We introduced the babies to ponying from the Ranger, steep banks
and the river. Merida
loved the water and even went swimming.
Little
Gambler went because he goes where she goes. I don't know
which was more fun - watching them swim or watching them walk and
shake beside us. (August 26,2015) |
We
spend countless hours with the foals. The more they are handled
and exposed to before they go under saddle, the easier it seems to
be to teach them. They are more trusting and accepting as adult
horses because of this process.
All time spent is not
equal though. We never spoil them or allow bad behavior, even as
tiny foals - as that can cause them to develop habits that make
them dangerous to their handlers later.
By the time our
foals are grown they have been ponied from other horses, ATVs, and
all manner of vehicles. We expose them to water, even
swimming in the river. We learn to stand tied, bathe, load on
trailers, climb gravel piles and more.
See our videos below
for some of our "preschool adventures." |
