The focus during the next couple of weeks at the ranch is on reviewing the Fundamentals groundwork exercises with the weanlings and teaching them important handling skills. “We began teaching the foals the Fundamentals groundwork exercises, except for roundpenning, when they are born. We worked with the foals consistently for five weeks until they knew all of the groundwork exercises well. Once they knew the exercises, we left them turned out in the pasture with their mothers and spot-checked them every so often to make sure they remembered the lessons they’d been taught,” Clinton says.
The foals were weaned when they were between four and six months of age, and now Clinton and his clinicians are reviewing the groundwork lessons with them and teaching them other important skills, such as how to load confidently in a trailer and how to stand quietly tied up.
“After we’re finished, we’ll turn them back out in the pasture and work with them every few weeks when we trim their hooves,” Clinton says. “Following this method, by the time we’re ready to start them under saddle, it’ll be an easy process that goes smoothly. That should come as no surprise, though. If you get to your horses when they’re young and teach them the correct behavior by following the Fundamentals groundwork exercises, they learn to trust and respect you and never develop any bad habits. It’s that simple.”
Today only! Purchase the Foal Training Series for $200. The training kit has never been discounted this much! The series details Clinton’s step-by-step method for starting foals and ensuring they develop into confident, willing partners. The Foal Training Series comes with 8 DVDs and 14 Arena Mates and is normally priced at $399 for No Worries Club members and $599 for non-members. Call in orders only to 888-287-7432.
