06.25.09
Penny 4– Orphaned filly update, fencing
(This is one of several ongoing questions and replies… (see other posts on Penny for more reports)
JUNE’S UPDATE (June 2):
Update on our little orphan filly who is almost 2 mo. old now. She is well and thriving. We finished the fencing, finally - and yes, it’s barbed wire, but, thankfully, we had someone who knows fencing really well who did a wonderful job, plus the posts are very close together (about four to five feet apart), and it’s strung with 5 strands), and we’ve tied bright plastic ties between every single post. She has not once tried to rush the fence, though when I take her her milk, she does come running and nickering.
She is large enough now, that I can’t hold the bowl/bucket, and just set it down on an upturned bucket, holding the edge just long enough that she doesn’t tip it over in her first sucking. She paws at the ground and tends to nudge the bucket agressively at first. She has socialized with the two calves just fine - though at first she was frightened of them. She loads and unloads fairly well from her trailer stall - but tonight, I placed her in a small pen inside the pasture instead of putting her in the trailer. The pen has more room, yet still confines her in a safer fencing area should she become frightened by anything in the dark.
She wasn’t happy about it, because it’s a new and different confinement, but we’re sure we’ll be ok. She had a bucket of her feed (a mixture of foal starter and creep feed), and a bucket of water. Just wanted to let you know, she’s doing great. She stands for a lead being snapped on her halter and leads fairly well, most of the time, and lets me touch her all over and lift her hooves, though only for a second or so and isn’t totally comfortable with that, yet.
CONNIE’S REPLY:
THanks June, I’m really glad to hear how well she is doing. I would say, continue the handling as much as possible. Perhaps begin using treats as a reward, or even try clicker training.
From my (admittedly limited) experience, it is much easier to train them the younger they are; as they get bigger and stronger, it becomes harder or at the least more intimidating to teach them things which they might resist or be leery of. At her age she should be totally accepting of haltering, being handled and having each foot picked up and held for longer and longer stretches of time. You can use a rope looped around her ankle to do that safely. [Reference: Earliest Riding Prep green horse training videos]
Her willing acceptance of restraint is extremely important, as is learning to move away from pressure. Moving off pressure makes her easier to handle on the ground, and it also helps her understand that a person is her dominant “herd leader” who will keep her safe from harm, and who she must trust and “obey” so to speak. Building her acceptance of restraint is how you teach her that. She should lead perfectly well all around; she needs to be exposed to many different and unusual things to get used to stuff and build her confidence. Once you get her a companion animal, you hopefully can lead them BOTH together out into the world to experience new things in a non-threatening manner.
There is so much to teach a foal, and so little time– all the things you want her to know as a grown horse. You have made a terrific start. I hope you will continue to read on my blog and to research & learn all you can about working with foals, and do as much as you possibly can. IMO, it has made all the difference in the world in our 2 boys being so tractable and easy to manage as full-grown horses.
Best of luck, and I appreciate all updates!!
(Here are a few links to more info…)
video of foal being trained
my blogs about handling, ponying etc.
desensitizing
