| If you love horses then one of the most exciting | | | | away when something scares them. This can help a |
| experiences you can have is to train a young horse. If | | | | foal to confront what scares them since the trainer |
| you are going to train a young horse, you need to | | | | can help establish boundaries. |
| have consistency, patience and tenacity. | | | | Introduce New Things |
| Often a horse owner isn't aware that they need to | | | | When you train a young horse, it is a good idea to try |
| work with both the mare and foal for young horse | | | | to introduce them to something new each day. It |
| training to be successful and typically just focus on | | | | doesn't have to be something major, but can be |
| training the foal. However, it is important that you don't | | | | something as small as taking them to an unfamiliar |
| forget the mare when training the foal because they | | | | area, using a different brush or introducing a new |
| are biologically and emotionally linked. | | | | horse or human to the area. |
| Grow a Relationship | | | | Some larger introductions you can make include a |
| There are many parallels between a human infant and | | | | bath, picking the hooves, running clippers near the ears |
| a young horse. Any infant species requires a | | | | and trailer loading. Any of these activities can help a |
| relationship to be started as soon as possible. Young | | | | foal become desensitized and help them become less |
| horses start to develop relationships with other horses | | | | frightened with new experiences. By doing this the foal |
| right away in addition to any humans that are around | | | | can start to learn that the trainer doesn't want to harm |
| them. The trainer needs to focus on developing this | | | | them. |
| relationship as soon as the horse is born. | | | | Go Slowly |
| A good training method to consider is natural | | | | At some point in your life, you have likely experienced |
| horsemanship, which focuses on transparent | | | | sensory overload. Trainers need to understand that |
| communication with horses. Through this horse training | | | | young horses can experience this as well so it is |
| method, a trainer can improve the effectiveness of | | | | important not to push a lot of new sensations and |
| their training by improving their ability to communicate | | | | experiences at once otherwise you will delay the |
| with the horse. Foal imprint training the most common | | | | training process. |
| method that trainers use. | | | | Rather you want to limit the training to just fifteen |
| This is essentially a process that involves bonding | | | | minute increments. If a horse doesn't accept the new |
| young horses with their handlers the same way a | | | | experience within this time then you should come back |
| mother imprints on her horse baby. The best way to | | | | to it the next day. Once a your horse turns a year old, |
| develop a relationship with a new horse is by spending | | | | you can increase training session durations to a half an |
| as much time as possible with them. | | | | hour. |
| Early Halter Training | | | | Training your young horse can be a wonderful |
| Training a young horse should focus on developing a | | | | experience and is easier to do as you gain more |
| foundation for future horse training. The main method | | | | experience. Handlers need to realize that mistakes are |
| of communication for a mounted rider is pressure. To | | | | going to be made the first time, no matter which |
| help a young horse understand pressure from the | | | | training method you choose to use. Once you find the |
| very start you should start halter training sooner. | | | | right training method, you can continue to use it and |
| This can also help show a foal that you cannot get | | | | start building on your experience. |