Halter breaking a foal

[shorty]

Hi. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to halter break a 5 month old foal. I've halter broke older horses and didn't have any problems, but I don't want to scare this one. I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thanks

[Elana55]

Assuming the foal is weaned, you can first put him in a pen or stall. Spend time with him so that he is not afraid of you. If he is really afraid ('wild') then work with him several times a day. Bring him water and food and stay with him while he eats. Take the food and water with you when you leave. In a very short time the foal will associate you with good things like feed and water. You do have to go out several times a day if you do this. If you cannot, then leave water with him and course hay but stay with him while he eats his grain and the better hay.

Once you have gained his trust you can start to touch him. When he accepts your touch (I start by scratchin his mane just above the withers) you can introduce the halter. Let him sniff the halter and touch him all over with it until he accepts it. This may take more than one session.

Once he is bored by the halter try putting it on. If you have done the basics right (he lets you touch him all over and brush him etc. and he is not afraid of the halter) they putting it on is usually pretty anti climactic.

when he is used to wearing the halter and having it put on and taken off, start with leading. I use a rump rope and start in a small space. You will ahve to introduce the rope the same way you introduced the halter.

Time and patience will get you to a point where you can lead him.

You will, at some point, need to teach him to stand tied. There are many ways to teach this, but the first thing is haltering and leading.