| There are two ways to look at horse training. It is a | | | | gets the impression that this must be perfectly fine. At |
| long slow process including a lot of work - and this is | | | | the same time the foal hears that everybody gets |
| true. But you can also look at it as a heck a lot of fun - | | | | praised - and by then they have learned to appreciate |
| which is the more positive way. And you can make it | | | | that. |
| easier and more fun using another horse. | | | | I once brought in four Morgan mares from Montana. |
| Using another horse is especially helpful when you are | | | | They were just halter broke and never handled any |
| training young horses. Let me give you an example | | | | further than that. I put them in a paddock and had |
| how I do that. | | | | another paddock next to it for my training. It was the |
| Training foals I have a pretty set way of going | | | | easiest job ever. I would bring in a trained mare and e. |
| forward. After they are used to being handled and | | | | g. pick up all her feet, clean the feet and so on. Then |
| touched I proceed to having them wear my hat. I do | | | | came the untrained mares on after the other. It was |
| this for several reasons. First it is de-sensitizing the | | | | amazing - the last one picked up her front foot before |
| head and the ears. Second it is a pretty big and | | | | I even touched it! |
| dangerous looking object - and they have to learn to | | | | At first I had to go in the paddock and pick the next |
| trust me. And finally when I hang my hat on one of the | | | | mare for her training. After a week they were all piled |
| ears, it impairs their vision - more trust building. | | | | up at the gate like "I am next". |
| It probably would be a long ways to go without the | | | | Using another horse as an example can make things |
| help of the mare and other horses. My horses are | | | | real easy and fun. The horse you really train can learn |
| turned out in a herd, so they all hang around when I get | | | | a lot by watching. It gives the horse an idea what to |
| in there. I will put my hat on every horse the foal can | | | | do. You can do this by yourself. But if you use |
| see and loudly praise everybody - though they do not | | | | someone to handle the "demonstration horse", make |
| really care. | | | | sure this person makes a lot of fuss praising the horse. |
| This accomplishes two things. The foal watches and | | | | This is a really great way to make horse training easy |
| since nobody cares or shows any sign of fear the foal | | | | and fun! |