Working alone with mare + foal

[mbm]

So my mare had her first foal 2 weeks ago it’s a cute little filly. They are in a field (with shelter of course) and I also have access to a stall for them if needed.

Since i work alone most of the time I would love some tips and ideas on the best way to work with the filly - by myself - to teach her to halter/lead/feet etc.

she is super friendly and i can rub/brush her all over etc.

but i have found i am at a disadvantage by myself in an open space.

so… would love to her how others have dealt with similar etc.

[BaroquePony]

Do you have a safe way and spot where you can tie your mare? If so you can begin with baby steps on haltering, leading, stop start and stand.

Is your mare good about leading and handling to the point where you can tell her to “stop”, “stand”, or “whoa” or whatever you need to use, so that you can lead her on your weak side and lead the foal on your strong (coordinated side)? And lastly, can you pony your foal from your mare?

In other words, how much work do you want to do (safely)?

You might want to wear your helmet due to foals not knowing yet that they can kick up their heels and nail you in the head.

[mbm]

yes, i can tie mare, yes, she is well bahaved, and i can lead her from off side etc etc. altho being a new mommy she is more focused on outside threats than me at times but she is getting better.

what age do you start to pony them?

[horsetales]

I’m always alone. I’ve worked mine in the field right around the mare. If she won’t let you put the halter on, I would lead the mare to the stall and get one on her there. In the field, I just lead them in circles around the mare until they are 3-4 weeks and the mare and foal tolerate more distance. If you can touch her all over, I would be starting to pick up feet

[alliekat]

I am usually handling our mares and foals by myself also, which I actually prefer. I bring mom a big flake of alfalfa hay ( a treat as she doesn’t get it very often) and it keeps her busy while I get my hands on her foal. If you are having a hard time catch your filly in the field, I would utilize the access to the stall for the first few lessons. Lead mom and let the baby follow to the stall if possible. Then give mom something to keep her busy and happy. Work on getting the halter on and off in the stall. Then you can work on the leading by using a butt rope. Once all that is second nature, you can start doing them outside in the field. We actually only work with them in the field from day one but have worked with client’s foals that we a little more standoffish that the smaller space of the stall was a life saver and made working a lot easier. If you have a hard time getting the leading down You could halter your mare and lead her and use an extra long lead attached to the filly’s halter. They usually want to follow so as long as you keep the mare going, the baby should get the idea and come along too. Good luck with your girl!
Here are a few videos of young foals learning to lead on our farm.

http://youtu.be/QFV4EBEINmw
http://youtu.be/IqCJAifEENw

[goodpony]

I have a kind of “catch pen” adjacent to my pasture shelter. Its ideal for working with the babies–large enough space to work with them safely but small enough to make my life a little easier.

[mbm]

fwiw, baby is very friendly and in my lap… she will follow me anywhere and will come when called (if mama lets her) …

so i can “catch” her easility enough. i am having a bit of a hard time getting the halter buckled. i can put it on her nose (she puts her nose right in!) but she doenst like the strap over her head. so i started rubbing her all over with the clanky buckle + strap and should be able to get halter on next time we work on it.

great idea about flake of fave food. My mare doenst care if i work baby - as long as we are very close. she does not like her to get too far away. i assume (hope) that she relaxes her vigilence as time goes by.

[BaroquePony]

mbm, in answer to your question in the earlier post (I had to go do pony chores) ….

Relative to actually ponying the foal, …. that is more dependent on how nervous your mare is about outside threats. Your mare needs to be able to ‘come back to you’ (listen and oblige) quickly no matter what the distraction, so when you feel comfortable that she will trust you over ‘possible’ threats to her foal would be when it’s ok to pony the foal.

I would start on the ground with the foal using a 1" 100% cotton rope as your lead line or your groundwork line(s).

I cannot stress enough … 1" 100% cotton …

I have several in different lengths and with various hardware depending on what I plan on using them for (25’ for trailer loading, 10’ and 12’ for leading, 15’ to 25’ for some ground work, etc.). I ended up making my own (order it by the foot) and I know how to splice (some ropes splice more easily than others and I hate doing it). If you need help with splicing try a good western saddle shop, cowboy, horseman, sailor, or boyscout.

I use brass bullsnaps for some of these ropes, or use a stainless or brass ring and have a stout leather strap with a buckle that attaches to the ring and you can buckle onto the halter ring (that is the absolute best way to go for safety).

And I also like to replace the halter crownpiece with one that is wide and padded.

While it is a pain to organize all of this gear, it is something that you will be using for a while. The 1” cotton will not burn you, your mare or your foal, especially around the legs.

You can do a lot with ropes.

Once you get ready to pony, don’t ever tie anything to your horse, ride with the lead rope under your upper thigh and hold it in the opposite hand along with your rein. You can let it slide a bit and you can shorten it up, easily.

Or you can just lay it over your thigh but you will have less control that way.

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

Sounds like you are doing fine and I would just continue with what you are doing. I also work with all my foals alone and do as many of the above suggested. I used to halter right away and to be honest I have left some until later and have found there is not much difference. As long as they are friendly I actually find there are less issues haltering actually later as it seems like you can desensitize them more as well as they are not so reactive (especially their noses sometimes) after a few months of just general handling. But both work and what you are doing sounds just fine. I do teach my foals to be restrained (chest/rear) though from day one so if I ever have to medicate even weeks later the are good about it and don’t fight it. I bought a filly last fall that was 4 months old and not handled and had her haltering and leading within one short lesson. It took longer to gain her full trust since she had never been handled but now at a year of age there is no difference between her and one that has been handled since day one.

[BaroquePony]

Whatever you are doing with any of this, always keep an eye on the foal’s neck … all of your work should be soft on their neck except for the occasional tug.

That neck is the most fragile, both in foal and horse.

[mbm]

thanks guys! and thanks for the vids! that looks great and you make it look so simple!

i think once my mare is not so on the defensive (we just moved them to new facility so she is hyper alert) it will go much easier.

the filly is really smart and willing to interact which makes it pretty fun

[New_Horizons]

I am on my own here, so do everything alone as well. (Just picture giving a foal an enema with no one to help!

I would definitely utilize the stall for the early haltering, leading, handling lessons. You don’t want the foal to be able to get away and think it can continually do it. It is good that she is so friendly! That will make things easier.

I put the halter on and off a couple of times a day from day one, and handle the foals, pick up their feet, etc. I use the butt rope as well, work a couple of times a day leading around the stall the first few days, and have the foals leading separately from mama within the first week. The paddock is adjacent to the barn. The mare goes out first, then I come back and get the foal, then when it is time to come in the foal comes in first. It really helps over time so that they get used to being separated. My bigger pastures where they get turned out 24/7 once they are three or four weeks old are a short walk across the road, so the short separation time early on helps them to deal with the longer separation time later.

Just want to echo what was said about being careful of the foal’s neck, especially when they are very young. I personally would not pony a foal until it was several months old and leading without pulling back at all, but that is me. I do teach my foals to tie very young, but am extremely careful.

Good luck! Young foals are the best! I didn’t have any this year, so I am waiting eagerly for next April–two due on the same day!!

[mbm]

ok, i might let them settle in for a few days then take them to the stall to work Luna (foal). To do so I have to walk them to the barn - which is about 300’ from their pasture.

i work the next 2 days so wont work her til Wed. Which should be enough time for them to settle in enough then i can put them in stall and work baby. I can make it part of their routine. Bring them in - Give soph some grain/alfalfa pellets and work baby.

thanks for the tips!

[MysticOakRanch]

I’m mostly on my own too. I start right away by teaching the foals they can’t get away - I “hug” them (one arm around the chest, the other around the butt), and rub them so it is enjoyable. If they struggle - I hang on no matter what! Pretty soon, they learn they can’t get away. It is something that must be done when they are small enough - and most of them learn to actually like it (since I’m rubbing their neck and butt). Then, when I halter them, they feel like they can’t get away. And I start by just putting halter on the nose, then remove it, over and over until they just don’t care. In between, I rub behind their ears. Usually within a few days, they are OK with it. Also - many of my babies are comfortable enough to let me come pet them when they are laying down - so I often do the initial haltering while they are laying.

With leading - I use cotton butt rope, and lead them in the pasture with Mom nearby - no pulling on baby’s neck, always use the butt rope if you have to pull. I don’t pony my babies, but eventually, I start leading them further and further. And anytime I can get someone to help - we take a Mom and Baby walk.

I also start picking up feet RIGHT AWAY! And handling mouth, ears, belly, etc. In the first 5 days, I spend hours and hours every day w/ the babies - after that, 2 or 3 times/day, halter, short leading lessons, pick up feet - by 30 days, they are pretty good about everything.

[mbm]

ok good to know i am sorta on the right track. i have spent a ton of time with her rubbing her all over - face, ears, neck, legs, bum, etc.

i can put the halter on and off her nose no problem. i am now starting to rub the jingly halter all over her neck. behind her ears etc.

she is ok being held - stands like a rock for that.

thanks again for all the input !

[BaroquePony]

MysticOak has the “hold on and don’t let go” right if you are going to do that, and if they are small enough for you to handle doing that. I agree that it is one of the best things to do, but if you haven’t done it and don’t feel you can contain that particular foal, then it is better not to go that route.

Butt ropes, yes.

[BaroquePony]

And a butt rope works well on one hind leg at a time where you loop it around one hind leg and slip it down to the pastern … you can easily pick up a hind foot and bring it forward without bending over or getting near their hind feet. Then you can grab the foot/leg and walk it back.

[goodpony]

[QUOTE=BaroquePony;7057803]
MysticOak has the “hold on and don’t let go” right if you are going to do that, and if they are small enough for you to handle doing that. I agree that it is one of the best things to do, but if you haven’t done it and don’t feel you can contain that particular foal, then it is better not to go that route.

Butt ropes, yes.[/QUOTE]

My husband who is a farrier says the same about feet–they should not be allowed to snatch their feet away. He has successfully taught even very young foals to ground tie while he trims their feet. He is able to trim all four feet this way with no assistance–and it is a lesson that sticks with them for a lifetime. Generally speaking–we do not start trimming feet till they have been pretty extensively handled on a regular basis. But starting very young when I pick up a foot my goal is to pick it up and place it down–not pick it up and drop it or allow them to snatch the foot away. They have been handled so often though I dont usually have a problem. The rope trick is very handy for desensitizing ‘snatchy’ hind feet–I have not used it myself but know others have.

[kiwifruit]

Quick question because I too am in the same situation. How long do you use a butt rope for leading? Some days my guy is a champ and other days he will only go forward with pressure from the rope. I guess till he has more good days than bad?