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Initial Handling of New Colt
Within the first three days after the
colt is born, put a halter on the colt. |
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1. |
Have someone lead the mare,
with the colt following, into a stall. |
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2. |
Back the mare into the
corner of the stall – right up to the wall. |
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3. |
The colt will run to the
corner and try to get around the mare, but cannot. |
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4. |
Ease up on the colt – I
usually walk right up behind the colt, and with my legs spread
a little, I reach up with one hand on either side of the baby
and get it by the chest. Its back-end is against my body, my
legs are spread so if the colt were to kick, it would miss me.
I’ve never had one try to kick yet. |
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5. |
Now you have the colt with
your hands around the chest – have your helper hand you the
baby halter, but keep the mare pressed up against the corner
of the stall. |
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6. |
Slip the halter onto the
baby. |
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7. |
Have your helper hand you a
long, soft lead rope, – he should give you the snap in your
hand, which you will snap onto the halter. |
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8. |
Then you run your hand down
the rope, around the right side of the colt, wrap it around
the colt’s backend and then back up to the halter. |
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9. |
Then you take your left hand
and hold the two ends of the rope just under the snap by the
halter. |
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10. |
Your right hand will be
placed at the base of the neck of the colt – right where the
mane ends at the withers. |
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11. |
Now you are ready to lead
the mare forward. |
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12. |
Note: you can use this
method of catching the colt the next several times. The colt
will grow quickly, so you will eventually have the mare backed
into the corner and you will ease up to the side of the colt,
instead of from behind, put your arm across the neck of the
baby and catch it that way – slipping the halter on, and then
running rope behind the rump of the colt. |
| NOTES: |
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT
YOU HAVE THE ROPE WRAPPED AROUND THE RUMP OF THE COLT WHEN YOU
FIRST TEACH IT TO LEAD. THE NATURAL INCLINATION OF ALMOST
EVERY COLT IS TO GO BACKWARDS. THE ROPE BEHIND THE RUMP STOPS
THAT. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ROPE BEHIND THE RUMP, THE COLT
CAN REAR UP AND FALL OVER BACKWARDS WITH THE POSSIBLE OUTCOME
OF A BROKEN NECK. THERE IS NO NEED TO TAKE THAT CHANCE. |
