Every year, my foals all have different personalities. This year, I have a foal (2 months old) that is just wild. Usually, the foals will come up to me about the third day. (Mother is very aggressive of baby) I had to corner this one up yesterday to put a halter on her. I don't want to start cornering her up because then she'll be scared of me. She stays behind her Mom always, out of my reach. I rub and scratch her trying to make it more pleasent. I feel I should start training her to lead. I can't be with my horses when they foal because of lots of circumstances. I work. At what ages do you all start teaching your foals to lead and what do you suggest that I do to calm her down? Maybe she'll calm down when we wean her?
WILD Baby!! Help!!!
- Thread starter Mistic
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anita
Well-Known Member
We start after weaning and always with fun and what they can understand, no force.
The most of the time I let them be horses.
As long foals are with mares their mother is the law which is normal.
Anita
The most of the time I let them be horses.
As long foals are with mares their mother is the law which is normal.
Anita
Gracie
Well-Known Member
My last filly was the same way, We could touch her nose all we wanted scratch her withers and run with her till the cows came home But NOTHING else,
I finally cornered her and put a halter on her, I DO NOT ever like leaving a halte ron but in her case I had no choice. the first lead line lesson was HORRID she flung her self to the ground in a fit of rage, 2 nd one wasnt much better, 3rd time I half drug her out to a lush meadow of grass so she could eat good stuff, I wanted her to associate walks with good,
Well she walked BACK to her pasture like a little champ and has ever since lead like a little champ, even by halter only no lead, lol
And this little was was spoiled and loved on since birth shes just a snotty bratty one, lol
I do find just hangin ou tin there space, sit on ground read a book whatever gets em to coming to ya, They are so nosey they cant help it, lol Good luck let us know how it goes.
I finally cornered her and put a halter on her, I DO NOT ever like leaving a halte ron but in her case I had no choice. the first lead line lesson was HORRID she flung her self to the ground in a fit of rage, 2 nd one wasnt much better, 3rd time I half drug her out to a lush meadow of grass so she could eat good stuff, I wanted her to associate walks with good,
Well she walked BACK to her pasture like a little champ and has ever since lead like a little champ, even by halter only no lead, lol
And this little was was spoiled and loved on since birth shes just a snotty bratty one, lol
I do find just hangin ou tin there space, sit on ground read a book whatever gets em to coming to ya, They are so nosey they cant help it, lol Good luck let us know how it goes.
Congratulations, it sounds like you have what i like to call a "left=brained" baby.
I have one mare here who seems to produce these little challenges on a semi regular basis. Some babies seem to be born curious and friendly and some I swear are born with more wild horse instincts then they need.
I do go ahead and "push" the issue a bit with these little ones. The colt I am working with this year now stands (at 2months) to be haltered with a scratch on the right side of his neck to steady him. We did have to corner him to start with. We also made sure we spent time in the stall with mom and him just to be sure that everytime we went in there we were not "terrorizing" the little one.
I will not get as far with this colt as the other one here born two days later until I wean. And then I spend a lot of time with them.
It just seems that in their minds everything is a mountain lion attack for a while but they do get through it.
By the time this mare's babies are two they are easy and sweet and I have had kids handle them with no problem. The big change mentally seems to come their yearling year. Seems like it is easier away from mom to 'wake up" the "right side fo their brains and get them thinking and not reacting solely on that flight or fight reflex.
Anyway that is just my experience, and way of "thinking" of it, good luck and keep in mind that patience (never disciplining reactions from fear) and a sense of humor does help.
I do not agree with handfeeding these little ones, (like karo syrup asuggested aboive I know someone who use to handfeed sugar to the babies to get them to come) just is not something I would do, they can be mouthy enough and I have kids out to see them with "juicy" might be a treat 'fingers".
I have one mare here who seems to produce these little challenges on a semi regular basis. Some babies seem to be born curious and friendly and some I swear are born with more wild horse instincts then they need.
I do go ahead and "push" the issue a bit with these little ones. The colt I am working with this year now stands (at 2months) to be haltered with a scratch on the right side of his neck to steady him. We did have to corner him to start with. We also made sure we spent time in the stall with mom and him just to be sure that everytime we went in there we were not "terrorizing" the little one.
I will not get as far with this colt as the other one here born two days later until I wean. And then I spend a lot of time with them.
It just seems that in their minds everything is a mountain lion attack for a while but they do get through it.
By the time this mare's babies are two they are easy and sweet and I have had kids handle them with no problem. The big change mentally seems to come their yearling year. Seems like it is easier away from mom to 'wake up" the "right side fo their brains and get them thinking and not reacting solely on that flight or fight reflex.
Anyway that is just my experience, and way of "thinking" of it, good luck and keep in mind that patience (never disciplining reactions from fear) and a sense of humor does help.
I do not agree with handfeeding these little ones, (like karo syrup asuggested aboive I know someone who use to handfeed sugar to the babies to get them to come) just is not something I would do, they can be mouthy enough and I have kids out to see them with "juicy" might be a treat 'fingers".
We tend to have at least one like that...........
Here's our method. Pull mom and baby into a stall with a bucket turned over ready to sit on. Give mom a little bit of grain to keep her occupied. Catch baby and bring him over to the bucket so you can sit. Hold the baby close - do NOT let go when he struggles.........Rub, stroke, scritch slowly and gentely. Talk to him quietly. Keep it up for several minutes and when he is calm and accepting, slowly release him. Always let him go when he isn't fighting to be free.
You might have to do this more than once, but after awhile the foal should get more and more approachable.
MA
Here's our method. Pull mom and baby into a stall with a bucket turned over ready to sit on. Give mom a little bit of grain to keep her occupied. Catch baby and bring him over to the bucket so you can sit. Hold the baby close - do NOT let go when he struggles.........Rub, stroke, scritch slowly and gentely. Talk to him quietly. Keep it up for several minutes and when he is calm and accepting, slowly release him. Always let him go when he isn't fighting to be free.
You might have to do this more than once, but after awhile the foal should get more and more approachable.
MA
I am NOT an expert by ANY means, and have raise only a handful of foals but had one like this for the first time this year. I have been holding her and hugging her since birth and when I would work with her she was a monster...but I kept it up and always ended on a good happy note. As soon as I weaned her and Mom was out of the way-she turned into a super sweetie! All the lessons paid off as she remembers them and now wants to be loved!
