A trainer with nearly 60 years of experience shows how to halter a newborn foal by securing the mare first, then using your arms to guide the foal gently while a rump rope encourages forward movement. Stop the foal with your arm, not the halter, and reward small signs of relaxation like chewing. Early training takes just a few days of repetition.
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Handling a foal in its first few days after birth sets it up for life. Here is the quiet way we halter a very young foal and teach it to lead alongside its mother. This is how we do it, and I have been doing it successfully for nearly 60 years. First, tie the mare up in a corner, with the foal alongside her. Place your arms around the foal like a cage. Give it gentle caressing and rubs on its itchy places. Position yourself towards the rear of the foal while you put the halter on. The foal also wears a rump rope, which helps teach the idea of forward. You absolutely don't want a fight. If the foal is particularly tense or nervous, you don't need to do all of this in one session. Notice the arm is used to stop the foal, not the halter. The occasional foal will argue with restraint. Just keep going until you can reward the slightest progress by stopping and relaxing yourself. This foal is anxious, so the rump rope is needed, but he soon settles and we can continue. Don't forget to do both sides. Return the foal to mum for a quick break. The relax stage is as important as the ask. For reinforcement of the lesson. Some foals will run backwards, that is what the rump rope is for, others will barely notice. Notice when the foal chews. This is a sign of relaxation. A tense foal is unlikely to do this, so observe its responses. After more rubbing, once the foal is settled, take the lead and ask the foal to bend its nose sideways. Either way, this encourages it to follow the direction of the tug. Some will stiffen or throw their head up. Others will move with you, almost as if they had already been taught. Support the foal by leaving one hand over its neck. As you rub it all over, your other hand can be under its neck or on its chest. This support calms the foal and lets you feel movement or tension before it becomes larger. Continue this process for several days, until the foal is leading and stopping alongside you. Keep the rump rope in position in case it is needed. Everything is calm and deliberate. The older they are, the more likely they are to be difficult, which is why we do this in the first few days after birth. After that, it is a simple matter to remind them every week or so. Rub down the leg. Pick them up, using the word up as you do so. Help him balanced with your arm under his chest. Up. If you found this helpful, please like this video and subscribe for more practical horse handling tips. If you'd like to learn more, I share 60 years of practical experience with horses in my The Thinking Horseman book collection. You'll find it on Amazon— scan the QR code on screen, or follow the link in the description. Thank you for watching! For regular lessons on breeding, raising, and understanding horses, join me at The Thinking Horseman's Edge, here at jeanettegower.substack.com. I have ebooks, templates, and free resources also available direct from my store, at jeanettegower.gumroad.com. Start early, stay quiet, and your foal will thank you for it.
