fully with no human imprinting

Question
QUESTION: Hi there. I am going to be getting a 3 month old paint filly next week. I no this is going to be challenging and a lot of patience but do you have any tips for me as far as getting her to trust and accept me? Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Aimee!

Congratulations on your new horse...but, why are you getting her at just 3 months old?  This is too young.  She should be with the mare for at least another 2 to 3 months.  What is the rush.  She is going to be missing out on so much of her equine education and also needs the nutrition from the mare.  I can tell you from watching other not-so-smart horse people try and wean at 3 months, it will be a disaster.  The mare is NOT ready to give this foal up.  It is too soon for her and too soon for the foal.  If you wait until they are between 5 and 6 months old, they are really eating enough on their own and have almost weaned them selves from the mares milk.  If they have a good creep feeder set up and are on a well balanced ration for babies, great.  At 3 months, they still need the added nutrition the mare offers.  At 6 months old the mare is pretty ready to get rid of her kid and move back to the comfort of the mare pasture, especially if this is not her first foal.  A maiden mare will, for the most part, be a little more attached for longer.  

So, if you can hold out for at least 2 more months, that would be great.  Any caring and experienced mare owner knows that time is so important when it comes to weaning trouble and injury free.  Weaning is the most dangerous time for a mare and her foal.  It is the time when most injuries happen due to forcing and rushing the process.  Please read some of the extensive answers I have written on weaning and how to do it.  They are in my archives.  Also, read about hooking your foal on and becoming a leader the horse can trust.  I also always recommend that new horse owners watch the Ground Work and Colt Starting DVD's and read the Ground Work book by Buck Brannaman.  Buck is my teacher and this is what I do.  Every last bit of this ground work is what you will need to see and understand.  

So, do your homework.  Read and watch the DVD's and please wait for another 2 months to wean your foal.  Give me a shout and let me know how things are going.  I'm a little worried.

Good Luck...Denise

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

QUESTION: Thankyou for your feed back. I am in no rush as I have other horses to care for and work with. I have owned horses all my life but never a weanling. The breeder told me they would be ready next week. I would in no way want to do any thing to put mare or baby in harms way. My concern would be at 6 months with little human interaction. I would be all for waiting a while longer for the filly if breeder is okay with that. The filly will be arriving with another colt she is familiar with also..

Answer
Hi Aimee!

PHEEEWWW!!!  What a load off my mind!  Just WAIT!  The fact that the human has just stayed out of the way is a good thing.  So often the human sees a cute little foal and their response is to cuddle them and fuss with them.  Not good.  A spoiled horse is an awful thing.  It breeds disrespect in a horse.  The last thing you want is a horse that has NO respect for the human.  It is at the core of most all behavior problems and spookey-ness.

You will have the next 25 years to "imprint" this horse.  I do not believe in imprinting foals.  It is the best way to really scare them and cause huge problems.  I have NEVER seen it work out well for the horse.  It is another fad that just needs to go away.  Treat your horse like a horse, not a dog and not a child.  Be kindergarten clear with her, make her life black and white.  Do NOT lavish food treats on her, just rub her like her mother would do.  The mistake people make is to try and turn the horse into a human.  What we need to do is turn ourselves into horses.  The more you know of how to think, feel and react like a horse, the better your communication will be with this filly and the better horse she will grow into.  

So sorry Aimee, but you are NOT off the hook for your homework!  I want you reading and learning.  Then we will both be able to talk here in this forum with some common understanding.  You have a big and wonderful job in front of you.  Do not worry about not spending time with this filly.  Really until she is two, the best thing you can do for her is give her a great pasture to run in, live in and grow and another youngster to do it with.  You do not have to fuss with her every day.  Get her hooking on, following a soft feel (this is leading) a little bit of work with a flag/tarp/slicker and then just let her grow up.  Sometimes the more you do, the worse things get.  Remember, she is a baby.  There are just some things they are not ready to learn.  It is like expecting your kindergartner to read War and Peace, it is just not the right time!  

So, relax, take your time, do your homework, and give me a shout.  You could be starting the best horse of your life.  How wonderful!

Smiles, Denise