Halter-breaking foal

Question
QUESTION: Hi
My foal is six weeks old, was a bit unexpected and unplanned, so I wasn't really mentally prepared for this.
She was very friendly and would run to us as soon we entered the camp.  The last couple of days, she doesn't want us to touch her or come close to her.  It looks as if she is scared.
I had the butt-rope around her a couple of times and even a halter twice, but now we are not allowed to touch her and she keeps on hiding behind her mother.
We are not trainers or breeders.  I can ride quite well, but has never before needed to train a horse.
How and where do we start now?  It feels as if we have to start all over again and if she doesn't even like us anymore!  It is only my husband and me who ever approach or touch her.
I really hope you can help....
Thanks!

ANSWER: Adre,

Well, sounds like maybe she's had a scare - possibly someone else coming in when you weren't there?  Anyhow, you will have to start over again with her and she's old enough now to learn to lead.  Get some treats, lots of them, and put her and mom in a small pen so she doesn't have too far to go.  Take a bucket or something in to sit on, and let mom come over and give her some treats.  This will encourage baby to come and get some too.  May take a little while but the youngsters are naturally curious and will start coming up.  Treats will make you a good person in her eyes and she'll start looking for them from you.  Be sure to establish ground rules when you use them - no nipping, pushing, demanding - you get the picture.  After a couple I insist they let me pet them before they get another one.  Once she comes around then you can start again with handling her in small steps with rewards each time.  Treats buy a lot of cooperation!  

Show her the halter once she's coming up and let her smell it, rub it on her, hold it in front of her head and encourage her to put her head in it.  Get her to work with you, don't force her.  These early lessons are very important because they pave the way for later training and if the horse learns early that doing things you ask mean rewards they work happily for them.  When she does put her head in the halter don't try right away to put it all the way on the first time.  Get her to put her head in it a couple of times before you put it all the way on.  Make sure you've gotten her accustomed to having her head petted and rubbed all over, especially her ears and behind them, before you do this so she won't be scared.  Put it on and off a couple of times the first day then reward her and quit.  The next day leave it on a little longer and give her some good scratching, especially on her back and hindquarters.  I haven't seen a youngster that doesn't appreciate a good butt scratching!  Then progress to grooming her.  At some point, and you have to judge when it's time, you can put a lead rope on her and correct her when she moves when you are grooming her.  Try not to get into an argument with her, if she wants to run off let her go, she'll be back for more treats.  Once she's accustomed to the lead rope then you can start teaching her to lead.  Use the butt rope but make sure that you are tugging gently on the lead as well as encouraging her with the butt rope so that she learns to yield to the poll pressure, not the butt rope.  It took my youngster about a half hour to figure it out the first day.  

She's still a baby so keep the training sessions short, spend time with her and mom.  Groom mom while the baby is around to observe and learn from mom.  Mom can be a big help when training the baby.  I use the mare as the demo subject so the youngsters learn from observing.  Just be patient and let her think things through, don't try to rush her.  Let her figure out that something isn't really scary or hurtful.  Some take longer than others to come around but they all do with patience and gentle handling.  

Good luck, keep me posted on how she comes along.

Lyn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much!  I'll be in touch...

What kind of treats can I use as the mother doesn't like apples or sugar.  Foal likes sugar, but after the second time, she doesn't come back for more.  Can I try to give them bread (heard somebody said it's not good for them...) What else can I try?

Thanks again, looking forward to our training session tomorrow!

Answer
Adre,

I use horse treats that I buy at the feed store.  There are a variety out there - molasses, apple and oat, peppermint, butterscotch - they come in various sizes so get some small bags of different flavors and figure out which ones they like best.  The treats are essentially a flavored feed in large pellet form so horses that don't care for the fruits or veggies will usually accept these.  Sugar I reserve for very special occasions because it's really not any better for baby horses than baby humans.  

You can also try carrots, raisins, grapes but the commercial treats don't spoil and you can easily carry a pocketful around with you.  I never leave the house without stuffing my pockets for treats when I go out to my paddocks.  My guys will mug anyone who comes out there for treats so pretty much everyone who comes here knows to get a handful of treats before they go out!  

Lyn