SpottedPony_horse:

 

This is the key.  There is a difference between the foals mentioned in the quote and foals handled just enough to have good manners and be respectful and obedient to humans.  The former are spoiled, are constantly being fused over and petted and allowed to do all sorts of 'cute' things that aren't so cute when they are older.  I agree that these will be a big problem when they go to a trainer.  Also the futurity babies will have problems, they may be over fed to get weanlings to look like yearlings and yearlings to look like two year olds.  They may be only turned out in groomed level pastures or indoor arenas so that they don't get hurt on anything or the sun bleach their pretty coats.  They aren't turned out with horses other then their dams for fear they might get kicked and lamed or get their coat nicked up.  Then too, they also have to be perfectly obedient, so by the time they are ready for undersaddle training their brains are fried and they have no idea as to relate to other horses. 

 

This is SO SO SO true. I sadly ended up selling my last horse, who was a breeding stock paint gelding, he was a futurity baby and has a hatred for people because he'd been over fussed with. He was a big sweety out in the pasture, but highly disliked being in a stall, probably reminded him of his halter days.

The thing you have to be careful about with youngsters is the fact that if you are working with them, and they start spending more time with you than other horses, they are going to see you as an equal, not as their leader. If they spend most of their time out in a pasture with other horses, they learn about the pecking orders, where to find food and water, where good shelters are, how to tell the diffrence between poisonous plants and good plants, and dangers.

 I am NOT saying to turn the baby loose for the first year. She needs the basics- thats it. How to stand tied for 10-20 minutes is good, and does teach patience. She must have the ground manners, in the sense that when she is lead she should not walk all over the handler. About the leg wraps...I doubt she needs them. If you take the training easy, then she won't need them.

 I will say I have had the most sucess with the horses that have been loose while seeing humans until they are about 2 months old, then brought in for a week or two and given the basics (lead, tie, load and unload in trailer, ect.) they are turned out with prospect horses their age for a year or so, while being around humans daily. They broke as two- or three-year olds. But, all of this also depends on the horse. I mainly train stock/ranch type workig horses. Now, if you wanted a solid broke bombproof kids' pony, you would most likely go about this diffrently.

You, as the trainer, with be the ultimate judge of your filly's progress.

Ok, I'm throwing in my two cents here.  I have a LOT of foal training experience...I've worked for multiple breeders doing ONLY foal training, as well as training several of my own.  By 13 weeks, really the only thing I'm working on is standing tied, leading, picking up feet, and learning a little pressure yielding.  I definitely don't push, as they are babies, and need to be babies.  If they mess up, I don't push, simply go back and show them what is right.  Praise is huge in my book, and my babies are all praised and loved on a ton when they do well.  The only discipline I may enforce is backing them up if they push on me or get an attitude.  They are desensitized to blankets for winter, but other than that I don't worry much about more than that until they're a little older.  I don't start any kind of lunging or 'exercise' type work until they're 7-8 months old.  By a year old I have them lunge trained, and have usually started laying saddle pads on their backs, sacking out to noises etc.  It is really easy to want to push and go overboard, especially with a really good, well behaved baby.  But at the same time, being pushed too hard at such a young age can turn them a little sour to the whole training process.  I've seen people push and push for perfection by the time a foal is 6 mos., and then later they have their hands full because that baby is straight up tired of being pushed to be perfect.  I've had really good luck just taking my time and realizing there is no huge hurry, I have 2 years to get in what I NEED to before I ever get on that horse.  I have foals that I've worked with that ended up quiet and well balanced, and by the time I was saddling up it was no big deal, and their riding training progressed a million times faster because of it.  It sounds like you're doing great, but remember to give her a break sometimes!  She sounds like a doll baby. 

 From my experience with young horses, I definitely agree with those that work with the babies on the basics.  Spending 10-15 minutes a day, even if it is just spent grooming them, teaches them patience and to accept new things.  They still have the other 23 hours and 45 minutes a day to spend with the herd, learning how to be a horse. Definitely don't do any hard work with her ( like lunging), you don't want to put extra pressure on her growing body. 

After having foals from when the day they were born and ending up with an untouched yearling, I will never get a young horse again that I can't work with from the time it is atleast weaned. Take your time, and don't move on to something new until they have conquered what they are working on, and remember, they're young, they're not going to be perfect. 

When my current 2 y.o. I've had since she was weaned and spent most of the time just grooming and working a little on showmanship got sick at 9 months old and had to go to the vet and spend the night, both vets that work there, plus the vet techs, were blown away at how well she handled everything, the clippers, walking in and out of the trailer, shots, she took all in stride. You don't need anything even around her neck when clipping her face, she accepts it perfectly. My now 6 yo and the others that I've had since birth are the same way.

The yearling that I ended up with that was unhandled was completely opposite, she took much longer to accept new things, the clippers was the worst. She was very skittish and once she learned to trust me was much better, but still has a wilder side to her. 

Remember to do what is right for you and her, there are many different opinions out there, take the pieces that make the most sense to you(whether it's mine or someone else's) and enjoy this time with her. It goes by sooo fast!  I hope all goes well with you and her! Happy training:)

I'm not great with foals, But if she keeps it up like that, This is going to be one great barrel racer you have. Just, remember, because shes so good, dont think she's ready for anything. Teach her slow and steady, and bring the newest things on slowly. Otherwise, she'll bring joy when she's got a blue ribbon on her bridle.