Comments on: Natural Horsemanship and Foals

By: Kaibuko

Kaibuko — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:53 +0000

Thanks, for the …
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!

By: ponygirl72

ponygirl72 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:53 +0000

Aw, that’s * …
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.

By: MissDottieWestt

MissDottieWestt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:52 +0000

hello again,
…
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

By: ponygirl72

ponygirl72 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:52 +0000

In nature, …
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.

By: MissDottieWestt

MissDottieWestt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:52 +0000

My Baby can do all …
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.

By: LisaNH19

LisaNH19 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:52 +0000

Nice movie!
Nice movie!

By: newzealandgal74

newzealandgal74 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:51 +0000

Hey,

do you mind …
Hey,

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

By: ponygirl72

ponygirl72 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:51 +0000

You’re welcome. …
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!).

By: MissDottieWestt

MissDottieWestt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:51 +0000

That is very …
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!

By: ponygirl72

ponygirl72 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:51 +0000

The 2nd is your use …
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?