Natural Horsemanship and Foals

[CalaCherie]

what program do you use? (:

[ponygirl72]

@CalaCherie I'm a Parelli Natural Horsemanship Level 3/4 student. I find the teaching materials (especially the older ones) for PNH to be the clearest and best-presented of the major natural horsemanship programs that I've seen.

[Legs1775]

Awesome!!

[dannie2twins]

aww so cute 5:02 !!! <3

[ponygirl72]

@dannie2twins Well, if you're gonna go sticking a cute, velvety baby nose in my face, it's darn well going to get kissed! ;-)

[hsvchick1]

i like this, i cant wait to get my foal i just got a 3month old QH x Pinto colt i cant wait to try what your doing

[awesomesmagicclu]

I am doing natural training with my now 1 1/2 month old Appendix filly! She is doing amazing and is really turning into quite a partner for me.

[DrGomezNZ]

That is fantastic! It actually brought a tear to my eye as I used to live on a farm with horses and I loved interracting with the foals. My father was a horseman for over 40 years, and I learnt a great deal from him and the techniques you used for breaking in are exactly what he taught me.

[ponygirl72]

Thank you for such a kind comment! Your father sounds like a wonderful horseman... I would have loved to be able to talk with him and pick his brain.

[aldinhobsb]

maravilhoso

[ponygirl72]

Você é muito amável!

[HorseyLuv28]

Awesomely AMAZING video!! :)

I'm DEFINATELLY doing this when I rescue a foal from the sales some time next year :)

[ponygirl72]

Aw... thank you. And good for you for rescuing a sale barn foal! Just remember, techniques will be quite different for a foal that hasn't been handled from birth, at least to start with. Good luck!

[ZotFlipkonijn]

Very nice!

This is the way I'm going to approach my filly next year.

I think it's the best way.

You can see the filly really trusts you.

Especially when she's curious about you and comes to check on you is beautiful.

Good luck with her!

[ponygirl72]

Thank you! Bella is two this year, and is growing into a really beautiful young horse. Good luck with your filly next year!

[mariahandmeT]

She is really pretty

[ponygirl72]

Thank you! She is two this year, and is really starting to fill out.

[parellichick]

WOW!!!

That was so increadibly inspiring to watch.

The face on that foal when you put the halter on was just priceless. What a cutie!!

[ponygirl72]

Aww... thank you for the kind words. Isn't she hysterical? She's two now, and still cracks me up on a regular basis.

[69ANGELAH]

VERY GOOD JOB

[newzealandgal74]

Hey,

do you mind if I use this video for the video I'm making on natural horsemanship?? I will credit you :)

[ponygirl72]

Hi, there! I appreciate your courtesy in making the effort to ask, but there's a lot of stuff being called "natural horsemanship" that I don't agree with. I'd prefer not to have my videos used in any compilations. Sorry, but I do wish you good luck with your project.

[MissDottieWestt]

My Baby can do all those things but let me put the halter on... I can get it around her nose but once I start buckling it up she backs away. And suggestions? She is only 3 weeks old, and is still attached to mom... so I cant take her that far away.

[ponygirl72]

In nature, predators try to grab the top of a foal's neck in their jaws. The panic/fight/flee response to pressure in that area is an instinctive life-or-death response in foals. She needs to learn a different response to pressure on the poll before you try to buckle the halter again. If she were my filly, I would first teach her to drop her head from light pressure on the poll from my hand, and then from a soft rope. Then haltering will be easy.

[MissDottieWestt]

hello again,

Sorry to bother you, but I am having some troubles. The advise that you have me about putting to halter on is working AMAZINGLY! But I am have trouble with leading, I have got her to walk farward to the feel of butt pressure, but I put her halter on and use a butt rope and pull the halter and the butt rope but she DOESNT MOVE! She's like a stubbern old mule! I stod pulling letting go pullng letting go, just pulling and she wouldn't take one step! I would like some suggestions

[ponygirl72]

Hi! Glad the haltering advice is working. There are a couple of things about leading. The 1st is that you are probably trying to lead her forward. Always start leading babies by having the pressure be to one side or the other, so they want to take a step to the side to regain their balance. I'll address the 2nd thing in a separate reply, because there isn't enough room here.

[ponygirl72]

The 2nd is your use of the word "pulling", and the concept of the release. Watch 2:30 minutes into the video, specifically, watch my hands. They are slightly open, and the rope is sliding through them a bit - I'm not "pulling". But the instant she gets curious & "follows the feel", there's an immediate "release", i.e., slack in the rope. I don't pull & let go, pull & let go, because "letting go" (the release) is her reward for moving away from the pressure of the rope. Clear as mud? ;-)

[MissDottieWestt]

That is very helpful, I have been told though threw halter breaking that trying to start with moving them to the side can lead to confusion in the farward leading. I'm not sure if I have worded that clearly, but the getting the foal to move sideways first makes more sence to me.

Thank-you!

[ponygirl72]

You're welcome. There are as many training philosophies as there are people training horses. All I can say is that my young horses lead forward just fine, and the first pressure they felt on the halter was asking them to follow a soft feel and take a step sideways. If a horse of any age sulls up about yielding to pressure forwards, I always think first about directing some energy back to the rump, either with the end of the rope, or a training stick and string (or a butt rope for a baby!).

[LisaNH19]

Nice movie!

[Kaibuko]

Okay, that should help.I will remember that next time I get out there, and hopefully things are good!

[Kaibuko]

Okay I think that should help abit. I will try it out as soon as a I can get out there and I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks. =D

[ponygirl72]

Just remember to be quick and smooth. Not quick and jerky-- just reach a little farther than he'd like you to, then smoothly and calmly turn and walk away before he has time to get upset. Wait for what feels like a really long time between approaches; ideally, wait until you see him lick and chew with his mouth, which means his brain is working and he's mulling over what just happened. End on a good note, even if you don't get as far as you want. Good luck!

[Kaibuko]

Alright so I went out to the farm and I tried it out. Playing was great, he followed me for awhile, and then leading on his right side was wonderful, he is getting better, but needs more work. Thanks.

[ponygirl72]

Aw, that's *wonderful* news! Thanks for updating me. Don't be surprised if you have to backtrack a bit next time you go out. It will probably take several sessions before he really becomes comfortable on the right side; however, you're obviously on the right track. He's a lucky boy to have an owner who's patient and caring. :-)

[Kaibuko]

Thanks, for the information, and as he gets bigger and grows more, I'm sure, we will bond!

Thanks again, and if I have any other problems I will let you know so you can help me out!

[Kaibuko]

No, I am not familiar with the approach and retreat. I amvery familiar with the release though. The colt is now 4 and a half months old, (and we have to ween him soon for show) When I go to the right side he may position him self that I am on the left side, or he sticks his head up and backs. We were having some success with leading him on the right side, but not as consistant as the left. I know he needs more time with his ride side 3x more, but I board my horse, out out town and it is hard.

[ponygirl72]

Okay-- that's very helpful. :-) Approach & retreat: at some point when you go towards his right side, you reach the place where he says "No! This is not OK!", and what you've been doing is continuing past that place. You need to find that place, lean just a *bit* past it, (the "approach"), and then quickly and smoothly turn around and walk away (the "retreat", which is also a "release".) Approach, retreat, wait. Approach, retreat, wait. Lather, rinse, repeat. Never push until he gets scared.

[Kaibuko]

Okay, so I have watched this many times, I need desperately a peice of advise for any one who is listening to this but mostly ponygirl72. Okay, so I finally got to training my colt but due to lack of knowledge for my dad, the colt has problems with his right side, and almost never lets anyone on it. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

[ponygirl72]

Hello, Kaibuko. I'll be happy to do whatever I can, but I'll probably need some more information. Broadly speaking, the approach you would use is "approach and retreat". Are you familiar with this phrase, and with the concept of the "release" in horse training? Also, how old is the colt, and what does he do when you try to get on the right side? Feel free to answer me here, or email me privately at jwelch at centurytel period net.

[Duddykins]

Such a joy to watch! Your body language was excellent. Is it Parelli Natural Horsemanship you have trained in?

[ponygirl72]

Why, thank you! What a lovely comment. Yes, I am Level Three Parelli, though I have a background in other "natural" training techniques before I committed to Parelli four years ago.

[texmana]

what do ya do when he wants to rear up on you playing when your trying to work with him

[ponygirl72]

If a baby is rearing (this one never has), then she is either trying desperately to escape pressure (there's probably a halter & lead line involved), or does not see you as a leader, but as a playmate. In the first case, I would back waa-ay up in the training process, because I've obviously gone too fast. In the second scenario, I need to work on yielding & establish a safe zone around myself, with consequences if the zone is breached.

[texmana]

no lead rope yet haltered a couple times but I think you are right I need to back way up in the training and establish a safe zone. He is a two month old colt.

[ponygirl72]

One thing for you to think about with babies is how to give consequences with no anger behind them. I love this trick: when a horse (of any age) is being pushy/nippy/trying to get in my space, I go into their pen with a rope or stick and start walking around, twirling the rope or swinging the stick in a big arc, paying NO ATTENTION to them. If they try to get in my bubble... WHACK! Not my fault-- their fault they ran into the stick/rope... better pay more attention next time, horsie!

[texmana]

Oh thats a good one Thank You

[texmana]

I started carrying a rope and swinging it when he started getting pushy it works Thanks

[msityhorse2001]

I just want to agree with you on this. It is pivotal that the horse realizes responsibility for the trespass. Beautiful video, even prettier foal!

[ponygirl72]

Yup. Anytime a 'punishment' has emotion behind it, you are doing it wrong. That goes double for foals. And thank you for the kind words... I love my Saphiro babies. :-)

[sneakycat42o]

You should get the lead rope training in as soon as possible. They get feisty sometimes, but just keep at it. Check out "leading a foal" through the videos here. It's my husband with our 8 week old filly, lead training. She has done exellent so far and is now a healthy, stout yearling. And she leads like a dream. Repetition is how they learn best(no pain of course)

[sneakycat42o]

lite but, steady pressure on the lead and don't give in until they at least take one step forward. If you get him to cooperate they will continue to lead well.End your lesson on a good note, meaning with you and the horse remaining calm.

[texmana]

well I started leading yesterday and he reared up and fell over back wards it scared both of us but we ended on a good note he took a step forward

[ponygirl72]

Yikes! Might I recommend a butt rope to teach forward movement in response to halter pressure? That way, you can focus on using the halter to direct the head side to side, instead of straight ahead. Sideways pressure is less likely to evoke the panic response you've seen. In nature, predators try to grab the top of a foal's neck in their jaws. The panic/fight/flee response to pressure in that area is an instinctive life-or-death response in foals.

[ponygirl72]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with this, though I acknowledge that this is a common and perfectly well-accepted approach. About 1 in 3 foals will rear and often flip over when they feel the pressure of a halter for the first time. I find a butt rope much more effective, coupled with a halter and lead which only ever applies pressure in a sideways direction, at first. Babies bounce pretty well, but once in a while they hurt themselves fighting a halter.

[Kaibuko]

Awe, thanks, so much. I hope it works!

Any more information that would help me would be great!

[Kaibuko]

Yeah, I would consider that, but, I did not have to option, to go out every day, because I'm boarding, and it's harder to do, but today, we had just put the halter on and started to lead a bit, so I think he is trusting is getting better.

[ponygirl72]

That's great! See if you can find some itchy spots that he likes to have scratched, and use that as a bribe. "Let me put on the halter, and I'll scratch your itch," "Let me touch your leg for a second and I'll scratch your itch," etc. Chest, withers, and jawline are common itchies on babies. Good luck! :-D

[Kaibuko]

how do you get him to trust you so soon?

my colt is a month now, and he still doesn't like getting petted??

[ponygirl72]

Hello! It's a whole lot harder to get a 1 month old foal to trust you than a 1 day old foal... or 1 hour old, as was the case with this filly. I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but your best option is probably to find a trusted natural horsemanship professional to help you. Don't let it go too long.

[cocopuf77]

great technique! Very cute baby...brings back memories of my girl whos now sixteen..but still a baby to me.! Good luck to you..you are doing good things!

[ponygirl72]

Thank you! I look forward to a long life with this little sweetie. She's going to be a stunner, just like her big sister in the "1/2 Andalusian Siblings Meet For The First Time" video.

[SilverSammet]

So mutch inspiration! Thank you!

[ponygirl72]

Aww, thank *you* for commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[p8ntballmike]

We just purchased 2 Saddlebreed fillies. 1 is almost 6mos. and the other is almost 9mos. and I absolutely love your technique. Nice and easy!!! Do you happen to have copies of any your videos on naturally training new fillies for sale? If so, would be so kind and please respond because I'd be very interested in getting them. Best Respect, K. Ebert of Abita Springs, La.

[p8ntballmike]

We just purchased 2 Saddlebreed fillies. 1 is almost 6mos. and the other is almost 9mos. and I absolutely love your technique. Nice and easy!!! Do you happen to have copies of any your videos on naturally training new fillies for sale? If so, would be so kind and please respond because I'd be very interested in getting them. Best Respect, K. Ebert of Abita Springs, La.

[ponygirl72]

Wow, what an incredible compliment! I'm just a student, though, so I'll send you to the teacher. I learned to do this using the Parelli "Levels" program, so that's where I'll send you. This video shows Level Three skills. Another thing: we started playing with this filly when she was 15 minutes old; 6 and 9 months is a whole 'nother ball game, and will take a different set of skills, which Parelli can teach you. Good luck!

[RawlFran]

Nice job with the filly -- congrats

[usandpets]

very cute and your doing an awesome job! wish they would stay like that, cute and curious. so fun to watch

[Dizero]

Very nice! And what an adorable filly as well :)

[NRsAnro]

great vid really shows how training should be