Been getting a lot of questions about what I do with my babies so here's a brief breakdown of handling and getting foals used to correct human interaction.
This was really helpful! Our filly is 4 weeks old today and we are doing what you demonstrated today. She is bmvery big and strong and has been drom day 1 (she was trying to get up on her chest and forelegs before her mom had delivered her hind legs!!!) Do you ever work with two people? She tends to back up and she is now too big for one person to get arms arou d front and back when she is backing up!
Yes I know what you mean! I have done imprinting with a breeder who wanted me to help but some of his were near 2 months old and I could not do them at all by myself. Main thing to show is that people are not threats nor are they play toys to shove around on. Begin teaching respectful behavior right away and the rest is sooooo much easier. I have a yearling colt that I taught to basic lunge in 2 minutes because he is settled and easy to handle. My 2 year old niece takes him for little walks too.😄
Some of both depending on the situation. If it's playfully running and throws a kick that's a little differnt than it turning and specifically aiming. Babies don't have any grid for what is respectful and what isn't so you have to start doing something to draw those lines. If I see a kick coming but I'm not holding onto the baby, I will use the cotton leadrope and swat him. Kinda shocks him because he doesn't know what that's all about yet. Other times if I'm holding on, I chase the hidquarters away from me. My babies adore being with me, but I have safety boundaries they need to understand so if they get sassy and disrespectful/overly playful I push them away from me and out of my space. You definitely don't need to wait till they're a couple years old to start setting boundaries.
Heather you are so patient and good with the foals!
Thank you Penny! You know I love working with them!
Wow great lesson
This was really helpful! Our filly is 4 weeks old today and we are doing what you demonstrated today. She is bmvery big and strong and has been drom day 1 (she was trying to get up on her chest and forelegs before her mom had delivered her hind legs!!!) Do you ever work with two people? She tends to back up and she is now too big for one person to get arms arou d front and back when she is backing up!
Yes I know what you mean! I have done imprinting with a breeder who wanted me to help but some of his were near 2 months old and I could not do them at all by myself. Main thing to show is that people are not threats nor are they play toys to shove around on. Begin teaching respectful behavior right away and the rest is sooooo much easier. I have a yearling colt that I taught to basic lunge in 2 minutes because he is settled and easy to handle. My 2 year old niece takes him for little walks too.😄
What do you do when they kick? Ignore or correct?
Some of both depending on the situation. If it's playfully running and throws a kick that's a little differnt than it turning and specifically aiming. Babies don't have any grid for what is respectful and what isn't so you have to start doing something to draw those lines.
If I see a kick coming but I'm not holding onto the baby, I will use the cotton leadrope and swat him. Kinda shocks him because he doesn't know what that's all about yet.
Other times if I'm holding on, I chase the hidquarters away from me. My babies adore being with me, but I have safety boundaries they need to understand so if they get sassy and disrespectful/overly playful I push them away from me and out of my space. You definitely don't need to wait till they're a couple years old to start setting boundaries.