The past few months James has been teaching you a step-by-step approach to halter breaking your foal. He calls this ¡§the foundation for all other training your horse will receive¡¨. Once the foal has accepted the halter, you¡¦re ready to teach him to lead. Last month we learned the initial step ¡V teaching your foal to move freely in a circle while applying a minimum of pressure. Now you are ready for the next step.
Step Two
„X Once the foal is moving freely in a circle it is time to introduce him to the Come-along or a similar harness. The Come-along assists the learning process by applying pressure to the foals hindquarters at the same time pressure is being applied to the halter, encouraging the foal to step foreword.
„X Introduce your foal to the Come-along, or similar harness, just as you did the halter. Rub him all over with it until he is comfortable with it touching him.
„X One lead rope should be attached to the halter and one to the loop of the Come-along. Standing at the foals head both leads should be in one hand with the excess in the other. When you pull on the leads together the pressure should be on the halter first, followed immediately by pressure on the Come-along.
NOTE: Be sure to stand and walk to one side when leading the foal this way just as you would lead any horse. Do not stand directly in front or facing him. If the foal jumps away from the pressure on his hind quarters he is less likely to run into you than if you were directly in front of him.
As soon as the foal feels the pressure on his halter his first instinct will be to pull back. The object of the Come-along is to prevent this from happening. With pressure on both his halter and his hindquarters the foal will be encouraged to take a step forward. As soon as the foal steps forward immediately release the pressure. Soon he will be stepping forward when the pressure is applied to his halter.
Continue the exercise until the foal is moving freely using only the pressure from the halter lead.
Build it or Buy it
A Come-along can be built using baling twine or 1/8 inch rope. Run a loop around the foal from the halter around the hindquarters and back to the halter with a small loop coming through the bottom halter ring to attach the second lead rope. Run another string over his withers and loin attached on both sides to keep the rope from dropping low (See Photo).
A commercial variation of the come along called the CM Training System can be purchased from: CM Equine Products, Toll free 888-431-7771, website www.cmequineproducts.com. James Bailey has used this system and finds it to be a carefully thought out and highly versatile piece of equipment which can also be used in further training.
Dear Shaboom and Clyde,
Why is my horse afraid of silly things like paper cups, shadows, and boxes?
Ryan, Spokane, WA
Ryan, A horse is a prey animal and in the wild anything new or unusual could be a possible threat to him. Horses are often referred to as ¡§a flight or fight animal¡¨. A horse will usually choose to move away from (flight) unless cornered and forced to fight.
Expose horses to as much as possible at an early age. Also spend time building a trusting relationship with them. Both will help to reduce this problem. Even if your horse if older, he can be desensitized to objects that spook him with repeated and careful exposure. It is very important, however, that the horse is never hurt during the process since it would reinforce his fear.
Shaboom & Clyde
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