Conference noted::equitation

    Instead of using a hose, I think you should have used a bucket of hot
    water and a sponge to give him a bath.  It seems to me that he's very
    afraid of the water, and after having fallen over backwards you may
    have made him afraid of the hose for life!!  Just like a puppy or
    any other animal they remember traumatic events from their young
    years.  He's just a baby, let him be a baby at least until he's weaned
    from his mother, then you can start working with him.  When I raised
    my foal, she wore a halter, picked up her feet and learned to lead 
    before she was 6 months old and that's it, I didn't expect anymore
    from her.  She also learned manners, that it isn't nice to bite or
    kick.  When she was weaned, she was turned out with my friends colt
    and we worked the 2 together on leading, standing, feet, walking away
    from each other, backing up etc.  I'd hate to see you try to do too
    much with him too soon and end up with a horse you really don't like
    because he hasn't been treated properly.  Good luck though, they really
    are a lot of fun.

    Ayn,
    
    This is a new experience for the colt and it is quite normal.
    He does not know what it is and when they do not know something,
    their normal instinct is to fear it. This is what keeps them
    ahead of the predators in the wild, the instinct for survival.
    
    Since he does not know what it is, you need to be compasionate
    and understanding with him. I suggest that you DO NOT discipline
    him for something that he is AFRAID OF. Discipline for bad 
    behavior is another topic. For example: if a human child screams
    and throws a fit the first time introduced to the ocean, the father
    doesn't spank her for it does he? No, he reassures her that it is
    ok, and that he will protect her.
    
     Your foal is simply afraid. Let him get used to the hose. Ignore his 
    antics and talk soothingly as you  spray him. Do not use a hose with a 
    nosle at first, you should just have a "quiet" stream of water. The loud 
    pressure spray will only scare him. Of course, you don't want to let him 
    get away with striking/kicking at you specifically, so discipline only if 
    he is taking it out on you personally.
    
    My filly a 6 mos, clips, ties, trailers, bathes, leads, lunges (at
    walk only). I am a first time foal owner, but repetition is the
    best teacher. Repeat it over and over and over until it de-sensitises 
    him.
    
    Of course this is only my humble opinion.
    

    I have to agree with Tina (.2).  I introduced my colt to water slowly.
    Like instead of a complete bath, I hosed his feet (lightly), then next
    time I did his chest.  Sure he bounced around a lot, but foals do that.
    He saw that mom enjoyed it so he was very interested in figuring out
    what that stuff was.  With the hose spraying a light mist he would
    examine it with his mouth...now he drinks from it just like his mom.
    
    Is the colt tied, and where is the mom?  I cross tied mom on the wash
    rack, and bathed/hosed her and then would work with him.  He didn't
    balk too much becasue mom was there, and he knew how to tie.
    
    Remember when introducing anything new to your colt, do it quietly,
    gently, and softly as possible.  Speak in a calming voice, but 
    maintain confidence in yourself.  If you get nervous, he'll get nervous.
    
    Most of all.....Have fun!
    

    p.s.
    
    Are you using warm or cold water?  Cold water may be uncomfortable to
    him.

    The reason I am giving my foal a bath so young is because he is
    in a Breeders Line Class on August 27th, my intention was to give
    him a couple of baths before to get him used to it and to help get
    rid of his foal coat.
    
    I might have jumped ahead of myself by saying that I disciplined
    him for his actions, but what I meant was that when he tried to
    "kick" me...I told him "NO" and gave him a smack on the back-end,
    or when he reared up in front of me I pulled him back down and said
    "NO", in the beginning though I spoke very, very softly, I consoled
    him, I talked to him and said "good boy !" etc.  I did not just yell at
    him.     
    
    The mother was right beside him, a friend was holding her.  I was
    holding the foal, I did not want to tie him because I felt that
    this might scare him more since he has never been tied which brings
    another question....when and how do I teach him to "tie" ?
       
    My main concerns were:  1) How will I get him to walk "with" me
                               at this Show, because he just plants
                               his feet and doesn't move..I don't 
                               want him doing this at the show ! How
                               do I teach him to walk with me.
                 
                            2) I have had a horse before, but not a
                               "foal",therefore, I have nothing to 
                               compare his actions to, so it really
                               helps to know whether or not his
                               are normal because I do not know. If
                               everyone says that this jumping around
                               is normal, I feel much better.  If people
                               say that it is not normal, then I try
                               to work on the problem in the best way
                               possible, I just want to know because
                               this "foal" is a very "big" part of
                               my life.
    
    Thank you so far for all of your great advice.  I feel better about
    the situation and I will try to just hose his feet until the day
    before the show when I must give him a "bath" !! I will use warm
    water as you mentioned.
    
    Please give me any advice that you find helpful !  Thank you.
    
    Ayn

    Ayn,
    
    We start introducing our babies to everything right after birth.
    I introduced my baby to the clippers at 3 days, blankets, hoods, etc.
    Every one of them has been wonderful to work around, clip, trim, lead,
    set-up, trailer, good for the vet, etc. etc.  Daily work with the foal is 
    the key.  Don't be afraid to get after him if he is disobedient, they
    are still dangerous.  Take your time with the bathing, try the warm
    water, make a big fuss when he behaves.  We have babies at our barn
    that the owners cushion them from everything and they have badly
    behaved yearlings where mine are winning Showmanship classes as
    yearlings.
    
    Karen  

    .5
    
    Now is the time to teach the colt to tie. There are various 
    techniques:
    
    1) lead him into his stall, stand on the other side of the door.
       Now you must "hide" while still holding the lead so he cannot
       see you. When he has a fit, you will already be holding the lead
       so that he won't injure himself. Now you should "show" yourself
       to him and comfort him.
    
    2) After several sessions of step 1, now he should feel a little
    more "restraint".  You will need a strong tree, telephone poll,
    etc., something that won't break. Lead the colt to the tree with
    a strong lead. DO NOT run a chain over his nose, or under his chin.
    A lead passed through his halter cheek ring and up over his head behind
    his poll and snapped to the other cheek ring will discourage him 
    from rearing because it will put pressure against his poll everytime
    he rears or backs up. Loop the lead around the tree. You will still be 
    holding the other end. Let the colt have a fit if he feels trapped. 
    Give a little slack on the lead if seems to be in trouble. He won't 
    feel so trapped if the lead "gives" a little. 
    
    3) After several sessions of step 2, now is the time he should be
    able to handle being tied. Find a strong tree. etc,. Lead the colt
    to the tree and tie the lead to the tree as high as his chin and 
    give him about 2 feet of slack. Make sure you do a "safety knot"
    only. A safety knot looks like half of a bow. You can pull one
    the end of the lead and the the knot will easily release if the colt 
    is in danger. Some foals get so panicked that they can fataly injure 
    themselves in trying to get away. You want to be able to release him
    quickly. 
    
    4) After several sessions of step 3, now you should be able to 
    follow step 3 and be able to cross-tie him. Use the commercial
    cross-ties and add some baling twine to them, so if the colt
    has a fit the baling twine "will" break so that the foal doesn't
    get hurt. (some people discourage using baling twine because the 
    horse will be encouraged to break it if he doesn't want to be 
    tied anymore, but I'd rather that than a horse that broke it's
    neck and died from this). The commercial cross-ties seldom break 
    and can cause some serious injuries if used alone. I still use the 
    baling twine with my horses that are quiet on cross-ties.
    
    
    good luck,
    Tina

    RE.5
    
    Your colt should already lead willingly, but it is not to
    late to show him this. He is still young and impressionable
    and he looks to you for guidance.
    
    1) start with a lead clipped under his chin and a longer lead
    or lung line clipped to his off side cheek ring. Run the lunge
    line around his side and well over his hocks and around the other
    side to meet you. If you are by yourself, you will hold the small
    lead in your left hand and the long lead in your right hand.
    	Ask him to walk on. If he backs up or siimply doesn't move,
    gently tug on the long lead and urge him forward. Just the feeling
    of the pressure above his hocks will make him want to go forward to
    get away from it. It takes some practice but it is a handy trick.
    Always gather up excess lead so that he does not get caught in it.
    Make sure that you never wrap the excess around your wrist, rather,
    it should be held in a loop.
    
    2) After several sessions with step 1, you can work with a chain
    shank over his nose. You must be strict and compasionate at the 
    same time with this method. Ask him to move forward. If he balks,
    rears, or backs up, a gentle tug on the shank and a loud NO will get
    his attention. He will be suprised by this at first so be prepared! 
    Remember that he is only a baby so do not shank him hard. He will 
    quickly learn that disobedience = discomfort. You will need to work with 
    him for several weeks on this but the end results are awsome!
    
    I agree with .6 that some well trained babies make the adult horses
    look unruly. I have been diligently training my filly every day
    since she was born, she trailers better than most horses I've ever
    owned.
    
    If I remember correctly, you have not had this colt since birth,
    so you will need to instill in him all the training that he should
    have had some time ago. But like I said, he is young and will be 
    fairly easy to train.
    
    Have fun, it is really satisfying once you get through this. You can
    look back and be proud that you trained him to have good manners.
    
    Tina
    

    Just some things I remember from when I had my first baby:  
    I was told to NEVER put the chain under their jaw because if you 
    jerk too hard you could break their jaw.  I as also told to be
    very careful not to jerk to hard with the chain over their nose 
    because you could also do damage that way, so when/if you do start
    working with the chain over his nose just be gentle as -.1 said.
    
    \Caroline

    Ayn-
    
    I would work on teaching him to tie ASAP.  Tina outlined a good safe
    way to do it. 
    
    As far as showing him in a month, I say get out those clippers and body
    clip him.  Especially now, he's still small, and you can probably out
    manuver him.  Do it in two sessions, starting with the legs...as they
    are the hardest!  The critters think the buzzing clippers are flies
    and try to stomp them.  My guy was easy...once he understood that the
    clippers were not flies!  He loves getting his face and body
    clipped.....the humming puts him to sleep.
    
    

    Another thought.....if you have a foal halter....I seriously doubt that 
    you'll find a chain small enough to slip through the halter rings.  I
    think it was my third halter that finally allowed the use of a chain.
    
    One more thought....when showing....a chain over the nose takes away
    from the overall appearance...under the chin is less distracting. 
    (But if you really *need* it over the nose....use it)
    
    Keep us posted w/ your development......I'm jealous.....as this is my
    first year in many that I have not had a foal to work with....but come
    March....... :^)

    I don't think I need the chain.  He is leading now after being
    persistent, he doen's trot immediately but he is trying to listen.
    Thanks !  I tried your advice !
    
    Are you suggesting that I clip off all of his foal coat ?  Is this
    allowed for the show ?  I didn't even think of that !  His foal
    coat is thick and is a light chestnut and his new coat is a dark
    liver chestnut so he looks funny but if I clipped off his foal coat
    or body clipped him, he would be all one color !
    

    Here in Massachusetts, for Paint/Pinto/QH or even schooling shows, I
    personally would body clip the foals coat.  It looks better than the
    scruffy foal's coat.  My friend has a chestnut morgan whos foal and 
    winter coat were scruffy and very light in color.....she body clipped
    him, and he's got a nice even dark chestnut coat.....he looks great!
    
    However for Fjord.....I'm not sure what the judges would look for
    (and I'm very conscious to do what the breed standard dictates)
    for showing weanlings.  My preference would be to body clip them, 
    but the breed standard may prefer the foal not clipped.  The breed
    standard calls for minimal clipping of the adult horse anyway, and they
    prefer wiskers, hair in the ears vs. the clean shaven QH look.  

    What is a "Breed Standard"...where do you find this information?
    Is it in books ? or would I have to call the Canadian Equestrian
    Federation ?
    
    I have him registered as a "Canadian Sport Horse", he is a
    Thoroghbred/Hanovarian cross.
    
    He would look great clipped though.  How soon before the show should
    I clip him if I do it !  I have never clipped before.  Do you have
    to be a pro or can I attempt it myself ?
    
    Thanks for your help !!
    Ayn