foaly help

[fflur]

My mare and foal have been in at night since early november and into a set routine always going to the same field passing the same horses same fieldmates etc

They are turned out with another mare and foal who they have been with since the foals where about 6 weeks old the mares get along well and graze close and the foals have a good relationship too. The field is sparce of grass but has huge hay bales in it and all for horses happily graze in close confinement

Mum and baby had been going well happily turned out and brought in everyday until the last week or so. Nothing to my knowledge has changed at all even the weather when it started hasnt changed but baby has suddenly started stopping on the way out to the field (never on the way in)

We walk past stables an outdoor school some scary machinary which is all fine but then we turn a corner to get to the field and the problems start. Luckily mum is very good and just waits but baby is planting and will not move she doesnt respond to pressure on her bum obv i dont want to put much pressure on her head due to babys fragile necks I just dont know what to do we get to the field eventually but after stopping and planting about 6 times. Its not fear beacuse when scared she speeds up and runs into mum shes just so stubborn!

As soon as we leave the stable it is out of sight because of turning an initial corner and once in the field she is fine and back out on a night eve in the dark is no problem at all

Any suggestions? She is 3/4 welsh 1/4 tb is 7 months will happily leave mum for periods of time will walk away from mum when going back to field and go out of her sight she is going to be sent away for full weaning soon just building up to the separation

[azura]

i think you have a foal that really is trying to tell you that he wants to explore, as you say he doesn't appear frightened, he is just asserting himself. rather than apply pressure on his head, try pushing him off balance so he has to move his front leg, reward him for moving, then tell him to walk on. We all go through these stages same as kids have a time when they test the boundaries.

[fflur]

She was trained to lead by a pressure and release system and knows the most comfortable place to be is next to me. The way i get her to move forwards is by moving her sideways and releasing pressure as soon as she even moves slightly forwards but she will plant again after one step its very frustrating that its come from nowhere

[azura]

i know how frustrating it is when they get like this, especially if he isn't bothered when his mum leaves, and as you say too big to craddle. Maybe the way forward is as for a difficult loader and send him backwards instead. I'm sure he'll get bored with this game soon, just take a deep breath and count to ten.Good luck

[Zoe RA]

Have you thought about taking she and her Mum for some little adventurous walks in a comparatively safe place?

Not only will it do her good to see a few different things and places, but hopefully, she will remember that you are the safe place to be, and her good leading will become re established!

[janetgeorge]

She's at an age when she's starting to think 'independence' and doesn't WANT to follow Mum. Easiest and most effective way is to use a lunge line clipped back on itself to make a noose. Put this around her back end so it sits just above the back legs. When she stops, give a good pull and say 'walk on' or whatever command you use. Don't pull continuously - just a quick pull to make her move - then relax the pressure until she stops again.

[kooky]

Oh aren't they little darlings! It is foal Law number 102 to do this, I think. My little lad is 7 months now, and we have just gone through this stage and moved to Foal Law 103 - walk as slowly as possible, especially when it's raining hard, LOL.

With mine, he stopped to have a good look around and has always been very inquisitive. Like others have said, I just took him out for little walkies and his confidence in me soared. Mind you, after 4 months, mum went out first and baby second (someone watching and fussing him at first) as he just thought being seen out with your Mum wasn't 'cool', LOL.

Is this your first foal? Believe me, you really will learn the word 'patience'! But they are such a joy and pleasure to have!

[fflur]

Yeah she is my first foal by making it my mission to desensitize her to everything i think ive shot myself in the foot as she isnt scared of anything i do. She is fine when been lead seperately from mum will happily walk alone away from mum, must be the my mums not cool thing!
The lunge rope round her bum was my first thought but
1. she only does this when i bring them in alone hence i wouldnt feel safe using it id get tangled
2. she doesnt respond to pressure on her bum at all its my own fault for spending so much time getting her used to been touched all over

[janetgeorge]

fflur said:

Yeah she is my first foal by making it my mission to desensitize her to everything i think ive shot myself in the foot as she isnt scared of anything i do. She is fine when been lead seperately from mum will happily walk alone away from mum, must be the my mums not cool thing!
The lunge rope round her bum was my first thought but
1. she only does this when i bring them in alone hence i wouldnt feel safe using it id get tangled
2. she doesnt respond to pressure on her bum at all its my own fault for spending so much time getting her used to been touched all over

Yep - you can overdo getting them tame! It's difficult if you have to lead them both on your own - perhaps just use an extra lead rope for your 'noose' - put a knot in the end so it doesn't slip through the clip. Leave it just lying on her wither unless you need it. Then, if she stops, grab it and give a good pull (I've not known many who've ignored it - even if pretty docile!)

Or could you bring foal in first? Oops - just realised you said she only did it on the way out - take Mum out first? Or would Mum get very upset?

[fflur]

Mum would probably thing at last ive got rid! Im gradually weaning them and mum hasnt called for her once is the whole time baby has been taken away. They will be apart permenantly in a couple of weeks and i may not have an issue anymore I would just hate to ignore the problem and it cross over to when she is been lead alone

[janetgeorge]

fflur said:

They will be apart permenantly in a couple of weeks and i may not have an issue anymore I would just hate to ignore the problem and it cross over to when she is been lead alone

Oh, don't worry! Weaning is a great time for foals to think up NEW games to play with you - she'll forget the boring old ones! ;D

[fflur]

Yeah and it seems to have developed today we only stopped once but she tried to bite me twice I think I preferred the stopping game