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E-Newsletter April 16, 2010

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Sandra cradles Verona

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News from Carolyn Rose at Isaac Royal Farm
It is spring and mares are foaling and my book on foaling, written first, is being added to with more details and stories, so I thought I would send you blogs from the book. I hope they will be informative and helpful in the new foaling season.

Foal Imprinting Series by Carolyn Sharpe Rose

#1: the Aspirant Technique
There are many theories about imprinting a foal. Some of them are harsh and invasive.   Perhaps you are familiar with some of those methods. You will find this technique to be quite the opposite. It is our belief that the foal's introduction into our world should be as pleasant and as peaceful as can be. You want a partnership of love and respect as the foundation of her imprinting. This technique has been tested over a long period of time and has produced safe, happy, healthy horse partners. Read More.......

#2: Don't Touch the Nose!
You need to be able to touch the foal all over but do not touch the top of her nose or anywhere around the nose. The top of the foal's nose has very sensitive nerve endings that allow her to feel for the teats and find them. If you touch the top of the nose, the foal reacts with a bumping reflex up and down which will interfere with the natural purpose of the fragile nerve endings. The bumping reflex has a purpose, it causes the mare's milk to let down as the foal searches for the teat and bumps against the milk bag. Always be aware of nature's way of interacting between the mare and foal and never interfere. Read More.....

#3: The Iodine & Bonding
The next step before imprinting is to give the mare and foal private time for bonding. It doesn't have to be a long, at least fifteen to thirty minutes. That way the mare and foal learn each other's smell. The mare is instantly in love with her foal and needs time to clean and bond with her. Read More....

#4: How to Move the Foal Around
First, in order to move her around, gently cradle her by putting your arms around her chest and rump as Sandra is doing here with Verona.  Do not hold tight, a firm hold will create resistance and the foal may begin to jump around. In this position, if she gets afraid and rears up, you can easily stay with her and follow her back down. Now the foal can easily be moved around. When you move her here and there, it makes the foal feel you are in charge.  It is best to move her around her mother, this keeps her in a zone where the foal feels safe and she will be less inclined to resist you.    Talk to her in a soft, soothing voice, let her relax, allowing her to feel safe with you as well as with her mother. Read More....

#5: The Foal's First Milk, the Colostrum
Sometimes the foal will go searching in the wrong places but you can assist by cradling her and move her to the area of the teats. (That would qualify for foal imprinting, all handling is imprinting). If she needs extra help to find the teats, once you have brought her to where she needs to be, have someone place their hand on the top of the foal's head, guiding it under the mare while someone on the other side can guide the teat to the foals mouth. The mare is usually dripping milk at this point and the foal will get a taste and smell and start sucking. Read More....

#6: Imprinting Once Over
Begin with rubbing your hands over her body, down her back, over the rump, and to the tail. Talk to her in a soothing voice as you work. Rub her down the shoulders and down each leg, tapping on the bottom of each hoof. Put your hand on her forehead and then feel up and around each of her ears. This is her first imprinting session, a quick once over, to acquaint her with your touch.    When you see her tomorrow, that day will be half her life. You have just laid the ground work for imprinting, which is an on going process. She will need your touch each day for a while. Read More.....

#7: As the Twig is Bent
Someone once said, "As the twig is bent so grows the tree." In the twig of his life it is so easy to spoil his possibilities of a future partnership with you. All handling is foal imprinting; whether the horses introduction to the human world is positive or negative it is imprinted upon him. Once imprinted, it takes work to change and changing negative imprinting can be a long and hard road of rehabilitation. Learning how to properly imprint your foal when he is first introduced to the human world can protect him from much pain and confusion and can give you and him an unequaled bond that will last for his and your lifetime. Read More....

#8: Imprinting the Ears
Rub her ears softly, this will feel good and also desensitize any sensitivity she has about her ears. This is very important   for the safety of working with her later when it's time to put on a halter and bridle. This is all that's needed to avoid having a horse that is head shy. Massaging the ears is very relaxing to the horse, she will often let them flop down and appear to fall asleep. Read More.....

#9: Imprinting the Tail
One of the most important parts of the body to include in your imprinting is the tail, although it is difficult to do while the foal is lying down, so you will want to imprint the tail when she is standing. Start with soft squeezes at the top (dock) of the tail. Squeeze continually, until the foal raises its' tail, which means she is relaxed, happy to have you manipulate her tail, and is over all enjoying your touch. After doing this you will want to squeeze all the way down the bone of the tail. This is especially pleasing to a foal, and for safety reasons, this is the most important part of her body. A horse that has had this kind of imprinting will never be a dangerous kicker. Read More.....

#10: Imprint the Head/Jowls/Private Parts
Imprint the forehead and jowls. Everything in the face and head except the nose and eyes.  Also rub along the length under the belly including the private parts of the colt and teats of the filly in a gentle touch. This prepares the colt for having his sheath cleaned and prepares the filly to have her milk bag and teats checked if she is in foal herself someday. Both the colt and filly will learn to trust your touch on the most sensitive parts of their body. Read More....

#11: Imprinting the Legs & Hooves
Imprinting the legs and hooves can begin the day of your foals birth and is easily done when the foal is lying down resting. In those first hours after birth the foal will spend plenty of time lying down, this gives you the best opportunity to imprint legs and hooves. This will prepare him for being imprinted later in the pasture or where ever you want to do it.   Just rub your hand down the length of each leg a few times and tap the bottom of each hoof with your hand. Read More...

#12: In Conclusion
It has been my experience, that imprinting using The Aspirant Technique, is a kind and non invasive process that creates a foal, happy with the beginning of her life with humans. You become a second parent at this point in your partnership, so much so that she will often lie down and put her head in your lap. Just be careful not to think she is like a dog or cat; even if she likes your lap, she is going to grow up to be very big, so don't make the mistake of trying to play with your foal as if she isn't a horse.   Games must be carefully planned out as part of the training. Later we will outline some games that can safely be played. Read More.....