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  Discussion on Halter fitting problem with foal
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Member:
Heidim

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 10:37 am:

Hi again. I'm back with a question about working with my first foal. He's doing well in all areas (touching all over, picking up feet, nipping is getting better). Now, I'm ready to teach him to lead, based on all the good information on this Web site, but I have a problem that is keeping me from proceeding. I simply can't find a halter that stays in place on his head. I've tried six different ones, and the top strap keeps sliding down his neck and almost to his withers. Not only does it look awkward, but it makes him tuck his chin unnaturally and probably uncomfortabley. Tightening the top strap didn't help. Yesterday, I attached the strap to the nose piece with a strip of vet wrap, which worked to keep the top strap in place, but I could tell the foal was annoyed with the vet wrap running down his face. Then, again maybe he just kept shaking his head to get rid of the whole halter. Any feedback is appreciated.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 11:10 am:

I'm surprised you can't find a foal halter at your feed/tack store. I know most of the catalogues have them, they even have them in blue and pink! However, you'd have to wait a bit for it to arrive unless shipped express mail or FedEx. Stateline Tack and Schneider's both have them pretty inexpensively. They are also both online. Schneiders is www.SSTack.com and I think Stateline is www.stateline.com or maybe it's www.statelinetack.com. (I don't have their catalogue handy to be sure.)

Until you find one, I'd think you'd be able to make one out of either soft rope or soft cotton banding like you would find in a sewing supply store. Just pick up some metal rings, like curtain pulls, and some cotton sewing tape or small soft rope and tie it into the rings forming a halter. Where it goes over the back of the head, pull it through the ring that's high on the cheek and tie it in a "hitch" know like they use on the one piece adjustable rope halters. You can probably find a picture in a cataloge. You just want a know that you can undo easliy. At this point you just want something that gets the foal used to having something on it's head. You don't really put much pressure on the halter at this point so it doesn't have to be real heavy at first.
Member:
Heidim

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 11:24 am:

Hi Sara. The foal is half Arabian, and so the shape of his neck may be causing the problem. The distance to the top of his head is the same as the distance to the bottom of his neck, and so gravity prevails. I can use the homemade halter, as you suggested, but I will be teaching him to lead soon and the information on this Web site suggests I run a chain through the halter rings. I'd need something sturdier to do that. Maybe I should just wait until he is bigger to teach him to lead. It just seems like now is a good time as the mare is fairly comfortable with me working with the foal, and he is getting more independent by the day.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 12:02 pm:

By all means be working with him on leading at this age; however, imo you don't put pressure on a foal's neck or head when they are so young. What we do is use the halter and a soft cotten lead. Attach the lead to the halter, leaving enough length DrOoping for your hand to hold onto, then loop the rest of the lead around the foal's rump. Some people make a figure 8 over the back and around the rump. Then you bring the lead back up to under the halter.

You start with getting the foal to go forward a few steps at a time. If you head towards the dam at first it is often easier. Put most of the pressure on the rump, and just enough on the head so the foal can feel it. Use lots of pets and praise if the foal goes forward in the right direction. You may have to work a little laying the rope over the foal so the foal feels comfortable with a rope all over him first.

We use ths method until the foal is several months old as I have a total paranoiah about hurting a young foal's neck, which I think will cause problems later on. FYI, we raise Egyptian Arabians, but I've seen this method used on lots of youngsters of various breeds.

There are some excellent books out by people like John Lyons and other big names that are really helpful in working with a foal and young horse. Might be worth picking one up if you don't already have one.
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 12:18 pm:

I had a foal with this same halter problem. I just made a browband for the halter with plaited baler twine and electric tape on the advice of a neighbour who is over 70 and has been breeding foals most of her life.

Problem solved as halter strap could not then flop down the back of the neck.

All the best

Imogen (current foal nearly 4 weeks, leading well thanks to the advice received here, as long as you don't count the bucking! I think Irish foals just don't like butt ropes...)
Member:
Heidim

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 7:16 pm:

Sara, thanks for the tips and the caution. I plan to follow the advice on this Web site under "Halter Training and Tying Horses." It says how to halter train with some control and yet without putting pressure on the foal's head and neck. I have John Lyon's book and also one by Monica Hermann, who is a recognized mule trainer and a student of John's. I'm using what I see best working with this particular foal (nicknamed "Stinker"), just as I use different parenting techniques to get through to my two kids. I'm too paranoid to rush the foal's training and so your "few steps at a time" sound awfully good to me!

Imogen, that's an excellent tip! A browband would be more comfortable and also prepare him to wear a bridle (much father) down the road. Sounds like things are going well with your foal. Good luck to you!
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2005 - 7:42 pm:

Sounds like your well on your way to having a great little horse. "Stinker??" You should call it "Sweetie Pie" or something for positive thoughts! Of course, I still refer to one of our stallions as "Turkey!"
Member:
Heidim

Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 10:08 am:

Thought I'd get back and share how things went. I used vet wrap (next best thing to duct tape) to create a soft browband for the halter, and it worked just great. Stink...um...er...Coyote didn't even shake his head. I led him in the stall for the first time this morning. It went very well. I'm going to do that a few more times before attempting to lead him outside. He gets pretty excited about going out to the pasture, so I figure it would be best to have a little "in-stall" ground work done on him first. Thanks again for all the tips.
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