I was recently contacted for help and advice about a three week old colt that was exhibiting some quite boisterous behaviour around his owners. When he was born he had to have some veterinary and physiotherapy intervention to help with some limb problems which have now been resolved. His owner was concerned that he may have been inadvertently imprinted having had such close contact with humans. I was able to reassure her that everything she was seeing was perfectly normal in a bright and healthy colt. They aren't born domesticated and come with automatic, instinctive behaviours that they don't even have to think about. It's up to us to train them to do the exact opposite to this in some cases but it is more than the exact opposite because it also requires them to think and make choices. With a foal of this age it is important that he is allowed to be a horse most of the time and that he isn't over-handled or petted on demand. Nevertheless he can also cope with short sessions of training, just a few minutes at a time between lying down, having a drink, and cavorting around the field. Providing his adrenalin is always low and the training is not too taxing, he will be absolutely fine.
Although he isn't a semi-feral foal (he's a posh warmblood) much of the training can follow a similar pattern to that described in the later chapters of my book, No Fear, No Force. In particular it's important to use body language rather than words to ask him to do and not to do things; he simply doesn't understand words. When asking him not to bite it's important to use spikey body language aimed at your own body rather than coming into contact with him by pushing or even smacking. Engaging with his body will just activate his into-pressure, automatic instinctive behaviour that he would use with other colts.
He really is a super foal - floaty paces and and effortless canter.
"It was a pleasure to see you work with Leo. When I made the appointment, although I knew you were experienced with foals, I was still worried about what would happen. However, you made everything look so easy and calm, it was hard to believe I had ever seen it differently... what a magic touch you have.
I love the stuff you showed me, even though I do similar with my 'big' horses I hadn't quite seen how to translate it to Leo, i.e. how to use pressure/release to begin training him. How to tell him to 'no', without being too big and giving him a fright. How to be around him without causing him to jump up and play! Seeing is believing and after seeing you interact with Leo, I now just feel a whole lot different about being in his presence... it is a good feeling.
I am sure he will now have the best of starts and his whole future will be better because you came to visit." KR
