Horse Medical Supplies: Wormers and Supplements on eBay

Foal Training Explained: The First Two Years
Mare owners, if you'd like to get your colt or filly started out with a proper foundation, I would suggest the investment of $5.99 in my foal-training course.

 

- Download and print from your home computer
- 5 days, 5 chapters
- Learn at your own pace

 

Now let's consciously desensitize the horse to being touched by something on the opposite side from which we're standing. He sees us on his left side, for instance, and expects to be touched there – but dropping our arm across to his right side and unexpectedly brushing him could cause him to jump away from our hand and right over us. Don't become a statistic, as they say, so pay attention here. Stand slightly to the side at his shoulder and throw the lead rope across his back, focusing on the pressure caused on his "off side" as you draw the rope back. Pitch the lead repeatedly back and forth across his withers at various lengths. Pat or rub the horse down along the side on which you're standing, down along where a cinch would fit then reach under his belly with another whip (broom handle, etc.) to snag and pull the lead rope back to you (under his belly) so that it now wraps completely around his barrel. Alternately tighten and loosen the rope, accustoming him to being touched through all of his 360 degrees. (This also accustoms him to the feel of the cinch.) Saw the rope, bringing it to the front and back of the horse until he's comfortable with that. You can and should do something similar between both front and back legs as well.