Tips for Halter Training Foals

Have a foal due this spring? Congratulations! Theres nothing quite like an equine youngster to add happiness fun and a dash of cuteness to your barn. But along with the excitement comes a big responsibilitya young foals early training during this critical time is up to you and its important to make these first simple lessons calm and beneficial.
Whats the first step on the road to being a big horse? Halter training the foal. Sure its true that many foals are happy to just follow their dams everywhere but allowing your foal to do this for too long doesnt teach him anything for the future. For his sake and yours halter training your foal is a mustdo task. Here are a few tips that can help you successfully complete this important step.

Dont wait too long to halter train your foal
This first tip may seem obvious but its well worth noting. The time to teach your young horse to lead is when hes small easy to handle and isnt already set in his ways although some foals seem to have opinions from day one! Waiting until hes several months oldor worse waiting until hes a yearling or twoyearoldwill turn this normally simple 

training job into a difficult project as your foal will weigh a lot more and be much stronger. Another added bonus to halter breaking your foal while hes young is that hell generally want to follow along with mom and you can use this tendency to your advantage.
Work with your foal every day
Your foal wont learn much if lessons are spaced far apart. A small amount of work each day or as close to daily as possible is key to turning him into a model citizen on the lead rope. These lessons dont need to beand shouldnt belong or
complicated. Simple tasks like taking him and his dam from the barn to the pasture and back can serve as excellent learning to lead lessons. Ten or fifteen minutes of daily practice should be all you really need.