Welcome to the Foal Handling Series where we are going to follow Fira, 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.
Fira’s Video Series starts at 28 Days Old.
Video Descriptions
Day 28 (9:38)
Introduction to Firá. Haltering. Leading. Importance of having your horse put effort into the Exercises you do.
Day 31 (10:23)
Haltering. Leading (advancing leading from straight lines to wide turns and tighter turns).
Day 34 (10:40)
Haltering. Leading. Introduction to hoof stand (importance of relaxation and being repeatable within an exercise). Reviewing picking up feet (troubleshoot leaning while picking up feet).
Day 35 (13:27)
Leading without guiding hand (troubleshoot shoulder feet getting stuck). Respect the Boundary (troubleshoot lagging behind).
Day 36 (7:16)
Leading with less and less guiding, handling feet, building confidence with having feet handled and responsibilities while feet are being handled.
Day 37 (23:32)
Leading, Backing, FQ Yields (troubleshooting sticky feet and sticky shoulders, waiting for a nice response).
Day 38 (6:29)
Yielding – FQ (troubleshoot anxiety or tension in the exercise, expectation of fluidity in the exercise).
Day 40 (22:31)
Leading (troubleshooting head tossing and resistance to move forward and follow the feel, troubleshooting bracing).
Day 41 (6:27)
Haltering. Leading. Yielding – FQ, HQ (troubleshoot when the foal is moving the wrong end), Backing (from chest rope and halter).
Day 42 (9:39)
Haltering. Leading (trouble shooting rushing, not respecting the Boundary). Discuss the difference of Reacts vs Responds to pressure.
Day 43 (5:46)
Haltering. Leading. Yielding – Backing, and FQ (expectations in the yields).
Day 44 (10:46)
Leading (three strikes your out if make mistakes). Yielding – Backing (troubleshoot crocked backup), HQ (troubleshoot leaning, and focusing on proper step rather than shuffle step), FQ (working towards moving off the intention).
Day 45 (11:38)
Leading (working on focus and attention, boundaries while leading).
Day 48 (10:23)
Tying – Level 1 – Rope loped through the ring, getting her used to giving to the pressure and being confident on the wall.
Day 51 (17:17)
First sessions away from mum (mum was in a stall in the other end of the arena, rather than tied in the arena where we work). Having Fira be confident working away from her mum, and focus on me. Some exercises to help with herd bound horses.
Day 52 (10:44)
Hosing – working on having Fira be confident with the hose on her legs and body.
Day 55 (8:17)
Tying – Level 2 – Rope wrapped around the ring once for more pressure. Building confidence and patience on the wall.
Day 56 (10:20)
Reviewing Yields. Working on Yields with Steady Pressure and Driving Pressure. Backing, FQ and HQ Yields.
Day 57 (10:42)
Hoof Trimming, working on responsibilities. Weight Tape and Deworming.
Day 58 (13:11)
Reviewing Yields. Working on Yields with Steady Pressure and Driving Pressure. Backing, FQ and HQ Yields.
Day 59 (31:41)
Follow the Feel – having her respond to pressure on her body and head. Working on her focus – Fira was really thinking towards her dam today and not wanting to focus on the conversation.
Day 61 (11:57)
Obstacles Work – having Fira lead nicely around pylons and over poles. Respecting the boundary, not rushing ahead or lagging behind. Making sure she is confident with the obstacles.
Day 62 (10:40)
Obstacle Work – crossing the plywood board in preparation for bridges.
Day 64 (12:06)
Obstacle Work – Crossing the bridge, confidence and boundaries.
Day 66 (12:27)
Driving HQs. Working on having Fira respond to the cue before the pressure.
Day 69 (16:55)
Driving HQs. Working on having Fira respond to the cute before the pressure. Building her responsibilities and raising the expectations.
Day 70 (13:11)
Standing tied or grooming. Working on responsibilities while tied and minding the boundary.
Day 71 (9:55)
Backing with the stick. Building distance and responsibility with the back up.
Day 72 (15:07)
Working on following a feel for lateral flexion and lowering her head.
Day 73 (11:00)
Obstacle Work – backing between poles. Working on responsiveness to the pressure and being body aware (not stepping on the poles or stepping over them).
Day 76 (13:22)
Introducing Figure Eights. Balancing Drive and Draw. Using your Body and Stick to Block and Guide.
Day 77 (5:29)
Introducing the Weave. Balancing Drive and Draw. Having them Respect Boundaries. Follow a Feel.
Day 78 (11:04)
Introducing Circles (Drive). Using Pylons to set up a Boundary. Having them respect the new Boundary, and working on Responsibilities within the Circle.
Day 79 (9:57)
Advancing Circles (Drive). Increasing Circle Size. Adding in Whoa Cue.
Day 80 (12:43)
Advancing Circles (Drive). Changes of Direction using Pylons.
Day 83 (19:08)
Advancing Circles (Drive). Larger Size Circles.
Day 84 (10:27)
Advancing Circles (Drive). Larger Size Circles.
Day 85 (13:08)
Advancing Circles (Drive). Larger Size Circles.
Day 86 (13:09)
Advancing Circles – discuss the importance of changing one thing at a time (moved the location of the circles which can present its own challenges).
Day 87 (15:22)
Advancing The Circles. More responsibilities and higher expectations.
Day 88 (10:43)
Circling around Pylons, working on her responsibility on the circle.
Day 89 (13:52)
Circling around Pylons, working on her responsibility on the circle.
Day 90 (8:53)
Circling around Pylons, working on her responsibility on the circle.
Day 91 (10:06)
Stationary Circles. Working on her responsibility on the circle to maintain direction, maintain gait and maintain direction.
Day 94 (14:36)
Review of Yields, Backing from the Halter with steady pressure.
Day 95 (8:43)
Review of Yields, FQ Yields.
Day 96 (10:51)
Review Of Yields, HQ Yields, Lower Head.
Day 97 (12:18)
Review of Yields, Follow The Feel, Lower Head.
Day 98 (9:21)
Review of Yields, Follow The Feel, Lower Head.
Day 101 (20:14)
Backing with Driving Pressure. Working on straightness and responsiblity.
Day 102 (15:14)
Backing with Driving Pressure. Working on straightness and responsibility.
Day 103 (13:27)
Hoof Trimming.
Day 104 (11:04)
Grooming while tied. Working on responsibilities while tied.
Day 105 (9:41)
Backing with Driving Pressure. Working on straightness and responsibility.
Day 108 (9:17)
Pedestal Work – Following a Feel onto an Obstacle, working on straightness, confidence and willingness.
Day 109 (10:29)
Advancing Pedestal Work – Following a Feel onto an Obstacle, working on straightness, confidence and willingness.
Day 110 (8:43)
Advancing Pedestal Work – Following a Feel onto an Obstacle, working on straightness, confidence and willingness.
Day 111 (5:56)
Advancing Pedestal Work – Following a Feel onto an Obstacle, working on straightness, confidence and willingness.
Day 115 (5:50)
Introducing the Teeter Totter. Building confidence and correctness with th obstacle.
Day 116 (3:04)
Advancing the Teeter Totter. Building confidence and correctness with th obstacle.
Day 117 (6:09)
Tying – come in and immediately to the wall, move easily and stand where place, groom responsibly, pick up and hold feet still, let handler place them down.
Day 118 (4:22)
Teeter Totter Level 2 – approach and let look at, be ok with accepting less as something has changed, step on walk over slowly, hesitation is ok, build confidence with the drop, boundary very important.
Day 119 (9:37)
Obstacle review – focus pulled towards the herd, work each obstacle until they can do it settled, lack of focus leads to fumbling/falling/tripping.
Day 122 (8:58)
Flag work – approach confidently, gain confidence moving around, touch sensitive (has a hard time relaxing/staying confident when the flag is touching her), rest with it on her to build confidence.
Day 123 (5:18)
Flag Work – Building more confidence with the movement (moving it faster, more erratically and in different parts around her).
Day 124 (7:56)
Plastic Bag Flag – gain confidence with it in motion, drift with her, follow the intention of my body – energy down means stand still, drift with them if they need to move their feet.
Day 125 (5:07)
Plastic Bag Flag – move all around, up and over and underneath, walk all around on both sides while moving the bag, stick with the spot if they need to move their feet keeping the movement going, stopping movement/pressure release tells your horse they have found the right answer.
Day 126 (12:11)
Hoof trim and dewormer – responsibility for keeping self balanced, no leaning or pulling foot away, wait until settled to start trimming or place foot down.
Day 130 (5:00)
Back up “L” – straightness, respect the pole boundary, follow a feel.
Day 131 (7:17)
Back up zigzag – be aware of the poles, stay light and responsive.
Day 132 (5:36)
Zigzag Poles – be responsive don’t delay, be aware of the pole boundary.
Day 133 (6:16)
Obstacle review – zigzag, pedestal, teeter totter, flag, keep working on an obstacle until you get the response you want, straightness is essential.
Day 136 (10:38)
Trailer loading day 1, step up trailer – approach and investigate, see what they offer, nose/neck/front feet then back feet work in steps, rest inside, build confidence going on and off.
Day 137 (5:43)
Trailer loading, load confidently, stand tied, start to send on and off
Day 138 (3:31)
Vet Prep – stethoscope, lean over, eyes, ears, nose, needle prep, umbilical check.
Day 139 (7:25)
Trailer loading, load confidently, stand tied in the first stall confidently, stand in the first stall respecting the boundary of where the divider will be, wait at door until asked to come off
Day 140 (6:46)
Trailer loading, load confidently, stand tied in the first stall confidently, stand in the first stall respecting the boundary of where the divider will be, wait at door until asked to come off. Gaining confidence with closing the door.
Day 143 (8:54)
Halter prep, standing square – make sure leading/stop/stand are working, try to keep hind right foot still (if they move it back them up), downwards pressure forwards/backwards to move hind left, get it close then set by hand (work on willingness to pick up and set feet), set front by hand, keep the feet where you place them, don’t jig/pull when pick them up.
Day 144 (4:46)
Introduction to ramp load trailer – approach and check it out, encourage curiosity/helping rid of skepticism, see what they off, step up – figure out the ramp, stand and relax before turning, turn then settle before coming out, load off, in and out to gain confidence.
Day 145 (7:42)
Ramp load trailer – load confidently, close partition and settle, introduce backing off trailer, work on backing until flow in the feet.
Day 146 (5:27)
Gave Fira her first full bath. How to introduce them to the water, and how to get them confident and comfortable with being sprayed all over.
Day 147 (12:49)
Hoof trimming and weight tape. 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.