I have a six week old foal and a two week old foal. What kind of training can I do with them?

The six week old has had a halter on but hasnt been led around. The two week old was not imprinted at birth and is very shy and will run away form any one who approaches him. Should the training be done in the same area as the mothers or should I lead him around the property away from the mom. Any suggestions? How can I get the two week old to begin to interact with people?I have a six week old foal and a two week old foal. What kind of training can I do with them?
You can start playing with them, picking up their feet, brushing them and just touching them to keep them very gentle.I have a six week old foal and a two week old foal. What kind of training can I do with them?
I imprint all my foals

just keep working and rubbing on the 2 week old.

I worked with mine around there mothers
I have worked with 3 foals in the past. It's a good idea to get a halter on them first. If the two week old doesn't have one, I would get on it. Start out slow with the two week old. It will take time for him to branch out more wiht people. Since he is shy, I would suggest interacting with him everyday and working with him on little things like walking on a leadrope. you could also just go out everyday and catch him and just brush him or feed him some sugar cubes (Yes, you can feed them that, not to many though. They aren't exactly sure what to do with it at first and usually just attempt to eat it but don't actually eat too much.) Try to get people besides you to come and pet him or brush him if you can so he gets used to different people other then you. It's also a good idea to get both foals used ot things they will be experiencing when they get older. Start brushing them as much as you can. Get them used to the different kinds of brushes and work with them on picking up their feet for the hoofpick. Leading them around may sound easy, like in the movies, but every foal I worked with was stubborn and leading wasn't easy. They may seem small and weak, but foals can actually be very strong and resistant. If they don't want to go, you might not be able to make them. This may not be the case with you, but it takes time. They may be difficult at first and resist being lead around. If that's the case, take it slow. Lead each one around individualy near the mother is fine, as they will probably be more comfortable and maybe more willing to move. Start out everyday walking around a little bit. If they reisist, get them to walk a couple steps, then stop that for the day and continue on until they will start walking with ease next to you. It's all going to take time for both foals to become more comfortable and willing.
Before you jump ahead to leading and ';training';, just slow down and spend time with both. Get them used to being touched EVERYWHERE first with you hands then with other objects until you can rub bright blue tarps over them. Also focus on playing with their manes and tails, walking behind them, picking up feet and sticking your fingers in their mouth. Most of this can be done as a game so make sure it's a lot of positive fun that they will both benefit from.



If doing anything, keep them near their mothers - even showing the foal how the mother can let you do something, then do it to the foal. Taking them away from their mother will distress both the mother and foal.



As for the basis of the two week old, stand in the middle of the paddock and crouch down. I'd say lay down, but you never know what the mother will do. Just let it come up and inspect you and just make eye contact, soothe it verbally and when you really notice it relax around you (this may take a few visits/sessions) start by just placing a finger tip to its neck. Just be patient and see how it all goes.



Of course, every poster will probably have a different idea. Try all the ones you like and see what works best for both you and the foal BUT don't just move on to the next one becaues one that you try is taking too long. The foals will learn to trust you and behave when they feel like it. They are yet too young to be punished. Hope it helps and good luck. (:
For the love of god, don't stick your fingers in a babies mouth unless you want it to think that human fingers are a nice, tasty snack. You'll just end up with a pushy, mouthy horse that doesn't know it's boundaries. You can forget the tarp too! Attacking a foal with a bright blue tarp is a veryyyy stupid idea. Your horse generally won't be wrapped head-to-toe in a bright blue tarp, and the chance of the foal getting injured/killed, whether from getting tangled in the tarp, or stuck in a fence/falling into a ditch/flipping over backwards from being attacked by a tarp is so not worth it.



I agree with Ron. Start slow. Make sure you can brush them, and hoofpick them.



After they are very good about this, you can work a LITTLE bit on leading manners. Just a little. Remember, they're babies. You can't expect too much. They should be able to lead without biting/kicking/completely running you over. Anything else is just too much for a foal to deal with.



After you've worked on leading manners, you can start them in a round pen. Again, don't expect much- they should be able to walk, jog, and lope, which they really won't be able to do off of voice commands. As long as they don't run you over, they're golden.



You have to remember that they're babies and just need the time to grow up and mature before they really have to focus on learning. Just like you wouldn't expect a 4 year old to be working in a factory. It's just too much.
the 6 week old: i would keep working with the halter, and teach him how to walk quietly with a lead rope. groom him regularly to get him used to the brushes, and practice picking up his feet. keep him calm, gentle, and happy around people and teach him not to mind being touched all over.



the 2 week old: don't be aggressive when you try to approach him. just hang out with his mother, who i hope trusts you, and show him that she's okay with it and that he should be too. once he's okay with you being near him, you can try stroking him. once he accepts your touch, practice rubbing him all over multiple times a day, and talk to him. make being near you more fun than being away from you. play with him if you can; give him safe things to explore. sometimes dog toys can be incredibly fascinating to a foal. entertain him and be his friend. (this will also give Mommy a chance to rest as well!). once he gets older you can start picking up his feet and working with a halter.



good luck, and you are very lucky to be able to work with foals!



oh, i guess i didn't answer this yet: i would keep the 2 week old with the mother for a while. the 6 week old, you should start out with the mother, and maybe in a few more weeks start gradually moving away. being separated from Mom this early might frighten them, and the mother will probably be agitated with her baby moved away.