Welcome to the Foal Handling Series where we are going to follow Fergus, an APHA Stud Colt 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.
Fergus’s Video Series starts at 22 Days Old.
Video Descriptions
Day 23
Haltering. Guiding (use of the bum rope to encourage the feet, troubleshoot leaning on the human, troubleshoot pulling to dam, what to look for in your foal – flow in the feet and staying connected to the human).
Day 24
How to approach a foal while laying down. Haltering while laying down. Desensitization – rubbing all over.
Day 29
Leading (troubleshoot lack of confidence away from dam). hoof Handling (troubleshoot foaling drifting, when to release the hoof, troubleshoot tenseness in legs, how to support the chest, troubleshoot trying to pull foot away). Removing Halter (troubleshoot anxiety, or being anxious, or being quick to leave).
Day 30
Leading. Back up from chest. HQ yield. FQ yield. Weight tape. Deworming
Day 31
Leading (ask from halter first then support with shoulder, straight lines, circles). Backing (off chest, off halter). HQ yield. Reminder to stay progressive – horses are fully functional learners at birth.
Day 146 (5:54)
Introduction to Lateral Work along the rail.
Day 147 (5:07)
Lateral Work Continued.
Day 148 (17:20)
Lateral Work continued – tight through head/neck (stop and isolate head down, hold don’t pull), move body parts as a unit (don’t drift forwards).
Day 149 (8:15)
Lateral Work continued – be responsible for your body, use driving pressure to unstick, block forwards/backwards.
Day 150 (8:06)
Lateral Work continued.
Day 153 (10:44)
Lateral Work with a stick.
Day 154 (11:48)
Introduction to Lateral Work towards.
Day 155 (15:40)
Lateral Work – respect the pressure, put effort in.
Day 156 (13:02)
Lateral Work – with effort and flow, move your bum!
Day 157 (9:45)
Lateral Work – lightness and flow in the feet.
Day 160 (10:28)
Halter prep – standing square.
Day 161 (10:12)
Halter prep – standing square.
Day 162 (12:34)
Halter prep – standing square.
Day 163 (10:15)
Halter prep – standing square.
Day 164 (8:01)
Halter prep – standing square.
Day 167 (10:09)
Introduction to the rope gate.
Day 168 (5:43)
Rope gate day 2.
Day 169 (6:39)
Introduction to the Shower Curtain for Desensitization.
Day 170 (6:04)
Advancing Shower Curtain Desensitization.
Day 171 (4:50)
Advancing Shower Curtain Desensitization.
Day 174 (8:11)
Backing by the tail.
Day 175 (10:50)
Hoof Trimming.
Day 178 (3:51)
Backing by the tail continued – final session.
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.