What does "Imprinted at Birth" mean?

Question

Please explain in as much detail as you can.

Answer 1

"Imprinted at Birth" means that one has performed the steps set forth by Dr. Miller (I think that's his name - I have the DVD at home).

I cannot remember right now what the EXACT sequence of steps is but here's the basic theory:

Immediately upon birth, the foal is touched by human hands (must have handled=requires an adept handler for the mare too).

The foal handler dries the foal vigorously and touches it all over, puts their fingers in or near it's nose to clean it out.  Basically rubs the foal all over.  They pat the bottom of each little hoof - all the while holding the foal in/near the lap in a certain manner.

This vet has proven over and over again that performing the "Imprinting" methods at the proper times makes a horse much more accepting of human handling as compared with a horse that was left more naturally as a foal untouched until later in life.

My mother has watched my video and performed these movements and touches on some of her young horses - all the ones she's been able to do this with have been more friendly and well-behaved as older foals and into young colts and fillies as compared with those she did not have the opportunity to do this.

If you are interested in learning totally what the program is comprised of, there is a book published by Western Horseman that gives the whole pattern and what to do.  Also, Valley Vet supply is where I bought my video to watch when my most recent foal was born.

I have 3 horses - two of which I purchased and one which I foaled my self.  The first foal, I purchased the day of her birth.  I was unable to perform any imprinting on her, but the lady I bought her from did some.  Later, during the first 3 months of her life, I did many things a few times a week with her which I believe have paid off.  I now have a horse that's much more calm and easy to handle from the ground.  The second foal I bought, a full sister to the first, did not have this handling when born as she was born unexpectedly out in the pasture.  I'd moved too far away to make trips multiple times a week to work with her when very young and she didn't get much handling.  When she and her mother were delivered to our farm at about 5 months of age, she was wild and unhandled.  It took much gentling over months to get her just handleable - now she's harder to manage from the ground although not mean or anything.  This foal I foaled myself from the same mare I was unable to touch from birth as she was foaled unexpectedly one night, but I did get to handle her within hours of birth.  From the first moment on her feet, she came over to me - proper performance of actions geared to make her comfortable have led to a filly very amenable to humans but still not like a foal that's had imprinting done with it.

I hope this helps you understand - and I am curious as to why you ask - have you read this somewhere or are you looking at horses and being told this is what has happened to one or something?

Answer 2

It means that right after the foal is born and has time to bond with its mother it begins training. It learns not to fear people and will begin to see them as companions. Simple stuff like picking up feet and really basic leading are taught. You also want to get them use to being touched everywhere. I have one from the track that probably hid not have his back end handled at all except for picking out feet. A baby throwing a hissy fit at having the inside of his back legs touched it much preferable to the 1200 horse trying to nail me. He had to recieve twice the Ace the vet normally gives to clean his sheath. He could hardly walk afterward.

Answer 3

I don't have text books to quote, just personal experience.  

In 1982 I had a TB mare foal and had to assist the foal and mare at the time.  I had to pull the foal the rest of the way out of his mom, then I dried him off and got him to his feet, and while he tried to suckle my fingers, litterally lead him over to his mom and stuck him on her teat.  That's imprinting.

Although I normally allow the foal to get up and nurse on it's own first, this last time I'd had my 3 yr old get hurt a couple of days before and was exhausted working on her and the mare wasn't due for another month or so according to the stallion owner as to when the mare went out of season.

This is an OLD seasoned broodmare who's done this 5 times total.  3 days after her 3 yr old got hurt, she dropped a georgous palomino filly without anybody being there for the first 5 or so hours.

My TB colt had been sweet, easy to manage/handle and never a problem catching.  This new filly is a pain in the butt to handle.  Catching her from day one is a real chore.

IF I ever breed again (This isn't my first foal, nor even my second...Maybe a dozen or more over the years.), I'm bringing mom home and camping out here at my house!  Horse property or NOT!  LOL

Answer 4

Well, the short answer (like I ever have a short answer) is that the handler is present at the birth and handles the foal immediately, familiarizing the foal to human contact.

I haven't raised a lot of foals...I've had ones I was present for and mares who are stealth foalers.  Myself, I don't see a significant difference between the two experiences.  I personally believe it's how you handle the foal from day to day that is of much greater significance than handling it within minutes/hours of birth.

http://hometown.aol.com/equinedriven/imp...

Answer 5

Imprinting is bonding with the baby as soon as it's born, many times before the mother has even touched or bonded with the baby.  It's a benefit for the handler as the baby "accepts' the handling and training from the first moments.  However, the word is tossed around as though it's a cure all for any future problems.  Many people use the word as a sales pitch, the problem is, the foal may be bonded to the original handler but not necessarily the new owner!  There is no replacement for patience, persistance, and proper training of the horse at all ages.  The benifit is usually that it is easier for the original handler to properly train the horse for sale later on, and easier on the vet and farrier.  There can also be a problem with a mare not accepting her baby if she does not make the original or first contact.  To be safe, allow the mare the first contact or at least make sure she bonds with the baby immediately, before you begin imprinting.

Answer 6

It means a foal was handled by a human at birth so it could form connections with people and not fear them.

Answer 7

Imprinted at Birth means the sight, the smell of those around the baby at time of birth.  Further..the baby bonds with the people at the time of birth.