Hey all,
This June we purchased 4 polo ponies. Prior to us purchasing these mares, they had been living at a turnout facility for 2 years after the owner was injured and no longer able to play. I tried the mares, loved them, had them vetted and then brought them home. Turns out… 2 of these mares were pregnant. One had a colt late August and the other had a colt this past Tuesday. We were very surprised when we found out that they were pregnant and are still working out figuring out who the baby daddy is… However, I am absolutely thrilled that we now have 2 beautiful and most importantly, healthy foals. These are my first babies. I made it through the birthing and early stages of their lives thanks to my vet and my speed reading of Blessed are the Broodmares! 
I am enjoying the process and am learning so very much. I have plenty of experience with riding young horses, but I need a lot of advice when it comes to these babies! Could you guys give me some advice on what a young foal needs to know and how/when you go about teaching them these things. For example: when do you teach a foal to lead and what method do you find to be most successful? When do you give a foal it’s first bath? Do you introduce a foal to clipping?
Thank you all in advance! I really want to start these boys on the right “hoof” early in life.
i had a halter on my filly when she was a day old. The more exposure they get the better off they are and you too! Lots of scratching, baby grooming, My filly went to her inspection at 29 days old, so even though she basically followed Mom, she did have a lead rope on. But No tugging on it or anything. Handle their feet, touch them up and down! No rush for a bath until they are at least a few months old. Most of the “serious” training came after weaning (clippers, etc…) Easier to tackle things while they are still small then when they are big and strong! Good luck with them! John Lyons has a good book called “Bringing up Baby”.
The colt that I raised turned out to be a bully. I believe that I contributed to this behavior, because I did not know anything about raising a colt.
When he was five days old, he kicked me in the stomach. I was so shocked that I just stood there looking at him. It was the wrong thing to do. He was “so cute and just a baby”.
When he was three months old, he kicked me in the stomach, again. Once again, I just stood there trying to get my breath back and did nothing to reprimand him. Once again, it was the wrong thing to do.
If your colts try to become agressive or “play” with you, then do not make my mistake of thinking that you cannnot discipline a foal.
What would the mare do if the foal kicked or bit her? If they try to do something to you, you be the mare. You do not want your colts thinking that they are more Alpha than you are.
My boy grew up to be 16.3 and 3/4 hands. He knew that he was big and used it to his advantage. The best suggestion that I can give you about raising colts is for you to be the Alpha mare.
