Its been awhile since I last bred so I can’t recall the personality of my last foal but my current 2 month old has been great! (knock on wood!) So quick to pick up stuff and easy to work with. He rather be with humans than hang with him mom! I bred to this particular stallion because I was told he was Ammie friendly. His mom is super friendly too which I think has a lot to do with it as well. Just curious if this will change or will he be just as friendly, easy going as a horse. He loves new things, likes to play with horse toys (which I always thought were a waste of $$$ to buy). Also he is really butt high now and his neck seems a touch short. I’m hoping that this will change???
He should be more or less the same provided you continue to set limits and teach him to respect those limits. They aren’t born knowing to stay out of your space etc. Gelding will help as well. He will be butt high and even dozens of times over the next few years.
Just like human babies they show you who they are right from birth. They don’t change–it’s you to you to guide the youngster into the best adult he can be within his personal makeup. So if you like his personality now and you are consistant with him you will also enjoy him as an adult.
In my experience, temperament on the ground was many (most?) times much different than temperament under saddle – some for better, some for worse.
Hmmm. My experience is a little different from yours then. I have found that a horse’s personality traits on the ground most often mirror how they are under saddle. If they’re handled correctly and know their respectfulness, then they will be respectful under saddle. But, if they are a bit short in attention span on the ground, it’s the same under saddle. If they tend towards irritation, it is the same under saddle. If they’re easygoing on the ground, they tend to be easygoing under saddle. If they’re a bit prickly on the ground, they’re the same amount of sensitive/prickly under saddle. I don’t find their temperament or personality changes because the type of activity is different. Some of the more difficult ones to handle on the ground due to a few aspects of their basic personality, start out similarly under saddle, but as each work session progresses they perform better as they respond to the endorphins released by exercise. A more difficult temperament horse tends to fare less well when they’re sitting around, bored.
Note, “difficult temperament” does not mean I’m referring to behavior relating to discipline issues - biting, kicking, pushiness, etc. Those are strictly discipline issues and usually a result of incorrect human interactions.
When I discuss “Temperament” it means I’m referring to the horse’s basic unfiddled-around-with personality - their degree of sensitivity, hotness, natural laziness, easygoingness, spookiness, likeableness, ability to learn and/or concentrate, and their tendency towards liking people and/or other horses, even their aptitude for a certain sport. Some of the more challenging personality traits (i.e. spookiness) require different handling methods when you’re on the ground as opposed to when you’re in the saddle, but the trait is still there all the same, and your goal is still to achieve the same result - that is, getting the horse to concentrate on you, his lesson, and achieve learning and progression.
This all being said, if you push any horse beyond his psychological ability to cope (each horse having that different stop point), then they will have a meltdown. But if you’re a sensitive and empathetic trainer, you will perceive the horse’s end point and stop the lesson well before you get there.
[QUOTE=Bent Hickory;7087052]
In my experience, temperament on the ground was many (most?) times much different than temperament under saddle – some for better, some for worse.[/QUOTE]
I have found it varies - some are very different under saddle then on the ground, others are consistently good - I wouldn’t say most of the time, but often enough to realize you can’t just count on foal temperament to indicate good (or difficult) riding horse. I think I kind of agree w/ you Brent.
I have had a few that were insecure, not fun to deal with babies that turned into the BEST riding horses. A friend has a foal that was the easiest baby ever and was awful to ride, spooky, distracted, with a spin&whirl cycle that was not fun. And he didn’t outgrow it! And I’ve found some bloodlines are actually kind of tough to deal with as babies, but end up being great riding horses. OTOH, I’ve had plenty of youngsters that were good kids from the beginning, and were easy to start, and great, willing riding partners. I think the answer to the question is “sometimes, but not always”.
[QUOTE=rodawn;7087173]
Hmmm. My experience is a little different from yours then. I have found that a horse’s personality traits on the ground most often mirror how they are under saddle. If they’re handled correctly and know their respectfulness, then they will be respectful under saddle. But, if they are a bit short in attention span on the ground, it’s the same under saddle. If they tend towards irritation, it is the same under saddle. If they’re easygoing on the ground, they tend to be easygoing under saddle. If they’re a bit prickly on the ground, they’re the same amount of sensitive/prickly under saddle. I don’t find their temperament or personality changes because the type of activity is different. Some of the more difficult ones to handle on the ground due to a few aspects of their basic personality, start out similarly under saddle, but as each work session progresses they perform better as they respond to the endorphins released by exercise. A more difficult temperament horse tends to fare less well when they’re sitting around, bored.
Note, “difficult temperament” does not mean I’m referring to behavior relating to discipline issues - biting, kicking, pushiness, etc. Those are strictly discipline issues and usually a result of incorrect human interactions.
When I discuss “Temperament” it means I’m referring to the horse’s basic unfiddled-around-with personality - their degree of sensitivity, hotness, natural laziness, easygoingness, spookiness, likeableness, ability to learn and/or concentrate, and their tendency towards liking people and/or other horses, even their aptitude for a certain sport. Some of the more challenging personality traits (i.e. spookiness) require different handling methods when you’re on the ground as opposed to when you’re in the saddle, but the trait is still there all the same, and your goal is still to achieve the same result - that is, getting the horse to concentrate on you, his lesson, and achieve learning and progression.
This all being said, if you push any horse beyond his psychological ability to cope (each horse having that different stop point), then they will have a meltdown. But if you’re a sensitive and empathetic trainer, you will perceive the horse’s end point and stop the lesson well before you get there.[/QUOTE]
Excellent post.
Very much agree.
I have had mixed results with foal personality and under saddle behavior. My fussiest foal was a Rousseau, we named him shit-stickle as a foal as he was into EVERYTHING. Couldn’t have halters, ropes, pitch fork, etc within his reach. Now as a five year old he is the mellowest fella (his owner reports) and super easy.
My Rotspon mare was the EASIEST foal ever, felt like she was born well handled. As an adult she is opinionated (not in a bad way, just a mare way:)). Vocal and paws at feeding time, under saddle you need to ask just right (doesn’t just give you her all, but if you ask right she will), will spit out apples and then look at you like you offered her the worst treat ever. I love her dearly, and she has really taught me to be a better rider, but has grown into a big personality.
My filly was a sh** on the ground. And she slowly grew out of that and is now a dream. So the sh** filly she was and lovely mature horse she now is are nothing like the other. Thank god! 
One of the worst foals I ever had turned out to be a dream pony. When I was holding him for his vet check at 3 hours old for the vet she told me “Not that I think its a worry but this one is going to need LOTS of handling” As a two year old he would kick, as in aim and double barrel at you, bite and strike. As a 4 year old he was a delight. Easy pony to break, smart, great work ethic and safe for kids.
Sometimes they just take some time to grow up.
I love this thread. It gives me hope as I’ve had one of those challenging foals that is now three and about to be backed. I sure hope that in a couple of years I can say she’s a delight to ride. :yes:
I have only bred and raised two foals, but they did teach me something very important–they can be totally different adults than they are foals.
My babies are full brothers. Foal one was as sweet and kind and personable and laid back as can be. He was low man on the totem pole, happy to get out of the way, doo dee doooooo…Until he grew up and realized he’d grown up. He slowly moved up the ranks to top dog, and his personality changed into cocky, know-it-all, self-fancier.
His brother was a born asshat. I loved his snarky self, but man oh man was he BAD. No amount of handling helped, he was the type that you’d teach him to pick up his foot, and in protest he’d flop down onto the ground. He would bite when he didn’t get his way, he would kick for the same reason–all corrected. My vet couldn’t even get him gelded the first go as he’d been given so much tranq (he does them standing) that he could not not have more for a foal his size and he was STILL trying to kill everybody. The vet couldn’t even get to the point of touching his testicles. I was horrified 
I was given the homework of “getting him used to touching his testicles all summer, so he gets used to it”, and I walked right over and did so–he was ok with me and others touching him, he just wanted nothing to do with the vet 
At that moment I turned to my vet and said “did you just give me summer homework to diddle my horse? seems he doesn’t mind ME doing the touching, perhaps YOU need to come do some homework” (we giggled).
This colt was the fourth ever in my vets long career that he had to lay down for castration.
Fast forward 1.5 years, this formally aggressive, but adorable turd has become the sweetest, most humble and kind puppy ever.
could be nature, could have been nurture, but taught me a valuable lesson
This is Mr. Former sweetie-pie now self-fancier in a training ride yesterday: (just came 4 years old last month)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/9333185583_eeb204d376_c.jpg
His younger gigantic brother is in the back field growing into his 17 hand rear end. 
I have also has bratty youngsters turn into very reliable, placid riding horses. My worst foal was an utter prat on the ground. Dorky and prone to bouts of fizzy silliness, he would paw and wiggle and fidget whenever he came in. He had constant ants in his pants. He was rude and disrespectful and HUGE. He also had a terrible ego. He won just about everything in hand as a yearling and 2yo including a National Title but he never had a proper bath for all those shows! Even with tons of helping hands he was impossible to bathe properly.
I sent him away to be broken in and held my breath waiting for the call that he had tipped someone off or hurt himself/someone. Instead I got a call 10 days later saying he was going really well, come and have a ride. I arrived with full battle kit on only to find he and another horse were on the truck ready to go for a ride on the beach. I was utterly horrified. I asked to ride the other horse. And off we went. The horse I was on reefed, pulled, jigged, crab-walked and spun circles. After 15 minutes I BEGGED to get on my big gormless prat of a 3 year old. He was divine under saddle. Trainable, kind, and really trustworthy. His ground manners were changed 100%. I sold him as a 4yo and he took a young rider to National Junior Championships many times.
Sometimes they need time and a change of purpose (ie riding).
Laid back, easy going foal and youngster… Easy in all ways… Freakishly sensitive over achiever under saddle (read: flying lead change with a slight hip shift only 6 weeks under saddle). You never know lol!
Coin toss. I had a satan foal who is a dream under saddle. Set limits, don’t spoil just because foal is good and good behavior will perpetuate under saddle.
If I had been drinking coffee when I read this, it would have wound up all over the room, not just on my screen and keyboard. :lol:
Nature vs. Nurture - and a bit of both.
Why does he have to get used to someone touching his testicles? The only time I have ever touched one was as I was throwing it on the roof.
Has anyone noticed that their fiendish little brats for foals (that later turned into nice respectable little citizens) were the ones that more than likely got extra firm handling and discipline because the handler had to buckle down and lay down the law and rules. And that’s what turned them into good citizens. ?? Just a theory.
Foal: Initially on the shy side, by two was totally laid back almost lazy. The barn sweetheart. Completely lazy in the jump shoot, first time girthed and saddled, etc. She did have quite a bit of handling and showed as a yearling (I should say she was a bit of a handful at shows in the ring, but the first horse to lay down and snooze in the strange stall despite the commotion). Under saddle she is a hot momma, but SUPER fun. She is also a huge overachiever and not mean, just sensitive. Would be very easy to push to do too much too soon.
I sort of expected it from her breeding though. So you could be ok OP.
