The new foal crop is just around the corner and for many it will be their first and possibly
Properly trained, a foal can be enjoyed by the whole family
only baby they will raise. For you first time ‘parents’ I offer a word of caution. You will get more free advice then you will know what to do with. And, unless you study your options and have a game plan you may end up with a 900 pound bully.
You are correct, they don’t start that big, but a baby nip, kick, or shove will grow with Baby if not handled quickly, correctly, and decisively as soon as the behavior is displayed. There are also numerous lessons the baby can learn that will make him safer, happier, and easier to be around.
Do not allow any behavior now that you would not like a 900-1000 pound horse to display. Work on manners whenever you are around him now and it will be routine when he is older. For any horse, when you are in the same pen or attached by lead or rein, it is not play time. Turn out after you leave the pen is play time. If you can, play time with other horses his age is very good for him. Otherwise find some toys he likes, do not let him use you as a toy.
Babies love to play and play they should, with other horses. Watch mom, if junior gets too rowdy, she will let him know and sometimes she has to be quite harsh. If you have opportunity to watch a herd, they also will keep junior in line. So, when you are around junior, remember even at this delicate time of his life, he is learning who is a playmate and who is a leader.
Your baby can learn to lead without pulling, pushing, rearing, or special contraptions. He can also learn to stand (for short periods) for brushing and foot picking. You can teach him to clip, tie, and even take a short bath (in warm weather). He can also learn to load and follow mom on rides.
Keep in mind that this bundle of joy will very soon be a big bundle of joy or pain depending on how you handle him now. You can make him do what you want when he is little, but when he gets bigger you will be wishing you had taken the time to teach him what to do.
Babies can work alongside mom when old enough
Keep your lessons short and break them down into easy steps for the baby. Start with lessons that can be done with mom standing by and as he gets older start taking him away from mom to learn he will be ok on his own.
Do remember that a baby’s legs, lungs, and mind are still growing and to keep lessons easy physically as well. You can do irreparable damage to legs and lungs as well as spoiling his mind by over working a youngster.
Enjoy your new arrival, but keep it forefront in your mind that it is a horse and he needs to do horsey things with other horses. Your foal is not a dog and treating it as such has a way of turning a horse into a brat. Love ‘em and spoil ‘em with good care. Respect them and handle them for what they will be.
