"Attack" Foal

[kitcat0601]

Need some advise from horse breeding people. My little colt who is a week old today is turning out to be a mean little booger. Last night when I went in his stall to do some human bonding with him, he pinned those little ears and lunged at me like he wanted to attack me,lol. I know they start getting their little personalities, etc, but my question is how do you handle something like that? He seems to do it more when he is ready to nurse. I dont bother him when he is eating. Do you just ignore the behaviour? His mama is kind of a grouch sometimes. Not to people, but to the imaginary horse in the next stall. She has always done this and im afraid he is picking up on her vibes. Any advise would be very helpful. Txs

[bndranch]

I personally have never had a foal lunge at me normally they are trying to get away and hide LOL. I have had them try to kick me and with that they get a swift slap on the hinney. I personally would not ignore it, I think that would make the problem worse, by the sounds if he is trying to intimidate you. Whatever you do don't back down, and I would personally take that oppertunity to just start loving "harrassing" the foal all over, if he pins his ears give him a firm NO, and then continue to love on him until you have a positive attitude. Don't end your loving with his ears pinned or him trying to get away. But in the same time don't make marathon training sessions either, they are too young to have a very long attention span!

[kitcat0601]

Yeah, he got a little swat on the butt when he did that to me. Then he ran away,lol. I caught him and loved on him and scratched him which he loves. I try to end everything on a good note. I actually did the mare kick and scream noise in the air like the natural horsemanship people say to to with horses trying to intimidate you. Made him stop. I just wondered what to do. Hopefully it doesnt get worse. I want it to end before he weighs 1000lbs. I will try what you said and let you know if it helps. Its scary when something so little already acts like that. I expected some kicking but not that lunging and stuff. Thanks a bunch

[risingrainbow]

I breed for horses with a lot of attitude because it's important to have that presence in the show ring. So I deal with agressive foals a lot. Mine usually just come out that way. It is very important to deal with it right from the beginning. Each time he gets away with it, it will be that much harder to get him to quite.

Sounds like you are on the right track with the natural horsemanship type of thing. Making yourself bigger and confronting the assualt is always good. Just keep in mind that the horse always determines how much pressure that you use. If the foal makes a huge aggressive move like lunging at you, lunge back with as much force. If he makes a more subtle move, then you be more subtle. You want to teach the horse not scare him to death.

Also, many people leave their horses alone to eat. But from personal experience I know that if you control when the horse can eat or foal can nurse, you have a lot more respect from the horse/foal. I always brush my horses, pick their feet etc when they are eating. If I need them to move, they move. Since you say this colt seems to want to charge you when he wants to nurse, I would make it a point to stop him from nursing and brush him, hold him, love on him, move him away from his mother, etc, so you are teaching him that you decide when he eats.

If you think about it, the herd leader is in charge of the food. If there is a shortage of food or water, the herd leader gets it. The other horses watch until the herd leader says they can eat.

Keep in mind just because he is a cute little foal to you, in his mind he is a horse! He is learning where he fits into the pecking order. If you let him believe he has any position over you, he can make your life miserable. People can and have been terrorized by foals. It may look cute but this is a serious manner. I've seen people with 3 year old stallions they raised from foals and every member of the household is in dire fear of the horse they all love. It's a very sad and dangerous situation for the people and the horse. (This particular horse almost killed a groom friend of mine) So if you can't get this under control soon. Seek help from someone knowledgable enough to humanly deal with it.

[kitcat0601]

Thanks for that info. It just started last night and I did what I thought might be the right way to handle it but definatly needed advise. My other horses are great as far as grooming, etc when they are eating. They are not aggressive and very well mannered. My yearling paint that I got at 4 months old had very,very limited handling when I got him and he has realized that Im the leader. He is very good and well mannered. Sure he has his baby moments, but not with people, just his little playfullness. This is my first foal to raise from birth and I want him to have a great start. I can pick up all his feet and touch him anywhere. Yeah, it might look cute as a little guy, but im twice as big as him and its scary when any horse big or small lunges at you like an attack dog. Im not afraid, just cautious as not to get a kick in the shin or somewhere else. Im going to pull him away from mama when he is nursing tonite and do what you suggested. Thanks very much

[risingrainbow]

he's going to be mad at first, so be prepared. but he will learn that if he behaves momma will still be there waiting for him. People forget sometimes, or maybe don't know at all, that a foal can kill a man easily with a well placed kick. They need to learn how to behave with people from day one. The sooner you start, the easier it is for them to understand.

[cher1010]

Wow, I feel for you. I have never foaled a horse or had any idea that a little foal could or would be that aggressive. I wish you the best and please keep us updated on the situation. Be careful. I wonder if any of you have ever heard of a filly acting this way?

[traceyclydeowner]

my natural instinct has always been THINK LIKE A HORSE....establish with eye contact and push baby away..reprimand as a horse would..at this stage of the game the only ground manners baby knows is what mom demonstrates so you have to kinda think like mom..when he exhibits behavior that is unacceptable correct as mom would and that is either bite lovingly or shove him away..and since you must react witin the 3 second rule or they don't understand shove him away..and when he comes back shove him away until you accept him in your space..after a few go rounds of that he should begin to respect your space...i have had to start ground manners a little sooner than i wanted with Belle's foal for that very reason and now he knows the boundaries...not saying that every once in awhile he tries to reestablish his dominance cause thats part of growing but if you stay consistant with the rules he will respond..good luck and stay strong..

[Golden Girl]

Sounds like you have gotten a lot of GOOD advise. Defiantly address the situation NOW! Like you said, you don't need a 1000# problem on your hands. Sounds like you need a halter for him now also. You need to be the dominate mare, but in a loving way, with plenty of positive enforcement. And yes, foals learn from their dams, so NIP this in the bud now! You will thank your self for years to come
GOOD LUCK!

[kitcat0601]

I have haltered him since day one. He accepts it pretty good. Guess I will have to start acting like his grouchy mama and kick the stall down like she tries to do. This morning, I was inside getting ready to go feed, drinking my coffee and for 20 minutes I heard "BANG,BANG,BANG" She is horrible about that. She spilt all the water from the buckets hanging on the wall. At least she is good with the baby. She is also very messy with her business. Im surprised she hasnt pooped or peed on the little guy yet,lol. He was good yesterday when I pet him, we will see what tonite brings. I will keep everyone updated. Hopefully not with any bruises on my shin.

[Golden Girl]

I defiantly feel for you with your mare being messy in the stall. I have a 3 year old colt that is horrible in the stall. I have to strip his stall after an over night stay! agggggggggggg I am gonna tie him up one of these nights and teach him to stand even if it kills him

Anyway, the reason that I suggested haltering your foal is so that you could grab a hold of him. So it is great that you have haltered him from the get go So now use that halter to enforce your authority! Your gonna have to stay on top of his attitude problem especially since his mama is such a ----------

Good Luck

[kitcat0601]

He is actually getting alot better thank God. He will pin his ears once in a while now and doesnt lunge at me anymore. I guess since we have been bonding with him so much he see's us as more authority now instead of a threat to him. Foal's are funny im learning. One day they are running away and the next they want to be your best friend. Im having an awesome time with him. We even took him and mama across the street to see a friend. He lead real well. Im sure mostly he was following his mom, but still did great. I know about the stall stripping thing. She is the piggiest horse I own. My paints are "wall poopers" as I call them. The stick that butt right against the wall and plop,plop into neat little piles. I have to take the feed bucket out of my yearling's stall because he seems to manage a few turds in it,lol.

[Golden Girl]

I am happy to here that things between you and your colt are going so well
Could you share some pictures of your baby? I am one of those people that never get enough of looking at pictures of horses especially foals and how they grow & change. I guess I have a horsey addition

[taylorharpolefarms]

Hey, I know youve already gotten some advice, but.... lol. Omaha was a very aggressive baby too! I couldn't believe it, his mom was so sweet! It just took time, I would carry a small whip with me, and it he ran at me, I would just stand still and if needed give him a small but "i am gonna be your friend" wack. lol. I hope everything is ok. Little Omaha is the sweetest thing ever, once he reliezed that I was his friend.

[kitcat0601]

taylor, ive been dying to put some pics on here but can figure out the aviator thing someone tried to explain to me. Im not sure how to assign a URL to a picture so I can add it. I have the pictures on my computer, and am pretty saavy at computers, but cant figure this one out. Any help?