My 4 month old filly is very smart and as near to bombproof I have seen for her age. As I work with my 6 year old, I've seen her try do the same things we are doing. Out of curiosity, I put the filly (Boss Lady) in her halter and tried them. Nothing fast, nothing that is "work"
She will walk over a 3" high stick on a halter, walk over a pinned down tarp that's very noisy, walk through a tarp suspended from a branch or doorway, stand for fly spray, stand for my farrier to tap her feet, back up, move over with only a slight push, and longe (very slowly, not pushing her at all). She's not weaned fully yet, but will load out of sight of her dam if asked.
I never taught her to do any of this (other than the feet), I asked her to do it and she did it, or she did it on her own and I reinforced it at halter. One thing about Boss Lady, if she doesn't get it right the first time, she will try again and again until she gets it. Then she does it perfect from that time on. She was also completely halter trained at 3 days old , and you could lead her with a piece of dental floss. She learns so fast I have trouble keeping up.
Is this out of the norm for a 4 month old? I've had people tell me how wonderful and smart/well trained she is, but I've never been around foals this young, so I wouldn't know. I imprinted her at birth. She's also already 12.2hh, her dam is only 14hh, sire is 15hh. She is my first Tennessee Walker baby! You can see her on my "barn" page.
Thanks!
She will walk over a 3" high stick on a halter, walk over a pinned down tarp that's very noisy, walk through a tarp suspended from a branch or doorway, stand for fly spray, stand for my farrier to tap her feet, back up, move over with only a slight push, and longe (very slowly, not pushing her at all). She's not weaned fully yet, but will load out of sight of her dam if asked.
I never taught her to do any of this (other than the feet), I asked her to do it and she did it, or she did it on her own and I reinforced it at halter. One thing about Boss Lady, if she doesn't get it right the first time, she will try again and again until she gets it. Then she does it perfect from that time on. She was also completely halter trained at 3 days old , and you could lead her with a piece of dental floss. She learns so fast I have trouble keeping up.
Is this out of the norm for a 4 month old? I've had people tell me how wonderful and smart/well trained she is, but I've never been around foals this young, so I wouldn't know. I imprinted her at birth. She's also already 12.2hh, her dam is only 14hh, sire is 15hh. She is my first Tennessee Walker baby! You can see her on my "barn" page.
Thanks!