John here...in New Mexico....anyone have any opinions on the merits of imprinting? Some say it is the be all and end all of training, others say imprinted foals learn to respect the handlers less than non-imprinted foals. I have books on the subject and think I am convinced that it makes sense to do some level of imprinting. Any advice for this first time Dad?
Thank you! John Colang Lazy Coyote Ranch Placitas, New Mexico
I was somewhat skeptical myself when I first heard of the process, so I did a little experiment. I had two colts within 3 days of each other in 1998. I imprinted one and did nothing with the other. The attitude difference was incredible. I continued imprinting sessions with the one colt and he has always been a gentleman. The other is now a gentleman too, but there were a few rough spots. I am looking forward to getting them started under saddle this spring to continue my personal observations.
In addition, my farrier has had the opportunity to trim many youngsters. (some imprinted and some not) He too supports imprinting whole-heartedly. The handled foals stand much quieter and are not distressed in the least for their first trimming.
My opinion and that of many equine veterinary practitioners is that. If it is done properly (not over done) to the point of the animal loosing the understanding of the human position in the whole scheme of things, it´s a good thing. However I as well as many practitioners that I know, prefer not to work on horses who were imprinted. The reason as I have said is that it often becomes a pursuit of making a pet rather than a well mannered animal. Much like the situation that often occurs with orphan foals. The temptation certainly is, when the foal becomes oblivious to handling to continue handle it in a way that will ultimately result in an animal incapable of understanding the difference between humans and horses. Example: I found one of my employees standing with the foals feet on her shoulders like a big dog. Needless to say, when this colt gets older he will think this kind of activity is ok and not understand being reprimanded for it.
Many of my veterinary friends say that they have had some very bad experiences with these horses.
My personal experience with it has included me trying a similar study as Jos is doing. I did mine with 10 thoroughbred foals. Five were imprinted at birth and five were not. I followed them through until they were started under saddle and left for the race track. I honestly saw no substantial difference in the two groups. Bear in mind in my case the foals only received the imprinting at birth and none after that. As a result, my personal preference is to not imprint.
HP
A.P. (63.71.228.3)
Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 02:26 pm:
A 'pet' SHOULD be a 'well mannered animal! There is no reason not to imprint, but remember you must always insist on 'good manners'. Watch a mare with a foal: she will pin her ears and nip at her foal if he is misbehaving. 'Imprinting' does not mean 'spoiling'. Be firm, be consistent, and don't go overboard and spend hours per day fussing at the foal.
Hi John I find it to be a very valuable part of breeding. My now six year old mare was imprinted and it was really beneficial when she injured her near hind leg at eight weeks of age. The vet and his assistants complimented me on her manageability. She is really easy to handle as a result of the imprinting. A really important thing is that it forms a close bond between owner and foal. I'd recommend it to everyone.
Me again I just remembered something that the horse adores and is helpful at times. I rub my mare just under the croup of the tail - you've found the right spot if the horse lifts the tail when you rub. I did this while she was being freeze branded and she didn't move a muscle. No use of those awful twitches either. Between that and the imprinting she is a beautiful girl to handle. This is from a real novice I might add. I read up and try things, some don't work but imprinting certainly does.
I've been studying up on imprint training for the foal we have due in May. I had looked into it back in 1997 when another foal was due, but felt then it was too invasive. Our mare was older and possibly a maiden mare at that time. As it turned out she was a model mom. Now I wish I had tried it with her colt. He's been difficult at times. We really went through rough spots with him particularly where the farrier was concerned. I still have him. He's decent now most of the time, though he has never liked shots and doesn't hesitate to let us know.
I know some of you don't do imprint training. Of those of you that do, how many of you do the first session right at birth?
What I was thinking is I could cover some of the essential areas at birth: head, back, girth, legs, legs, legs! and rump. We could work with the towel and plastic and maybe slip a halter on for a bit. I'm not really that interested in desensitizing to the point Dr. Robert Miller does in his video. For one thing it takes too long. For another thing I didn't imprint my gelding and one area he's really great about is his ears, which leads me to believe they don't have to have that done at birth. He actually likes to have them handled. I want to keep the first session short. Any comments or suggestions?
I take the time to imprint all of my foals. I do not take it to the level of Dr. Miller, however, I have found that it has helped in all stages of the horses life and many aspects of training.
After allowing the mare and foal to bond and settle in, I usually spend about 10 minutes with the foal. After a few 10 minute sessions, I then give the enema, etc. I then return during the day and spend short 10 minute sessions with the foal. Remember to insert your fingers into the mouth and do not ignore the genitalia. Ears are important and can be a problem if you over look the foal that happens to have an issue with them. Containment is something that the foal should learn to handle calmly. Once they stand quietly, release them and have them back away from you. That way, they will not learn to bolt by you later on. It also keeps them from habitually turning their rump to you.
You have the right idea, short sessions, multiple times during the first 24 hours. After that, I repeat the sessions at least once during the day for the first week. Of course more time is beneficial, it is not always available.
Nice to know a little of everyone's experiences with imprinting. I was just starting to look into some of the case studies since I have a foal due in the next couple of weeks. I did also see the study that imprinted half the foals and left the others and at 2 years of age there was no difference. However, I agree that imprinting is a good thing, especially if you are selling your foals as weanlings, or if the foal has an injury that requires extensive handling. What better way to ensure a calm and cooperative foal than for it to be used to human contact.
I would have to say that we have done it in differernt ways. Some we have done alot of imprinting and others none, depending on our life situations at the given time. Some we have spent alot of time with and others hardly none. It does make it alot easier while they are foals to have them had time spent with them but then others we have let them be. Those that we have let them be naturally have had some vet work done with and feet work and are around humans, used to coming into the barn for feed and care. I have noticed that those that are let "unworked""unimprinted" seem to do just as well as those who do get imprinted at birth although those who were not imprinted at birth tend to need alittle more work at the age of 2 or 3 when it is time to train them for riding. But once they gain your trust they do just fine, sometimes the foal is easier to handle due to size and strength, although, some of the babies can be real large and have no sense of what is expected of them yet.I have also noticed that a good bred horse makes a world of a difference as well. A horse from a good minded mare and stallion will get alot farther than one that comes from junk. With saying this I also must say that it makes no difference if it is "registered" or not. Only the actual quality of triats. I know many breeders won't breed a unregistered horse. Well, that is where many of us started at was with our first backyard pet horse. That is where the registries started from as well. Were with unregistered horses. Unregistreed horses can excede the qualities of registered horses in many ways and should not be overlooked. I know many open horse shows where the unregistered horse beat the registered ones. I know I got off the subject but its just food for thought.
I really believe that so many people that "imprint" do not do so correctly. Studies about imprinting vs not imprinting are not helpful unless the technique and abilities of the imprinter are studied as well.
To be effective and to make a decernable difference, the imprinter should be very knowledgeable about horse behavior and I believe, a successful trainer as well.
When done by someone that understands all aspects of training, it does make a differnce when training starts as Kim pointed out. Even if the parents are idiots, imprinting early and correctly will help make the horse and handler have an easier time in all phases of training.
Imprinting incorrectly can cause as many problems as imprinting correctly can help. So I prefer for owners to leave that to me, and then continue themselves after the foal returns home.
Vets, farriers and owners all comment on the calm behavior of my horses. It can make a difference if these people feel safe while working on your animals. It may even affect your bill when they do not!
Yes, my stallion is known for his wonderfully "trainable" mind, but this trait is not solely responsible for his good minded babies. All aspects of my breeding, training and showing have been improved and helped by imprinting correctly.
I have to add that I feel that any kind of good imprinting at any age is very important. Imprinting they way i feel is and done through a animals life. Once they have a bad experience you have to reverse the effects of it. So to say, when one begins imprinting at any age it must be positive. If you take a 2 year old that has had minimal handeling and start to work with it and do not provide a positive approach to it then you will have a hard to handle horse. If you take a 2 year old horse with minimal work done with it and provide a positive, good , learning experience with it you will advance easliey. I look at my horses and also see them watching and learning from each other. If one acts up in the barn they all tend to want to or vice versa, when one sees one behaving they tend to follow as well.
Too much interference with nature in the beginning is not good, mom must teach baby many things about life, sometimes a baby that has too much human interference can be rude and nasty to others I saw this in a mare that came into our farm. She was shown early, worked alot, and didn't even know what mud was ! When she came to the farm she had no idea how to interact with other animals as she was kept from them since early in life. She only saw 4 hours of the world durning the nice days otherwise she was stalled. The stall never seen a pile of poop, and she never saw a mud puddle until she came to our farm. The first few days outside she was floored as to how to get around the mud puddle(the the exteame of most horses), and once she figured out that she could lay down and roll in it--- that was the day she became a horse again. It was like a little kid rolling in the dirt outside when they know that they are not suppose to. Anyways, imprinting at any age must be positive and if it is not then it is worthless.
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I saw this in a mare that came into our farm. She was shown early, worked alot, and didn't even know what mud was ! When she came to the farm she had no idea how to interact with other animals as she was kept from them since early in life. She only saw 4 hours of the world durning the nice days otherwise she was stalled. The stall never seen a pile of poop, and she never saw a mud puddle until she came to our farm. The first few days outside she was floored as to how to get around the mud puddle(the the exteame of most horses), and once she figured out that she could lay down and roll in it--- that was the day she became a horse again. It was like a little kid rolling in the dirt outside when they know that they are not suppose to. Anyways, imprinting at any age must be positive and if it is not then it is worthless.
