There are so many different horse trainers I've heard say that if you imprint your foal at Day 1, he will be used to grooming, tacking, clipping, etc and will be generally easier to handle. Others say imprinting will ruin the colt, and to let a horse grow up naturally.
My mom imprinted her mustang/appaloosa filly at Day 1. We can now lead her with ease, groom her, and bathe her at seven months old. On the other hand, a friend of ours imprinted a filly at Day 1, and she runs over you during leading, won't groom (fly spray & picking up hooves), and certainly won't clip. She's even kicked out at her owner more than once. My personal opinion is that imprinting doesn't do much to the foal, and that you should spend that time for bonding. The way you handle them and their personality will determine how they grow up to be (our friend is very timid) but thats just from my experience
What are your opinions on imprinting?
2006-12-10 08:35:14 · 11 answers · asked by yayme616 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It works well, if done the right way, and followed up appropriately. You cannot forget that desensitising them can backfire in the way that they are not respectful of anything, including you and your personal space. Horses are like children- they need boundaries, they need to learn that no, they shouldn't be afraid of people, but they need to see us as leaders and their parents, and that bad behaviour will not be tolerated. The foal won't know it's doing something unnacceptable, until you say so. It's not a bratty foal- it's having a spineless leader- the foal thinks "well, you don't lead very well- I'll do what I want". Little does the foal or the owner realise, when that foal grows up to be half a tonne in weight, that kind of behaviour is going to end that horse in the glue factory.
Foal imprinting was only one small factor in the whole pic as to why the foal is the way she is. Foal imprinting does not solve all an owners problems- it just stops them from being scared of you. Your timid friend had better get some help quick smart if she wants a future with this filly. In my eyes it's irresponsible ownership to have a horse that is disrespectful, foal or adult. I'm not talking uneducated, I'm talking about agressive behaviour towards people. It's the owners responsibility to solve the issue as quickly and painlessly as possible
2006-12-10 13:06:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that horses have to be horses. I consider that many folks attempt to lead them to extra human than they're. I have obvious newborns imprinted mildly without a poor penalties. Imprinting used to be firstly intended to only provide the foal a style of it is new international. Now it kind of feels that imprinting is a strategy to make your horse a puppy (a lovely puppy that follows you far and wide the position). All the horses I paintings are off the monitor and so none are imprinted, so I am now not definite how a lot imprinting influences efficiency. I bet I see each part. Too each and every his possess I feel.
2016-09-03 08:51:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have done both. It is important to set boundries for the foal or you have a bratty, noncontrolable foal. Our mares kept there foals in there place. Since our mares had all been around us and were so used to having us groom, being totaly doing something around there pens.We always groomed the foals when we groomed the mothers. leading became easy as they were lead with there moms, by the time they were weaned they were easy to handle, but they always had limits. We let the mothers do the playing with them so they knew. We weren't horse buddies. Rembering they are going to be alot bigger than you are should be something to think about. All animals need to know that they have limits.
2006-12-13 05:11:54 · answer #3 · answered by patricia.wiles@sbcglobal.net 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think forming the bond is important but the foal and mare should have the first day to themselves and imprinting should rather start on Day2.
2006-12-11 05:30:06 · answer #4 · answered by Horse crazy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each and everyone of our foals have constant human bonding. Our mares are so use to us being around that shortly after birth we begin our bonding. To me this assures that your foal will be use to you and others. In which builds respect between the horse and human. My opinion is get your hands all over that precious new baby and enjoy!!!!!!! I can't wait until our babies arrive!
2006-12-10 09:01:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have done both, and always had better luck without doing the imprinting. My imprinted colt always thougjht that I was his "buddy" to knock around and play rough with. The colts I did not imprint, but instead handled them daily and slowly taught them what was expected in their manners have all been awesome colts to work around.
2006-12-10 10:58:50 · answer #6 · answered by Paint Pony 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see any harm handling the foal as soon as the Mom lets you. The sooner the foal is use to people the easier it should be to raise. But then if the horse is going to be stubborn, it's going to be stubborn....
2006-12-10 08:47:24 · answer #7 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Imprinting can be very beneficial to the horse/human relationship. However, techniques and frequency should be adjusted to the tempermant of the horse.
2006-12-12 16:34:57 · answer #8 · answered by carriebhe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's very important, horses that are imprited are calmer, and accept new more easily. and it teaches them to trust humans. it's very important.
2006-12-10 10:36:06 · answer #9 · answered by hailey718 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
raise naturally. the way god intended.
2006-12-10 08:45:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋