The World Awaits!

…foals learn to accept it quickly.

Later on that day, we got ready for his first real outing. While my friend “T” Cody corralled him with her arms, I slid a tiny leather foal halter on him. This is absolutely not to restrain him—I am not “halter-breaking” the foal—the…

Horse Report: Mission Accomplished, Sort Of

…go to the fetus. The permanent separation may occur because the foal is sold, or the mare goes elsewhere, and/or the foal is housed with other youngsters in a ‘nursery’ pen, where he lives with same-aged cohorts until it’s time for training.

Having worked at a few different breeding…

How Much Does a Young Horse Really Know?

…training too early is unfair to the young horse, and usually comes with very negative results⁠—physically and mentally. Because of this, most horse trainers prefer to train a 2- or 3-year-old horse with little handling over one that’s been over-handled or “prepared” by an inexperienced owner. That being said, foals,…

Horse Report: Gettin’ the Band Back Together!

…obnoxious is a very effective means of teaching him appropriate behavior around humans (that’s why you always leave them wanting more). Always watch your backside and maintain clear boundaries.

Learning daily routines is easy, and there’s really no need to “train” a foal beyond minimal handling skills. Horses are…

When Horses “Shut Down”

…as prey animals that are predisposed to flight, almost everything about their behavior revolves around movement.

From the moment a foal is born, its wobbly legs start wiggling and twitching. Within an hour of its birth, the foal magically transforms⁠—gradually learning to stand, and then to walk, run, find…

April 2025 Horse Report

…less tolerance of impolite behavior, as do the people around them.

Rip is the first foal I’ve permanently kept with its mother. Typically, domestic horses’ foals are permanently separated from their mothers after weaning, for all kinds of practical reasons. The mare will go back to her life (or…