halter breaking a foal

Emma lvs tilly · 08-20-2008, 06:06 AM

can anyone make sugestions to halter breaking my 9 week old orphan foal? he cannot follow mum so i need him to lead with me. he was wild until last week and is getting used to people very well .i also need help on turning him out, i thought he was ready the other day so let him out in a small paddock, but he jumped the fence and took ages to get him back in.

thanks

Bernardo · 08-20-2008, 06:17 AM

Do you have a friend you can turn him out in?? An indoor arena? That might be a safer choice.

Basically my trainer just goes in the stall with them and gets the halter on. Then will clip a lead shank to the bottom so that when they step on it the get pressure. Not when turning out tho because if they run they can seriously hurt themselves. (We've done it but I don't suggest it incase it ends up badly) Then basically you just start by leading them pretty much normal, if they don't go you can turn putting a rope around their bum and kind of pulling it to help encourage them to walk forward.

Other people will have better suggestions.

But I think he needs to be in a more enclosed area(like an arena), or at least give him a friend.

Emma lvs tilly · 08-20-2008, 06:39 AM

we dont have an arena only a field with electri taped fence. we are not sure yet weather to put him with an old retired mare who hardly moved and wouldnt hurt a fly. this one rather than any of our other mares who would hurt him if he tried to suckle. or a 4 year old gelding who is a really big softy, still a baby at heart who just wants a playmate.

Bernardo · 08-20-2008, 06:43 AM

I'd say either the gelding or the old retired mare. The gelding might tolerate a little more than the mare. And electric tape? I'm not so sure if that is safe for a baby it's too easy for them to get out. If your going to do that it def. needs to be with another horse to occupy him.

I prefer a securely enclosed field.

Emma lvs tilly · 08-20-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernardo

I'd say either the gelding or the old retired mare. The gelding might tolerate a little more than the mare. And electric tape? I'm not so sure if that is safe for a baby it's too easy for them to get out. If your going to do that it def. needs to be with another horse to occupy him.

I prefer a securely enclosed field.

it is a secure field but its over 10 acres, so we split it off using the electric fence. we he did get out before it was to get to our other horses 2 paddocks alond but the only place he escaped to was the main field.

Luna9 · 08-20-2008, 08:26 AM

With my foal all that I did was halter him and clip a lead line to him and had someone walk behind him and urge him on if he stopped. We are slowing fading out the other person now. We did also use his mom to help at times but that was a worse hassle cause he wouldnt walk in a straight line with her there, LOL. He wanted to go from one side of her to the other when he got nervous. So we stopped that and started the other method. He will now lead on his own most of the time and is doing pretty good. The one thing that I did notice with him is he is better leading when he is given space and Im not right up next to him. Ive read somewhere that some horses can be I guess claustrophobic....not really sure.

Bernardo · 08-20-2008, 10:04 AM

Some people buy mules or donkeys and tie their baby to them for a few hours a day. Not suggeting it, but its an interesting method nonetheless

sarahhowen · 08-20-2008, 12:10 PM

OK, can you get the head coller on him ok? if so then using a long lead line (I like the john whitaker ones - they are 8ft and dead soft if Flynn decideds to have a wobble you can give him the length of the line without burning your hands)

Ok now stand approx 3 ft away from him and apply gentle pressure to the rope - not so hard that you run the risk of straining his muscles but hard enough so that he feels the pressure, now wait, he will eventually give in an step forward. Praise him (I generally find a good scratch on the neck - Varla loves it) repeat until he yeilds from the pressure when he is doing this easily you can then start with trying to get him to take a few steps..........its all baby steps but they learn so quickly.

With regards to turn out, personally I would turn him out with the younger gelding, purely because my foal loves to rear up on mum - or any horse and rest with her front feet on mums back, I would personally be a little concerned with how exhuberant Flynn will be with his new playmate!

sarahhowen · 08-20-2008, 12:11 PM

Oh and if he rears whilst you are doing this let the rope slide a little or else you run the risk of pulling him over - you don't want to hurt him.

08-20-2008, 06:06 AM	#1
Emma lvs tilly Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: uk Posts: 466 Images: 62	halter breaking a foal can anyone make sugestions to halter breaking my 9 week old orphan foal? he cannot follow mum so i need him to lead with me. he was wild until last week and is getting used to people very well .i also need help on turning him out, i thought he was ready the other day so let him out in a small paddock, but he jumped the fence and took ages to get him back in. thanks __________________ if you want anything from a horse, remember... tell a gelding, ask a mare but alway discuss with a stallion!

08-20-2008, 06:17 AM	#2
Bernardo Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,556 Images: 41	Do you have a friend you can turn him out in?? An indoor arena? That might be a safer choice. Basically my trainer just goes in the stall with them and gets the halter on. Then will clip a lead shank to the bottom so that when they step on it the get pressure. Not when turning out tho because if they run they can seriously hurt themselves. (We've done it but I don't suggest it incase it ends up badly) Then basically you just start by leading them pretty much normal, if they don't go you can turn putting a rope around their bum and kind of pulling it to help encourage them to walk forward. Other people will have better suggestions. But I think he needs to be in a more enclosed area(like an arena), or at least give him a friend. __________________ //kimberley\\ *

08-20-2008, 06:39 AM	#3
Emma lvs tilly Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: uk Posts: 466 Images: 62	we dont have an arena only a field with electri taped fence. we are not sure yet weather to put him with an old retired mare who hardly moved and wouldnt hurt a fly. this one rather than any of our other mares who would hurt him if he tried to suckle. or a 4 year old gelding who is a really big softy, still a baby at heart who just wants a playmate. __________________ if you want anything from a horse, remember... tell a gelding, ask a mare but alway discuss with a stallion!

08-20-2008, 06:43 AM	#4
Bernardo Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,556 Images: 41	I'd say either the gelding or the old retired mare. The gelding might tolerate a little more than the mare. And electric tape? I'm not so sure if that is safe for a baby it's too easy for them to get out. If your going to do that it def. needs to be with another horse to occupy him. I prefer a securely enclosed field. __________________ //kimberley\\ *

08-20-2008, 10:04 AM	#7
Bernardo Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,556 Images: 41	Some people buy mules or donkeys and tie their baby to them for a few hours a day. Not suggeting it, but its an interesting method nonetheless __________________ //kimberley\\ *

08-20-2008, 08:26 AM	#6
Luna9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 523	With my foal all that I did was halter him and clip a lead line to him and had someone walk behind him and urge him on if he stopped. We are slowing fading out the other person now. We did also use his mom to help at times but that was a worse hassle cause he wouldnt walk in a straight line with her there, LOL. He wanted to go from one side of her to the other when he got nervous. So we stopped that and started the other method. He will now lead on his own most of the time and is doing pretty good. The one thing that I did notice with him is he is better leading when he is given space and Im not right up next to him. Ive read somewhere that some horses can be I guess claustrophobic....not really sure.

08-20-2008, 12:10 PM	#8
sarahhowen Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheshire, UK Posts: 494 Images: 48	OK, can you get the head coller on him ok? if so then using a long lead line (I like the john whitaker ones - they are 8ft and dead soft if Flynn decideds to have a wobble you can give him the length of the line without burning your hands) Ok now stand approx 3 ft away from him and apply gentle pressure to the rope - not so hard that you run the risk of straining his muscles but hard enough so that he feels the pressure, now wait, he will eventually give in an step forward. Praise him (I generally find a good scratch on the neck - Varla loves it) repeat until he yeilds from the pressure when he is doing this easily you can then start with trying to get him to take a few steps..........its all baby steps but they learn so quickly. With regards to turn out, personally I would turn him out with the younger gelding, purely because my foal loves to rear up on mum - or any horse and rest with her front feet on mums back, I would personally be a little concerned with how exhuberant Flynn will be with his new playmate!

08-20-2008, 12:11 PM	#9
sarahhowen Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheshire, UK Posts: 494 Images: 48	Oh and if he rears whilst you are doing this let the rope slide a little or else you run the risk of pulling him over - you don't want to hurt him.

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