Handle Your Foals Correctly From Day One

When someone has problems with an older horse, they often ask me if they can ‘re-start’ him.

I’ve had lots of people say, ‘Can’t I just go back to the beginning and start him all over again?’

Sadly, the answer is no.

Unfortunately, no-one can erase a horse’s memory.

You can’t tell any horse to forget what he’s already learned.

You can’t tell him to forget about being confused or frightened.

That’s why it’s so important to start every horse correctly from day one.

This was reinforced in my mind just recently, when I weaned and handled five foals.

During the week that I handled them, the foals were taught to be confident and relaxed with humans.

They were taught to lead, to have their legs handled, to step over obstacles and to accept a saddle cloth, saddle and girth.

When these foals are old enough to be ridden, it will be a non-event.

That’s the reason my Foal Handling Online Clinic was made.

From time immemorial, there’s always been debate about how and when horses should be started under saddle.

These days, there are even horse-starting competitions.

All the debate and all the competitions in the world really miss the point.

If every foal was handled correctly from day one, there’d be no problem when the time came to ride him.

Accepting a saddle and rider would be just another simple step in his training.

There’d be no drama.

There’d be no bucking.

There’d be no chasing or stress.

And guess what? If every foal was handled correctly from day one, there’d be no frightened or problem horses.

Early handling is crucial for every  foal.

I don’t see the point of going to all the trouble and expense of  breeding and raising horses and not handling them as soon as possible.

If every foal was handled correctly, there’d be no problem horses.

And  there’d be no rejects.

I find great pleasure in handling  foals and starting them off correctly.

It’s always fun and very  rewarding to teach a foal to be confident and relaxed with humans.

Keep learning here

Book & Online Video Clinics

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The ultimate guide to training and understanding your horse – using co-operation and trust.

Step-by-step instruction for everything you’ve ever dreamed of being able to do with your horse

Over 300 colour photographs across 224 in-depth pages

Comprehensive guidance on leg handling, trailer loading, riding and leading problems

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WATCH THE FEAR-FREE FUNDAMENTALS ONLINE CLINIC

A step-by-step approach to change your horse's attitude from confrontation to co-operation without fear, fight or force.

19 video based lessons

Over 6 hours of training

Unlimited streaming access

Stream online on any device

Starting a Horse Under Saddle Online Clinic

See how every horse should be started under saddle. No chasing, no bucking no fighting.

16 video based lessons

Over 7 hours of video training

Unlimited streaming access

Stream online on any device

GIVE YOUR FOALS THE GIFT OF THEIR LIFETIME WITH MY FOAL HANDLING ONLINE CLINIC

If you breed a foal, it’s your responsibility to take care of him from day one.

14 video based lessons

Over 6 hours of training

Unlimited streaming access

Stream online on any device