From: Ron Larson
I am recently new to your list and have already been learning tons from other people's questions/your answers. I am so glad your letter tonight to the person who was told to pull her foal over backwards indicated to NOT go there. I can not believe anyone with any horse sense would try to yank a horse over backwards. I have been "hosre nutty" for 35 yrs. and at 39 am just now ready to get my first horse. I am helping out 2 days a week working with a 6 mth old and doing just what seems natural and gentle. Mind you, I have no professional training on training, jsut lots of love and a desire to not frighten the baby. We spent an entire day and nothing phased this filly, all the way up to sacking out, saddling with a very light baby saddle and even down to tightening the cinch. She just simply is willing to accept anything if we let her smell and feel it first.
However, I want your advice. What books do you recommend for starting foals that give gentle, good solid advice. I do want to learn more but I don't like the ones Ive seen that encourage whipping and hitting to teach. Also, do you believe and practice imprint training and will it make that much difference if you do not have your horse at the birth/few weeks old stage?
Finally, thank you for the time and effort you take to spread your knowledge. You are an horseperson's guardian angel !
There are a lot of useful books for people who want to work with foals and weanlings. Here are a few suggestions:
Cherry Hill THE FORMATIVE YEARS
Janet Lorch FROM FOAL TO FULL-GROWN
Ann Hyland FOAL TO FIVE YEARS
Robert Miller IMPRINT TRAINING OF THE NEWBORN FOAL
Jane van Lennep FIRST FOAL
Jane van Lennep FIRST STEPS
You can probably get most of these from your local library -- if they don't have them, ask them to get them for you via interlibrary loan. Libraries all over the USA lend books to one another, and all you have to do is ask for what you want -- you're NOT limited to the contents of the shelves at your local library.
You have good instincts about foals and the learning process -- there is no place for hitting or kicking or whipping in the process of education, whether you're talking about a child or a horse. The idea is to EDUCATE the young, not to frighten or hurt them. When you talk about doing only what is natural and gentle, and mention that the filly accepts everything if she is allowed to smell and feel it first, you make it clear that you're exactly the sort of person who SHOULD be handling foals and youngstock.
I've had good results with imprint training, but the techniques that Dr. Miller suggests are also useful with older foals. You won't be able to do all of it, and you won't have quite as complete or as dramatic an effect, but you WILL be able to do some things, and you will have an effect. There's no reason NOT to try this!
Good luck with this filly, and with your own horse when you buy one. If you stick with your basic philosophy -- lots of love and a desire not to frighten the horse -- you will have good times with your horse, and your horse will be lucky to have you for an owner.
Jessica
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