Foals in Training
Foal Education Program Designed
by Dr Miller
Board Certified Equine Chiropractor by the AVCA
| See Photos of our Horses in our Training Program click here |
Our unique program is designed to “develop” a horses mind to its fullest capabilities during the “foal hood” period. Imprint training is step one of our initial foal education program. Imprint training has been around a long time with horse owners and trainers. The advantage of early imprint training bonds the foal with the trainer, teaches the young foal to submit without fear, desensitization to most sensory stimuli, and sensitizing the foal to respond to performance related stimuli, i.e.: light pressure to move the hind quarters. Imprint training is used to enhance our foal’s relationships with humans, teach it good manners and increase its responsiveness to stimuli that will later improve performance. Imprint training teaches the horse to trust humans without fear, but with respect. Our imprinting lessons lay down the foundation for “your” future relationship with “your” horse. From the day the foal is born, we teach it to respect humans and basic good manners. We teach with love and kindness, “without” spoiling the foal or turning it into a “pet”. The lessons are brief and do not cause the foal or mare any stress. In order to successfully imprint the foal, the mare must cooperate, and let you handle her foal. Our mares are handled regularly and groomed, with the end result of our mares trusting us. If the mare doesn’t cooperate, than imprinting can be detrimental to the foal, causing more harm than good. Our foals are not allowed to nibble on people, strike out, or kick. Our foal’s legs/hooves are handled early on to get them to accept the farrier without fear and stress. By stretching, bending legs, and picking up the foals hooves, we teach the foals to balance on three legs. Our farrier loves us for our foal training, and never dreads the first trim on our foals.
After several days of imprinting, our foal education does not end. We teach our foals many lessons BEFORE weaning. They are taught to accept the halter being put on and taken off several times in a row, to lead, trailer load, lead through an obstacle course, accept girths, ropes swinging, flags swaying, sacking out, parking out (because they are gaited foals) and much more. We constantly add new stimuli. Also during this process, we are working on the weaning process by giving the foals lessons with the mare free to stay and watch or graze. This dramatically helps with separation anxiety at the time of weaning. This foundation of training is invaluable. You can not put a price tag on it. The foal is exposed to a productive learning environment, making all future handling and training more enjoyable and effective for both the horse/foal and the new owner. Our weanlings have a foundation of learning skills and trust that the majority of older horses never achieve.
The training, education, and love that we give all our foals, will stay with them forever.
And as an added bonus our foals/weanlings receive chiropractic adjustments to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal and immune system.
Please email me if you have any questions to awalkinghorseranch@gmail.com
After several days of imprinting, our foal education does not end. We teach our foals many lessons BEFORE weaning. They are taught to accept the halter being put on and taken off several times in a row, to lead, trailer load, lead through an obstacle course, accept girths, ropes swinging, flags swaying, sacking out, parking out (because they are gaited foals) and much more. We constantly add new stimuli. Also during this process, we are working on the weaning process by giving the foals lessons with the mare free to stay and watch or graze. This dramatically helps with separation anxiety at the time of weaning. This foundation of training is invaluable. You can not put a price tag on it. The foal is exposed to a productive learning environment, making all future handling and training more enjoyable and effective for both the horse/foal and the new owner. Our weanlings have a foundation of learning skills and trust that the majority of older horses never achieve.
The training, education, and love that we give all our foals, will stay with them forever.
And as an added bonus our foals/weanlings receive chiropractic adjustments to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal and immune system.
Please email me if you have any questions to awalkinghorseranch@gmail.com
