Last month we talked about gaining the complete trust of your foal. Now we¡¦re ready for Step 2 ¡V Introducing the halter. Look carefully at each important part.
1. Once you are able to pet your foal all over start carrying the halter with you. Let the foal smell the halter and rub the halter all over his body. Soon he will see it as just another part of you. When rubbing your foal¡¦s head start putting a small amount of pressure on his poll, right behind his ears. As soon as he gives to the pressure by dropping his head, even if only a little, immediately release the pressure.
After awhile he will immediately drop his head when you put your hand on his poll, which lays the ground work for dropping his head for the halter and later for the bridle. Once your foal is dropping his head and is no longer wary of the halter it is time to put the halter on. Remember patience, it may take several days or even over a week to accomplish any of these steps.
2. Working on his left side, unbuckle the halter and show it to him, let him sniff it and rub the halter up and down his neck. Then put the halter around his neck with your right hand holding the top strap behind his ears and your left hand holding the halter just below the buckle. Apply pressure to his poll to get him to drop his head putting his nose right into the noseband of the halter.
Be Patient: This may take a few tries but do not attempt to buckle the halter until the foal is easily dropping his head into the halter. If the foal panics or shies from the halter do not buckle it, stop and calm the foal before attempting again. If you persist with the halter while the foal is panicking he will associate the halter with fear. Remember the goal is to make haltering a positive experience for your foal. If he associates the halter with fear it can cause future problems such as difficulty catching or pulling back when tied.
3. Once you have calmed your foal gradually reintroduce the halter by rubbing on his neck and body before attempting to halter him again. Once you can buckle the halter repeat the entire process. Remove and replace the halter repeatedly until the foal accepts it easily. You may even find that your foal is putting his head into the halter without being cued.
Remember:
„X It is also helpful to praise your foal when he has accomplished something good. Petting him or giving him a small handful of grain is a good way to reward foal for a positive response. At this point we are only trying to get the foal to accept the halter not teach him to lead. Full acceptance of the halter is necessary before moving on to the next step.
„X Poor habits such as nipping, kicking and striking should not be allowed. It may seem harmless or cute when they are small but all foals grow into horses and a 1200 pound horse with poor manners is no fun at all.
„X Foals should be encouraged to always present you with their head otherwise called facing up. If they present you with their hindquarters push their hip away or lightly tap their haunch with the lead rope or a buggy whip until they present their head. They should be rewarded for presenting their head with a handful of grain or petting and discouraged from presenting their hindquarters by making it uncomfortable for them to do so.
„X Everything your foal learns now, both good and bad, carries over into adulthood. It is much easier to teach your foal positive habits now than to attempt to correct them when he is full-grown and his poor manners aren¡¦t so cute anymore.
Be sure to watch for part 3 of Halter Breaking Using the Bailey Method in the July issue.
Shaboom and Clyde
Hey kids! We decided to take a break from answering questions to tell you about a great new kid¡¦s book! Robin: The Lovable Morgan Horse by Ellen F. Feld is the latest book in the Morgan Horse series. You will read about kids and horses in realistic situations overcoming everyday horse problems. This book has a great story line, if a quick fun read and talks about dealing with peer pressure. Ride along with Karen and her Morgan mare Robin while they learn some of life¡¦s lessons together.
Robin is available for $9.95 through Amazon.com, The American Morgan Horse Association www.willowbendpublishing.com
Halter Breaking Foals Using the Bailey Method - Part 2
Introducing the Halter
Copyright © 2008 The NW Horse Source, LLC
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