This was not just a matter of the camera getting there at the perfect moment. This picture could be taken any number of times. The colt is Red Fox, my niece's half Corolla colt from Manteo. The mother is Daddy's Tennessee Walking Horse. Daddy handles this colt daily and has since it was born.
From the second or third day the colt would come and lay its head in Daddy's lap if he called it over and sat down in the pasture. The colt has learned from its mother. Daddy handles her every day. He calls out and she crosses the pasture to see him. On occasions she will lie down in the pasture beside him.
The colt is being raised in Daddy's shadow. It is halter trained. Over the weekend my niece began despooking him with monsters. A colt handled this way will not have to be trained to saddle. It will simply need instruction. When the fear goes away the learning comes quickly.
If, and only if, the colt is also taught to follow direction.
Sound training demands that one's efforts be allocated to 51% control and 49% affection. That is how a mare raises her foal. A mare is warm and affectionate but has no qualm in using whatever force is needed to bring a colt into line.
Little fellow had a halter on him before two weeks of age, and walked along with his mama being led by it. If one wants to be touchy feely about it (I usually do) The whole trick to natural horsemanship is to become part of the horse's herd..a very senior part of it. this works hte other way 'round, the young horse grows up with humans already a part of his herd. It helps that his mother is a very well trained, sweet and gentle mare. With Roxy, a simple word or two as you walk by, a scratch on her poll, and she will talk to you every time you show up. Great horses raising great horses..no strain on anybody. The recent discussion on how horses show affection is very applicable here..Roxy and this colt are both very overt in their expressions compared to many other horses, because of the steady and consistent affection they receive. You cannot love a horse too much, but you can control a horse too little. Red Fox was given lots of love and very very gentle control from the very morning of his birth..his training will be seamless. Watching him and Elmo grow together is going to be alot of fun. -Lloyd
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