Full course description
Foal Handling and Training
Do you have a mare who is expecting a foal? Do you already have a young foal? Is your foal in need of training, and you are unsure where to start? Do you have a foal with behaviour issues that you want to resolve? Would you like to give your foal the best start in life and avoid future behaviour issues? From birth to two years old, working with young donkeys creates a donkey who is ready for a life in domestication, confident to encounter new situations, and willing to accept routine treatments like feet handling, vet, farrier, and dentist visits.
Details
This course covers all aspects of working with donkey and mule foals, from the first lessons to the process of weaning. Using actual video footage from training sessions with foals here at The Donkey Sanctuary, you will see how we can use the science of behaviour to train foals. Starting with basic handling and using the science of behaviour as a foundation for all interactions. Then, the course looks at specific training situations and solutions.
The course also covers some common issues, such as nipping, inappropriate attention-seeking, leading and a lack of patience. If you have a foal that already has some challenging behaviour, this course will give you the insights you need to resolve issues safely.
You will learn how using a figure eight rope can create safe early learning experiences and how these early training sessions can be shaped into lessons that will last throughout the foal’s life. In addition, there are sections on handling and training the orphan or bottle-fed foal.
The course includes modules on the essential foundations of all donkey behaviour, patience, feet handling, leading, and veterinary procedures and has detailed shaping plans for all these areas.
The course also explores the process of weaning foals and carefully considers the different approaches to weaning and the advantages and strategies of gradual weaning.
Not only will you learn about handling and training foals, but the lessons learned in this course can be applied to donkeys of any age. By the end of the course, you will appreciate the importance of training foals, and you will have the knowledge and clear plans to set your foal up for life.