are always full of energy =)