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Foals??

3K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  sophie123 
#1 ·
I am getting to foals that have never been handled, what shall i groom them with? How should i get them used to being groomed? How long should i groom them for??
 
#2 ·
Are they weanlings??? If so go very slow especially if they really havent been handled. Weanlings stress pretty badly by being moved and stress even more if they havent been handled. This makes them prone to ulcers.

In the beginning I would put them together for a couple weeks until they settle in a bit. Be sure only one person feeds and waters them and I would keep them in a small pen

Once they are more comfortable I would seperate them. Once seperated you can start some basic handling and halter breaking. But again go slow so you dont overly stress them

Weanlings have a very short attention span. Work like 10 mins and stop. And remember every time you are with them you are teaching them something so make sure its a good something.
 
#4 ·
i am getting two little colts too, about 5 months old and i have the same problem, im putting mine in a large stable together and think i will be keeping them there for about a week or two until they are used to me, then i will be turning them out to a two acre field and working with them from there, they have halters on them but i want to be able to eventually touch them all over and get them used to me. bucket feeding and so on will help a lot. good luck, we can go through this together
 
#6 ·
HI Sophie

Just be careful with that. Like I said foals really stress when they are weaned and moved. So if you seperate them as soon as they get there you could get in some trouble with health problems. I really like them to settle in first and get used to new surroundings and then separate them. If you do do it that soon I would put them on gastroguard as soon as they get there.
 
#7 ·
ok, i did my work experiance at a stud farm. the foals were young and were just getting used to being handled by people (they were TBs so needed to be). we used small, very soft body brushes mainly so they were discreate and gentle (didnt put them off being groomed). some of them protested slightly but just keep at it until they relax, if they dont then give them a little break untill they have settled, then start the process over.
 
#10 ·
hi, i have had my foal for a week, she came to me straight from her mum and was untouched i allready have her leading from me and been brushed gently all over, i did it all with the use of a clicker and carrots, she has spiller youngstock with mix and chaff to eat and altough she is till nervous the clicker training has really helped me, hope this helps :)
 
#11 ·
I just got my foal on Sunday! She was untouched as well, and it was quite a rodeo when she was delivered. Three days later, she let me pick out all her burdocks and brush her all over with a soft brush. I even picked up all her feet! I just hung out in the stall with her and went slow. She is loving her shur-gain foal ration and little treats. I'm just in love with her now!
GL with your little one!
 
#14 ·
DONT. dont even attempt that!!!!! get them used to everything first and get them grooming and things like that. clippers can be a challenge for some horses. thats not one of the first things you want to introduce to them, especially if they have not been handled. plus you dont want to be clipping that much needed hair. they dont have much body fat yet.
 
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