The Young Horse: From Birth To Backing

Part 1: Birth To 4 Months

- Farryn Day

It is a wonderful time of year – summer is in the air and the foals are on their way – and whilst cuteness overload awaits, a lot of responsibility is about to land on those who have a mare ready to foal. Whatever the reasons for having a foal, it is ultimately our responsibility to equip our young partners to be able to successfully navigate our confusing human world with confidence.

PREPARATION

To give your foal the best start in life, you must consider all of the ‘duties’ that they will be expected to perform later in life. Consider a young child; as a parent, you want your child to do well, and excel. Yet, we all know that we cannot expect a young child to understand grammar or high-level mathematics. First, the child has to learn how to hold their pencil and then form letters; later on, addition and multiplication will feature in the curriculum; and finally, after many years, they are ready to move on to algebra, other languages, and more advanced maths. Let’s compare this to our young horse; before we can ask for high-level movements (algebra), our young partner needs to understand the basics, such as how to control and use their bodies efficiently (the equivalent of holding a pencil).

No matter what discipline your foal is ultimately destined for, the basics are the same, and by equipping your youngster with knowledge and skills, you are giving him the best possible chance at a happy and hassle-free life. Starting the young horse doesn’t happen overnight; it is a process that cannot be rushed or forced. As with children, each young horse must be seen as an individual, with his own strengths and weaknesses – try to remember this before you ask for too much, too soon, from your young partner.

THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF PREGNANCY