This page covers the progress of our youngsters from weaning, i really enjoy making the time they are separated from thier mothers as happy and useful a time to learn thier basics before going to thier new homes,
This page features Mojo, out of Mollie and by Mack.
The way i set the standard for how the foals are done, is to keep the same rules, How would i like to buy my foal? well i would like it to have manners , and a basic understanding of whats expected of it from weaning onwards, picking its feet up,leading and generally willing to learn with a nice temprement to fit in with the family , i dont want something that has just come off its mother, hasnt been used to having hard feed, and something that has only had the headcollar on the day before you buy it, i thinks it fairer to the foal to set the rules from the start, so it looks to you as its leader,
So picking the feet up and rubbing around them, and first of all tapping them softly, and finishing with cleaning them out with the hoof pick, i dont like to keep the lessons too long, short and sweet, and next time they improve even more. Tying up lessons we are careful with as not to frighten the youngster, i use a running not, so they dont hurt the very delicate part of thier poll, i dont want a fight on my hands, so again, a little and often approach works very well. Picking up toys and getting used to anything out of the ordinary just helps them to realise that foriegn objects are not always scary, and can be quite fun. Leading is the first lesson they learn after weaning, once they are quite good at it, it opens the door to thier next lessons, walking through narrow places proves too easy for Mojo, it helps them to back up in a better line juat a few steps , but these are just the very start. Following over poles, help to watch where he is putting his feet, and he really enjoyed doing different thngs. The plastic booger training is something i always enjoy, because this is where the QH foals show thier true temprement, Mojo is happy having the last stage of plastic training all over his body , under his belly and above his head,and doesnt offer to go anywhere. And after taking a little walk around the round pen to break the routine to give a bit of interest, i try the plastic all round his back legs, and as you can see he isnt being held, he is happy to stay with me, as he hasnt had any reason to worry from the start of his training, as it has been done in bite size pieces. Tapping the plastic up and down on the floor all round his legs and then brushing up his legs from the floor, and even though he is keeping an eye on whats happening he still shows how brave he is and lets me do anything with the plastic, he has been a very good pupil. And to finish off, just a quick pick up and rub off of the feet, and we ended the lesson on a really positive note so he could go and have a run around with his buddy Dallas to stretch his legs and have some fun before going in to have his evening meal and settle in for the night having learned a little more, stress free.