Imprinting VS Not Imprinting

[Katiean]

All of my foals have been born late at night. I like my sleep a bit too much to stay up long enough to imprint any foal. As long all is well with mom and baby I leave them be. We had one foal born around 8:30 in the morning. We sat out with mom and baby until baby wanted to be with us more than his mom. We then left mom and baby alone for a couple of hours so they could bond. I put halters on after a couple of days. I then lead mom with baby on a lead rope. Soon baby is lead trained and there is no fuss over that training. I waited a couple of months with my big horses and there was way too much drama. I would rather the baby just felt it was natural to be haltered. I do not feel that what I do is imprinting.

 

[wildoak]

Imprinting is not always done "correctly" ... and thus I think opinions will vary wildly

I think it's more often than not done incorrectly or at least incompletely. I guess what I do is an abbreviated form, just a system that has kind of evolved over the years of handling foals. I am present for nearly all foalings, and don't hesitate to get in and help as needed and then take care of mare's comfort and handle the foal some right away. I don't spend hours doing it, but if I start something like handling ears I finish it. I think that's the key to it all, and that is where you can do more harm than good. If you start and then stop before the foal is completely accepting, you have just taught them to evade you. I usually handle the ears and face, tap on the feet and just restrain them gently, maybe slip a halter on and off a few times. I might spend 20 minutes doing this a time or two in the first day. If I have a nervous or overly protective mare I may alter my routine accordingly, but those are usually the foals who benefit most.

If I were raising full sized horses I would put more effort into imprinting - minis are generally so easy, it's not necessary to do more than treat them well. I've never had a mare & foal not bond, but my mares are used to my presence - many of them I raised as well.

I personally think the foals benefit from what we do. They generally go back outside with the rest of the mares & babies within a couple of days, and don't get a lot of handling after that for awhile - so the early experience seems to give them a good first impression of us.

Jan

 

[Sue_C.]

Many people confuse imprinting with ordinary HANDLING of a foal. To touch a foal here and there, to calm it's fears as you check for sex, testies dropped, spray/dip navel cord...that is NOT "imprinting" per se. "Proper" imprinting is done by two or three people, and you hold that foal DOWN...you run clippers all over it, you keep it from the dam for an hour or more...however long it takes till it gives up and lies there like a rag...while some one else is holding the usually frantic mare away...preventing them to have that initial bonding experience as I feel they SHOULD.

We have always handled our foals, and they are in no time "in your face", but I disagree whole-heartedly with Dr. Miller's "proper imprinting" techniques.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I agree with you Sue. I am always there, barring accidents, and I always "interfere" as I see no reason why a mare, especially a maiden, should heave and shove any more than she has to! You would not sit and watch a human, would you? Same with my dogs and even, if I am around, with my barn kitties (although they have, finally, all been neutered) I help, I assist the foal standing, I rub off the ears and the head and neck and leave the saddle area for the mare to lick, check navel, check sex (not always correctly!!!) etc. By the time Mama is ready to take over I am usually done, and I will pull back then and let them bond, going back only to help junior find the milk bar if needed. After that Mama stays up for three days to let her feel safe to lie down, rest and generally get over it.

All that is NOT imprinting, it is correct care.

The only foal we ever, unknowingly, imprinted was an orphan Arabian, and there was little choice. By the time we realised our mistake she was terrified of other horses and never did bond properly or socialise correctly, although she found a super home who took all her failings on board and never bred her.

I think imprinted foals are a positive danger when it comes to full sized horses, and a dratted nuisance with Minis!

I have enough trouble getting rid of my unimprinted but properly handled little nuisances as it is, I cannot tell you the number of photographs of noses that I have!

 

[Songcatcher]

I cannot tell you the number of photographs of noses that I have!

Isn't that the truth!

Thank God for digital cameras.

 

[Wings]

You mean these shots?



I was not present at this foal's birth and due to a rough start her early handling involved syringing milk and needles for blood tests. I never pushed her, I let her gain confidence and take her time. As you can see from the photo I'm not having any trouble with her, in fact she's become hard to photograph due to being under foot!

I find there is little point to Miller's imprinting, its rough and invasive. Far more important that mare and foal bond, that foal stands and drinks and does normal foal things.

 

[shadowpaints]

i am also one of those people that like to let the babies and moms alone. i usually assist in the birth, help dry the foal off, make sure momma passes everything, take pics(duh who doesnt LOL) then i stand back and wait for the foal to nurse and poop. my fav thing to watch is the momma bonding with her baby , after birth i usually handle forlas 1-2 a day, scratches, and picking up feet. they are usually pretty stinkin friendly with in a few days.

i have seen people 'imprint' its kind of scary. i can desensitize and sensitize a foal buy the time its weaned with out holding it down at birth i was always taught the foal needs to nurse with in 2 hours and granddad always said you dont handle baby much till the mom and foal are bonded. its important for the mom and foal be bonded as soon as the foal is born.

 

[midnight star stables]

Many people confuse imprinting with ordinary HANDLING of a foal. To touch a foal here and there, to calm it's fears as you check for sex, testies dropped, spray/dip navel cord...that is NOT "imprinting" per se. "Proper" imprinting is done by two or three people, and you hold that foal DOWN...you run clippers all over it, you keep it from the dam for an hour or more...however long it takes till it gives up and lies there like a rag...while some one else is holding the usually frantic mare away...preventing them to have that initial bonding experience as I feel they SHOULD.

We have always handled our foals, and they are in no time "in your face", but I disagree whole-heartedly with Dr. Miller's "proper imprinting" techniques.

I agree with Sue and Rabbitfizz 100%.

After the basic care, feel they should be left. I'm not a "breeder" but have owned a few foals. I am very "hands on" with my horses but still try to give my wee ones their own time.

I also DO feel that each horse is an individual... Some are naturally more calm or more nervous. I have two foals here now (...from completely different situations mind you)and they couldn't be more different. As is each horse in my barn really. So I just keep that in mind when working with any horse.

 

[mini horse mania]

We also leave our mares to bond with their foals. Once we see the foal is nursing, peeing and pooping, we are OK. We will mess with the baby after a few days, but have always been leery of getting our scent on the foal too much right after birth. My father in law actually had a first time QH mare refuse her foal after he dried it off , and fussed over it,instead of her doing it. she literally tried to kill her. we ended up bottle feeding "Miracle". She did not make it past the first week. we will watch from a distance, and intervene if neccessary, I have never really seen much of a difference imprinting vs, not- attention will get the best of them...any horse can be a pocket pet

 

[Sue_C.]

I have never really seen much of a difference imprinting vs, not-attention will get the best of them...any horse can be a pocket pet

So true!! Actually, the biggest "pocket-pets" we've had were a mare I bought in Dec of her fifth year, who'd never been handled...poor thing was terrified and had never even been in a barn...now she will crawl onto your lap if you let her. The next in line would be the mare I am driving now...a filly out of said mare above, who was born out in the pasture unassisted, two weeks early.