Welcome to the Foal Handling Series where we are going to follow Vera, an APHA Filly that was born at Meadow Brook Stables, Alton, Nova Scotia though her training sessions.
A horse’s learning begins the moment they are born. They are shaped right away by their environment and their experiences. If a foal is old enough to stand he’s old enough to learn. They are born fully functional learners, they do not need to develop this part of their brain. We start their learning right from Day 1 – by teaching the foals to be relaxed around humans and to trust us from the beginning, this is how we set up the perfect foundation for a positive mindset in the future.
Vera’s Video Series starts at 22 Days Old.
Video Descriptions
Day 22 (Indoor)
Meet Vera. In this video we cover haltering, leading Basics (troubleshoot locked shoulders and resistance to move forward), respecting the Boundary while leading, mindset on the foal when going back to dam (how to ensure they are soft and connected to you) and discussing the importance of doing things for your foal.
Day 24 (Indoor)
Leading (how to properly apply halter pressure), respecting the Boundary while leading, rubbing legs and picking up feet (what to allow and what to expect), how to switch sides of your foal for working with them.
Day 27 (Indoor)
Leading (trouble shoot head tossing and “stupid” or non-productive energy), picking up feet (troubleshoot when they want to hold the leg up).
Day 28 (Indoor)
Leading (troubleshoot lagging behind), following the feel through turns, backing up.
Day 29 (Indoor)
Leading, Importance of Deworming and Weight Tape (202lbs at 1 month old), Yielding – Backing, HQ & FQ.
Day 31 (Indoor)
Leading (respecting the Boundary, troubleshoot foals that like to rub on you), the importance of finding relaxation in the exercise. Yielding – Backing.
Day 33 (Indoor)
Leading (troubleshoot anxiety while leading, troubleshoot lagging, discuss the difference between leaning and following a feel.
Day 34 (Indoor)
Leading (troubleshoot lagging), the important of instilling try from the beginning, Yielding – Backing, HQ & FQ.
Day 35 (Outdoor)
Leading (troubleshoot respecting boundary and maintaining speed ).
Day 36 (Outdoor)
Leading (troubleshoot respecting boundary). Yielding – Backing, FQ (troubleshoot head tossing).
Day 37 (Outdoor)
Leading. Yielding – Backing, HQ & FQ (troubleshoot a sticky shoulder). Discussion on appropriate pressure and using Steady vs Rhythmic pressure to reinforce. Troubleshoot when fidgeting while on “break”. Troubleshoot maintaining mental connection while going back to dam.
Day 38 (Outdoor)
Haltering (troubleshoot anxiety). Leading. Yielding – Backing, HQ, FQ (troubleshoot drifting in the yield).
Day 41 (Indoor)
Haltering. Leading. Stage 1 Tying (troubleshoot chewing & putting things in their mouth and needing to move their feet).
Day 42 (Indoor)
Haltering. Leading. Tying Stage 1-2. Take off the wall when relaxed and standing quietly.
Day 43 (Indoor)
Vera has a tough time with some Environmental Pressure and doesn’t respect the Boundary while leading past another horse on outside turn. Learn how to motivate your horse when they refuse to move. Tying Stage 2. Discuss trying to leave the office early. Keeping working on or off halter until focus 100% with you when going back to dam.
Day 44 (Indoor)
Leading. Tying Stage 2 (troubleshoot undesirable behaviour when tied). Troubleshoot leading past dam.
Day 45 (Indoor)
Leading. Typing Stage 2 (troubleshoot rubbing on the wall). Removing Halter (troubleshoot impatient behaviour and lack of respect and what do do if they aren’t able to settle).
Day 49 (Indoor)
Haltering. Yielding – HQ steady pressure (troubleshoot sticky right side). Introduce Yielding – HQ rhythmic pressure from the rope (troubleshoot leaning on pressure, moving the feet, different ways to move your rope to help motivate your horse, pushing in with shoulder). Leading.
Day 50 (Running Time 07:13) (Indoor)
Vera gets used to having her feet handled for hoof trimming. She is exposed to the tools and positions when being trimmed and learns to be comfortable, still and relaxed. (Troubleshoot pulling feet)
Day 51 (Indoor)
Haltering. Yielding – HQ steady pressure (troubleshoot leaning, front end drifting), HQ rhythmic pressure (progressing and expectations).
Day 52 (Running Time 17:09) (Indoor)
Learning soft, fluid HQ yields first from steady pressure followed by rhythmic/ driving pressure. Vera learns to follow a feel and understand intentional pressure from the lead rope. (Troubleshoot running through pressure, ignoring pressure).
Day 54 (Running Time 11:29) (Outdoor)
Recap what Vera learned so far and introduction to obstacles and adding components to patterns with them (poles and pylons). Respecting boundaries, following a feel, practicing soft, light leading. (Troubleshoot anticipating vs. Being ready to be asked).
Day 55 (Running Time 15:01) (Indoor)
Introduction to obstacles. Vera learns that when she has no resistance over obstacles, follows a feel and listens without assumptions she is rewarded with longer breaks. (Troubleshoot head tossing and staying respectful within the exercise)
Day 56 (Running Time 11:00) (Indoor)
Vera is desensitized to the tarp. Continued exposure to new things sets any horse up for success.
Day 57 (Running Time 09:54) (Indoor)
Working on building trust, try and confidence through exposure to the bridge. Vera learns that an obstacle can be a “rest stop” within an exercise.
Day 58 (Running Time 15:55) (Indoor)
HQ yields through rhythmic pressure from the stick. Vera learns to isolate movement in her hips.
Day 59 (Running Time 11:33) (Indoor)
Review of HQ yields and increasing difficulty. (Troubleshoot lack of respect for boundaries).
Day 62 (Running Time 10:22) (Outdoor)
Isolating and moving the hip in HQ yields. (Troubleshoot drifting, walking forwards/ backwards)
Day 63 (Running Time 10:09) (Indoor)
Vera learns to be tied for grooming, weight tape, deworming and being touched all over. (Troubleshoot foot handling until a repeatable/ desired response).
Day 66 (Running Time 09:20) (Outdoor)
Vera learns to be straight, light and responsive while backing up between poles. This will help with responding to boundaries from rein and leg pressure under saddle. (Troubleshoot environmental pressure, straightness, leaning, boundaries, head tossing).
Day 70 (Running Time 08:11) (Indoor)
Learning Figure 8 and Weaving through pylons. The use of drive and draw to get the pattern. (Troubleshoot pulling/ pushing into pressure, boundaries, keeping emotions at bay during the exercise)
Day 71 (Running Time 12:07) (Indoor)
Introduction to circles. This exercise incorporates following a feel, leading and sending and being guided. The primary goal is to have her be responsible for maintaining gait, maintaining direction and looking where she is going. (Troubleshoot crowding, environmental distractions and keeping her focus)
Vera is also exposed to fly spray and learns that it can be a good thing.
Day 72 (Running Time 10:07) (Indoor)
Increasing difficulty with circles by increasing the size and introducing the Whoa cue. (Troubleshoot drifting, crowding, increasing speed/ size)
Day 73 (Running Time 11:46) (Indoor)
Larger circles for Vera and reinforcing the Whoa cue. More responsibilities as learning circling. (Troubleshoot boundaries, keeping slack in the line, pulling, focus in the exercise and crowding)
Day 76 (Running Time 18:17) (Indoor)
Vera continues to work on circles, this time with a few changes. (Troubleshoot crowding, being pushy, respecting boundaries, working away from mom/ being herd bound, bracing, not standing still).
Day 77 (Running Time 11:13) (Indoor)
Learning more responsibilities and settling into the exercise while progressing through struggles on one side while circling. It is important to establish one side before introducing another. (Troubleshoot forward thinking/ lack of whoa, ignoring/ running through pressure)
Day 78 (Running Time 13:05) (Indoor)
Vera overcomes several issues working on her circles. (Troubleshoot shoulder in/ cutting in, balance, brace, maintaining gait, sticky feet, spooking, maintaining focus within the exercise)
Day 79 (Running Time 12:17) (Indoor)
Becoming more willing, responsible and improving focus within the circling exercise. (Troubleshoot resistance)
Day 80 (Running Time 11:13) (Indoor)
Vera continues to perfect her circles and increasing responsibilities while relaxing in the exercise. (Troubleshoot sticky feet/ stopping)
Day 69 (Running Time 08:35) ( Indoor)
Introduction to Figure 8 and Weave around pylons. Using drive and draw with intention, following a feel. (Troubleshoot drifting, crowding, sticky feet)
Disclaimer/Release of Liability:
Use of the information contained in the videos on this website is at your own risk. Horses, horse activities and horse training can be extremely dangerous. Working with horses is an inherently dangerous practice and horses are incredibly unpredictable animals. Persons attempting to follow any suggestion from Kaila Watters, Meadow Brook Stables, Tru Horsemanship or any of our associates, in hand or ridden, will do so at their own risk and assume full responsibility for themselves, their horses, and any others in the vicinity. If you are not comfortable with any of the exercises, demonstrations, advice, or activities contained on this Website, then do not attempt it. The training in these videos assume that you are attending to the well being of your horse and have checked out any possible underlying medical problems.