Im stuck and need advice?

Question

I have a 7 month old foal that i have owned for about a month or two, at the moment everyhting that i have been teaching him seems to be forgotten straight away, like catching ect. Im stuck in a rut, i have never brought a foal before and am not that confident and feel like i am ruining this gorgeous horse. What should i do, i so desperatly want to keep him and do not want to sell him but professional help is so expensive! He is gelded so thats not the problem either. he hacnt had much hadling before i got him and im not confident enough to de sensitize him as he kicks and rears up! What should I do everyone? Please no nasty comments

Answer 1

Hi, If you are willing to invest some time and work into it, you can train your horse yourself. Read the free articles on my blog and consider getting our book. We also have many good videos so you can see what to do.

Get that confidence up for starters! I know its easy to say but work with the horse in small sessions with small goals to build up your confidence.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 2

You may be approaching him in an aggressive manner to make him behave like that. Always approach your horse in a confident, but calm non aggressive manner. I would try and coax him toward you with a dish of horse feed. Try feeding him from your hand. Set the dish on the ground and see if he will let you stroke his neck. If he lets you, then continue and talk to him while petting him. Let him get used to this and then start to pet him all over his body. If he starts to shy away, pull back and then try again. When he lets you, always praise him. There are other ways to work with him to achieve this, but I think for you at first, you should try this. It may be easier for you this way.

Answer 3

Babies are a real challenge.  They are not like older trained horses.  They will jump and kick, rear, spook for no reason etc.  

Just try to spend as much time with him as you can.  Brush, tie him loosely, pick up his feet and clean them with a hoof pick, comb mane and tail.  Continually talk to him, walk around him with your hand on him; let him know where you are and what you are going to do. Each day is a new day.  Don't expect miracles, it takes lots of time and patience.

Answer 4

What exactly is it you are wanting to do with him and are having trouble with?  You haven't been specific.

In UK most weanlings are turned out with other babies and pretty much left alone to bum about in the field and play 100% of the time.  Of course, they do need to know how to wear a halter and be lead in hand. And to stand still for the farrier to look at their feet, but beyond this you are probably expecting too much. I am an experienced breeder and find that new born foals are often very wary and cautious, by 2 months along they are getting bolder and more curious and friendly, and at 4 - 6 months they start to get cocky and try their luck with us humans. Maybe shoving with a shoulder or walking backwards into you with their butt first. Maybe even worse behaviour, like rearing on you or running at you in the field and fly kicking as they run past. This is normal for babies. Even their own dams get fed up with them at this age and have to give them a warning with a hind hoof or nip to keep them inline. Your chap is just at this naughty age. He's feeling big for his boots and starting to feel like pushing his weight around.  Problem is, you are not another horse so he needs to learn that this sort of boisterous behaviour is not tolerated by human beings!  My advice is, unless you absolutely have to keep handling a lot (like if you are going to start showing him), is to leave him out as much as you can with other young horses, or another older horse with the patience of a saint but who'll let your little gelding know exactly how low down in the pecking order he really is. It's very hard for a human being to do this as well as other horses can.

I'd not argue with him. He's at the age where he's not going to be reasonable about anything much! Thankfully this stage doesn't last long too long. By about 14 months of age, they usually start to settle down and become more reasonable to deal with and train some manners.

The important thing right now is to make sure your boy is getting plenty of turn out time with other horses.  This will allow him to be a baby and burn off all that exuberance in a safe manner without putting you or him at risk. When you do handle him, try to have a friend with you to help and offer an extra pair of hands. But most importantly, do not expect him to be well behaved for very long. Babies have a very short attention span, so keep your visits short. Maybe 10 to 15 minutes at the most; pet him, touch his body all over and run a hand down his limbs and pick up a hoof briefly (if he's ready for that). But don't do more with him than you have to, and leave him alone if he's being cranky. Chances are the next day he'll be pleased to see you and behave much better. Don't put yourself into a situation where you need to argue with him over anything. Keep it simple for him!  It will get easier as he matures mentally.

Enjoy him and don't give up. You're just going through the same stage most of us with young horses have to go through.  It's nothing you're doing wrong and by the very fact that you are worried that you may be harming him goes to show what a concientious owner you are. Pity there are not more like you out there!  Just give your little boy some space and some time to grow up a bit :0)

Good luck.

Answer 5

expensive or not, you really need the help of an experienced horse trainer.

Answer 6

If you have a friend you can ask it is just something that takes time so don't worry they also repeal at some stage and then three mouths later they are fin again so just stick in there and do what your doing plus also spend time making sure the basic are fine before moving on to anything harder i am shore things will be fine.  

Answer 7

I'm confused.  In your original question, you state you do have problems catching your weanling, then in the additional comments, you don't?

You aren't specific about what you want him to learn, so I can't be specific in my answer.

Simply sitting in the pen with him and grooming him will help toward your bond.  Take him for walks.  Reward the slightest try.  Don't punish him for his natural curiosity.  Make the right thing easy.  Pay attention to your body language - horses certainly do!

Regardless, you should look into Parelli's program.  www.parelli.com

It will teach you how to develop a trusting relationship with your horse and will show you some exercises and patterns you can do so that you can develop the horse into what you want him to be on your own.  Their program will help you develop the skills you will need to be able to problem solve on your own.  

I use this program, and I have good results.

Answer 8

7 month old gelding?

Catching? Like you catching him or him catching a ball?

de sensitize him?  What and Why?

Not trying to be nasty, really just don't understand.

sorry

Answer 9

Give it time, just keep repeating those lessons and show your foal your the leader. At the stables where I work we have 4, 1 year old colts that aren't as behaved as yours is!

Answer 10

I am a big John Lyons fan. He has a book out called Bringing Up Baby. It's easy reading and it's also easy to follow his techniques. The book is in paperback and very affordable.

Do be patient with your foal. They are very impressionable. I'm willing to bet your foal isn't forgetting what he's been taught. He's just testing the waters, so to speak. Build a rapport with respect. Be firm, consistent and stay calm even when you get frustrated.  Spend time grooming him and leading him around in the round pen (if you have access to one). Work on trust and respect first.

There is so much to tell you and this type of forum is difficult because I can't ask you questions and provide answers.

Just in case you don't have one, go to Clinton Anderson's web site and order one of his rope halters and the longest lead rope he offers. You probably want the middle size halter. Anderson's rope halters are well made and have knots where pressure points are located to get your horse's attention without causing pain.

I hope this will get you started in the right direction....