How to Prepare a Weanling for Halter Classes

Showing a weanling horse at halter can be fun and rewarding, but first there is a lot of work to be done. Here's how smart horsemen go about preparing a young horse to show.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Foal halter
• 10-12 foot soft cotton lead rope
• Grooming tools--comb, brush, hoof pick
• Long whip or stick
• Hoof nippers and rasp
• Cordless horse clippers
• Horse shampoo, mane and tail conditioner
• Sponges
• Hair mousse or gel
• Hair bands
• Hoof polish
• Baby oil

1. Start working with the foal before you separate it from the dam. Halter break it as soon as possible and get the foal used to you touching and rubbing it all over. It will resist this at first but will come to like it and look forward to the sessions.

2. Pick up all four feet. This can and should be done in your handling sessions before weaning. It's much easier to teach them to accept their feet being handled when they are newborn, rather than at weaning.

3. Halter the foal and get it leading right up near your elbow and have it trot beside you when you ask it to. Have an assistant help you by coming behind and shooing the foal slightly, or you can carry a long whip to reach back and tap the foal lightly as you lead it.

4. Begin supplementing the foal's diet with a little grain, vitamins and minerals before weaning, then gradually increase the supplements after weaning. Use a complete equine starting ration and quality hay.

5. Get the weanling used to being brushed and combed. Do this at every session. It will not only help gentle the horse, it will keep the hair coat in good condition.

6. Practice loading into a trailer and unloading the colt, so it won't balk when you are loading to go to the show.

7. Bathe the weanling. Start bathing it a couple weeks before the show to get it used to the process, then bathe it again just before the show, so it will be sparkling clean.

8. Trim the weanling's hooves a few days before the show, or have your farrier do it.

9. Clip the weanling about two weeks prior to the show, then clip again the day before the show. Introduce the clippers very slowly, and have an assistant to hold the weanling so it won't spook or jump. Clip the fetlock area, jaw line, muzzle and make a short bridle path by starting just behind the poll and clipping the mane back about the length of the weanling's ear.

10. Put on the finishing touches just before the show starts. Band the mane and forelock and polish the hooves. Use black polish on dark hooves and use clear polish on light hooves. Put a little mousse on the short hairs at the base of the tail to keep them in place and rub a little baby oil on the muzzle and around the eyes to highlight.

Tips & Warnings

• A good way to break a foal to lead is to halter the dam and foal, then lead the dam and let the foal follow the mother on a long lead rope. The foal soon learns what is needed with very little resistance.
• Provide adequate exercise for your weanling to build muscling, which the judges look for.
• White on horses is hard to get and keep clean. There are lots of products out there to assist. Try Cowboy Magic Green Spot Remover or Mane and Tail Whitener.
• Be ready for a tussle the first time you halter the foal. Have an assistant. Foals will sometimes rear up, flailing their front hooves, then fall over, so do this in a soft location that is free of obstructions the foal may hit its head on.
• Use the whip very lightly, just to get forward motion--never to punish the foal.

Resources

• Browse grooming products and equine educational material at State Line Tack.
• Order educational courses on grooming and showing horses at Ed Mar Video Productions.