Teaching baby to lead

By the time this issue hits your mailbox, many of you will already have new, promising foals on the ground that may turn out to be your next champion performer, stallion or broodmare. And, with the arrival of baby, it’s never too early to start the training process. In fact, the earlier the better for some things like halter breaking and leading. At only a few months old, a baby can weigh 200-plus pounds and pack some power, so the sooner it learns who’s the boss—the better.

That doesn’t necessarily mean imprinting the moment the foal is born. In fact, some experts aren’t all too excited about that process because it can cause later issues in the foal’s ability to identify “mama” or other herd mates amongst other things. As with anything else, it’s wise to do your homework and read up on recent findings with any method.

However, it’s widely accepted that using horses should know how to be haltered and led, and that process can start at a few days or weeks old. Interesting old-school methods included tying babies to donkeys (a method still used by at least one famous ranch), snubbing them to posts until they learned to give, or dragging them behind tractors. Thankfully, horsemanship now offers some alternative ways that prove effective and often less traumatic. Here are some of the more popular in a nutshell version.

1. Introduce the halter.

At even a few hours old, it’s not a bad idea to go out and start getting baby used to you. Scratching the mare while a curious foal makes his way to you usually works well. When things progress to the point you can scratch him without him bolting away, the halter can be slowly introduced and rubbed on him without catching him. When that’s accepted, slowly slide it over his nose but remove it—ideally before he has a chance to startle and learn to escape from it. Remember—less is more. You don’t have to do it all in one day. As he stands and tolerates it little by little, release the pressure by removing the halter. This introduces a concept that will remain constant throughout training.

2. Pull to the side.

Once the baby can be haltered, never stand in front of him and pull straight ahead—this allows him to set his feet, lunge back and learn to resist. Instead, pull to the side to untrack him and get his front and hindquarters to give. He won’t have as much power to the side, and once he gives even a step, release. Again, go slow. One or two steps per session to begin with can be enough. If the foal does spook backwards, go with him, walking toward him until he stops. Babies usually find that scary and will decide not to do it.

3. Use the mare.

Babies can also be taught to lead by following their mamas. Once baby is haltered, have another handler lead the mare and encourage baby to follow. Starting, stopping, turning, et cetera, can all be practiced with the close-by comfort of the mare. Once he’s giving to pressure, gradually the baby can be asked to lead further and further from the mare.

4. Use a butt rope.

If you’re comfortable with a lariat rope, and feel confident enough to use it at the same time—usually in the same hand—as the lead rope, this can be a useful method. Once the baby accepts the halter, he can be encouraged to give to pressure by a using a butt rope. Form a loop and run it over the baby’s hindquarters above his hocks. As you ask him to move with the lead rope, if he refuses, pull slightly on the butt rope until the baby gives to the pressure. Timing is crucial, because you want the baby to associate the butt rope with the cue from the halter rope. Continue until the baby is moving from the lead rope alone. Don’t try this unless you’re handy with a rope as it can turn into a wreck and do more harm than good.

COMPILED BY DOREEN SHUMPERT

Printed in the February 2007 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

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