Caring for Mares & Foals

Lesson 7: Imprinting

Procedure

Imprinting is done on the day of birth, shortly after the foal is born. Of course you want to see that the mare and foal bond first and that the foal is doing well physically. Therefore we usually wait until after the initial feeding and the foal is lying down again resting. Others will help towel dry the foal and begin handling it from the moment of birth.

As you begin the imprinting process it is important that the foal NOT be able to pull away and escape your constraint. Remember whatever he/she learns will be learned for life, both the good you are attempting to teach and any bad habits you allow to begin. The easiest way to immobilize the foal is one arm around its chest and one arm around its buttocks. Once you’ve held the foal, wait until it calms before proceeding with the next step. Do this before any new stimulus is introduced.

Begin by massaging all over the body. We start with the neck and shoulders, as these areas seem to be the least sensitive. Then we move to the head and work our way down the face. The two areas that are particularly sensitive are the muzzle and the ears. When you reach the muzzle, insert your finger first in one nostril and then the other repeatedly, until the foal relaxes. Do the same with the mouth. You can tell when it relaxes as muscles lose their tenseness and respiration decreases. Cover the eyes alternately several times.

When caressing the ears, begin first with the outside and stroke them. Then insert your finger a little at a time. Finally go as far as to turn the inside out. Pay close attention to the area directly behind the ears, where the bridle or halter will rest.

After you’ve finished with the head area, return to the body and begin working your way down the legs. As you are doing the body include also the belly and genital area. You should practice picking up the feet, but help the foal keep balanced. You can tap on the bottom of the feet to simulate getting shod. Make sure you do these exercises from both sides of the body. It's a strange thing but a horse learns with the two sides of its brain separately. They are not able to transfer learning from one side to the other, but must learn each lesson twice, once for each side.

The desensitization process requires the use of a spray water bottle to simulate fly spray and spray medication, and a clipper or vacuum to accustom the foal to the noise and vibrations of such machines. (If you use clippers, the vacuum will not be a problem.) Hold the clippers next to the foal’s shoulder and neck, then move to the ears and muzzle. Basically, repeat the process you did with your hands with other objects such as clippers, newspapers, plastic bags, blow dryer, etc.

Finally, the last stage is to teach the foal to move away from pressure. While maintaining control, apply pressure to the side of the haunches and get the foal to step away; apply pressure to the chest to get them to step back. Then release it and repeat this whole process later that day and the next.

Of utmost importance: Throughout the whole procedure remain calm and speak in a soothing voice. If you can’t do this without losing your temper, raising your voice, or striking the foal-don’t do it at all. There is the potential for more damage doing it incorrectly than doing nothing.

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