A Selection of Articles from Recent Issues of Welsh Breeds News

• WORMING ADVICE FOR AUTUMN
• Hay Shortage? Spillers' Advice.
• From The Chairman, and Show Secretary SEWPCA
• Laminitis can kill - warns the Blue Cross
• EMWPCA SHOW - Sec A Results. 25th April 2010
• Scurry driver sings praises of SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF®
• Correction Re: Midlands WPCA Foal Show 2009 report in Issue 74.
• Abandoned pony highlights importance of identification
• Be safe and save money with SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF®
• Blue Cross Appeal for homes for lead rein ponies
• Gwynedd Welsh Pony & Cob Breeders Association Results
• DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
• KEEPING YOUR HORSES SAFE IN WINTER. Advice from the Blue Cross.
• Blue Cross FAT HORSE SLIM Campaign.
• SEWPCA 2009 WPCS BRONZE MEDAL SUMMER SHOW RESULTS.
• FAYRE OAKS SALE 2009
• PHOTOGRAPHS
• Gwynedd Welsh Pony & Cob Breeders Association Show Results 25-5-09
• WPCS Spring Sale Prices, 9th May 2009.
• We'd love to hear from you!
• A lovely Poem
• SPILLERS® help reduce the risk of laminitis
• Royal Welsh Cob Sale October 2008 Prices
• FAYRE OAKS SALE PRICES 2008
• Notts/Derby Charity Bonanza Results 29-12-2008
• HAY SALE RESULTS 4th & 5th OCTOBER 2008
• IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!
• Hay Horse and Pony Show Results 27th July 2008. Report and photographs in Issue 66, out in October.
• Lampeter Stallion Show Results 2008. Report and Photographs in Issue 64 of Welsh Breeds News.
• Feet V Fashion
• Feeding Foals
• Ups and Downs at Avonvalley and Beyond
• Diabetes in Horses
• Equine Parasite Control
• Grass Sickness by Rachael Conwell BVetMed CertEM MRCVS
• An Avoidable Tragedy by Jane Lane
• Foal Handling: A feature by John Jones, Horse Listener

Foal Handling: A feature by John Jones, Horse Listener

This is the best opportunity for your foal to learn to trust humans.

At this early age their learning capabilities are very high - within the first few hours of being born the foal has to learn to stand, suckle and run. As the foal is at the top of the predator's food chain he is full of strong survival instincts.

Although man is naturally a predator it is important that the foal learns we are not a threat and therefore mean him no harm.

The main aim is for the foal to accept a halter, learn to lead, allow his feet to be handled and to be touched all over.

• A figure of eight rope can be used when first teaching the foal to be led with a halter. The figure of eight rope passes round the foal's chest, crosses over his back and loops around his hindquarters. The rope is held in the centre of the foal's back and can be held with one hand allowing the other hand free to guide the foal with the halter.
• Give the foal time to think when you are asking him to do things and reward him for his slightest try.
• Keep training sessions short as foals often have a short attention span, and always end on a good note.
• It helps if the mare trusts people, is easy to catch and handle, as the foal will learn a lot from the mother.
• Never hit your foal, as your hand is your main tool for rewarding him. Be aware that horses are highly sensitive to humans and will often mirror a person's behaviour.
• Hand feeding is not advisable as it can encourage biting.
• Be careful about playing with your foal as although your foal may be very cute (!) over handling will cause the foal to become humanised and dangerous, for example I have come across horses which have been played with and over handled with games like pinch and bite - Well you can imagine what happened when the foal grew into a 17hh biting and barging horse!
• Ideally the foal should be able to play with other foals as it would naturally in the wild.
• These points may seem obvious, but it is the responsibility of the owner to educate the foal about people and how he should act. At a young age they can learn very quickly and can be taught the wrong thing just as easily as the right.

I am sure that WBN readers are fully aware of these facts but I have found many of the problem horses that come to the yard have problems that started from poor handling as youngsters.

If foals are correctly handled from an early age it improves their chances of becoming well-balanced horses or ponies.