Foal handling
An infant pony or horse is known as a foal.
By handling the foal you will teach it good manners and it will develop into a horse or pony that respects you but is not afraid of you.
The foal ideally should be handled every day, spending as much time as you can with it.
Run your hands all over him, rubbing, scratching and stroking every part of his body.
Handling foal’s legs
When you stroke the legs, start at the shoulder or hindquarters and work your way down. So in other words start from top to bottom.
Lifting the foot
When the foal is used to you touching his legs, try picking up his feet using your voice command saying “up!”
Lift the foot a few inches off the floor to begin with.
If the foal struggles with you, hold it gently but firmly until he accepts this.
Waite for a second and slowly release the foot.
Each time you practise, try keeping the foot up for a longer period.
Problems lifting a horse’s leg.
It is unnatural for a horse to stand on three legs.
It is not uncommon for a horse to plant their legs firmly on the ground and refuse to allow them to be picked up.
Ask a helper to turn the horse’s head in the opposite direction, thus shifting the weight and making it easier and lighter for you to lift the leg.
Safety measures
· Foal handling must be done with care.
· Some foals are bold, while others are timid.
· Sudden moves might frighten it.
· Stroke a foal; do not pat it, as this will scare it.
· When lifting a leg, horses have been known to rear and also kick out.
By the end of a foal’s first year it should be
·
Foal-slip trained
·
Stand tied up
·
Halter trained
·
Weaned
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