Making a first impression with a foal

Building a relationship of trust and respect from day one will be a life-changing experience for you and your foal, says Kim Dyson.

Making a first impression with a foal
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If you’re starting a young horse off, it’s best to begin at the very beginning. That way, you know what it knows, how fast it learns and how it reacts to training. There’s something very satisfying about watching a foal grow into your trusted riding horse.

At the same time, it can be scary to think you are then the only one responsible for the success or failure of your new foal. However, if you ask for advice regularly, this fear should be banished. Psychologist Konrad Lorenz coined the term ‘imprinting’. He noticed that goslings would follow the very first object they saw moving immediately after hatching, even if this was, say, a dog. They would ‘imprint’ themselves on to this substitute mother. This process happens widely in the animal kingdom.

The first 45 minutes of the foal’s life

It’s also known that there are very short periods in a young animal’s life where it is extremely receptive to new information.
Many studies have found that young horses handled straight after birth are much easier to handle later in their lives. Dr Robert Miller, a Californian vet, discovered that this increases their confidence.

The foal should be handled within the first 45 minutes of its life and then at least twice in the next 10 days. In this way, you allow the foal to see you as a safe, nurturing figure. When you have its trust, fit it with a foal slip. This is a soft head collar. If done correctly, this will not interfere with the mare/foal relationship. Make sure the mare is comfortable with your presence. Its attitude towards you will greatly affect the way the foal perceives you. Do not stress the foal or the mother.

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Easy does it
When approaching a foal that has not been handled regularly, mimic its actions. If it backs away, back away. If it moves forward, move forward. This will stimulate curiosity and the foal will come to you. This is better than chasing the foal, which will then come to see you as a threat. Start imprinting by introducing yourself to the new born slowly. Crouch down to the foal’s level and allow it to sniff you.

Gently put your fingers in its ears and mouth. Stroke the face, neck and body gently. Your foal will find this pleasing and seek you out in future. Always be sure to hold the foal under its tail and in front of its chest. Its legs are unsteady and a foal can hurt itself when falling over backwards.

Building a relationship of trust and respect from day one will be a life-changing experience for you and your foal. All foals are born good and trusting. Not all end up good and trusting, because of negative handling experiences. In my line of work,
I’m often faced with horses with serious damage from incorrect handling as a foal. Horses are herd animals; they know how to get along and work in harmony. We as handlers need to observe them and realise that force is not the answer to gentling these animals.