Should we let foals back up to us for a scratch?

Should we let foals back up to us for a scratch?

One of the most frustrating problems that I see with young horses that have not been started under halter or poorly started is that of an inability to yield the hind end or an inability to learn to yield the hind end easily.

Many times this is a result of the only prior contact being scratches on the rump or bum by well- meaning owners or people who have access to the foal. Often the only place they can touch a more sensitive one or one that has not been taught to be caught and face up is on the bum while it is having a drink from its mother. This is not ideal and very quickly becomes a habit that the foal is comfortable with or even enjoys. This creates a few problems for anyone who is going to halter train the foal later.

1: To be taught to be caught a horse must learn to face you and accept the halter going on. It’s hard to do when the horse is continually trying to turn its backside toward you.

2: One of the first things a horse or foal should learn when starting under halter is to yield its hind end. Hind end control is what gives us the ability to teach the foal to stay with us and not run off, to steer in hand if you like, and to soften its body and to relax. It’s very hard to teach this to something that is continually trying to turn its rear to you.

3: Foals that stiffen and turn their backside to you are the ones most likely to rear and flip themselves over during the halter training process. This is dangerous for the handler and extremely dangerous for the foal. As much as you may try to avoid this it is much more likely to occur with a youngster that thinks it is ok to turn its bum to you.

4: If a foal who thinks turning its bum to you is ok grows up before proper handling and rectification of this it can be used as an evasion. It’s only a matter of time before they test a kick out to avoid other handling even if they are quiet when doing what they are comfortable with. A horse that kicks with its back legs even a young one has the ability to kill you.

Whilst most people that do this do it with good intentions and some even get away with it without any adverse problems they are ignorant of the potential hardship they are causing the horse and the handler later. It might be cute when they are little but do you think it is fair to teach a horse anything that must be untaught later? It is not harmless and it’s confusing and dangerous later on. Not turning their hind end to you is one of the first and most basic training concepts a horse must learn.

Try to not teach a young horse anything is ok that is not ok as an older horse.