At three months, your foal should be easy to handle and enjoyable.  Grooming is the best part of this work and will instill a life long partnership.  Simple tasks of cleaning the face are important.

Using a clean towel, wipe gently around the eyes and extremely softly around the nostrils.  Take care to move slowly around the face – moving only from the side and from below the eyes.

Also, use a finger and open the mouth from the side.  This will make acceptance of paste-worming and eventually the bit simpler.  It’s also good to look at the teeth to see if the bite is even.

Foot care is of the utmost importance to your foal’s correct growth. It is the one opportunity you have before joints become closed.  Your farrier should trim your foal as often as you trim the dam and if there is corrective trimming to be done, it may be necessary to do it on a three week schedule.

The corrective trimming may only involve a slight rasping of the inside, or outside, to correct a deviation in straightness.  This can go a long way to making a difference in the final growth outcome.

Touch is your best training at this point.  Make sure you can touch your foal gently around the ears and even rub them a bit with you fingers.  This is something foals recognize as soothing and can be a calming aid later in breaking.

Also, lift your foal’s tail.  It should be soft and relaxed. If there is tension in the tail, just wait and gently hold, until the foal’s tail relaxes.  This is a good exercise in relaxation and a good indication of the foal’s temperament.

Leading should be nicely advanced at this point and it should be easier to connect with your foal with body language.

Consistency is the key to a smooth relationship with your foal.  Introduce your foal to different people and their reaction may surprise you!

Jackie Brittain
Merriewold Morgans Trainer