Imprint Training Myria Shipman Dr Frank Flanders and
- Slides: 18
Imprint Training Myria Shipman, Dr. Frank Flanders and Asha Wise Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education February 2006
What is Imprinting? § Imprinting is a naturally-occurring process § Occurs the first few hours after birth § The newborn foal forms impressions and bonds; it is open to external stimuli
Imprinting vs. Imprint Training § Fear is a learned behavior. During the first few hours of life, the foal has not yet experienced pain and is not fearful. § This is a time when humans can expose a foal to certain stimuli or conditions that they do not want the foal to fear. § This process is called Imprint Training.
Imprint Training § Advantages § Eases handling § Enhances later training efforts § Reduces injuries § Gives the horse a solid base for learning later in life § Makes the foal more receptive to humans early on
Imprint Training § Imprint training is exposing the foal to objects and/or situations of which you do not want the foal to be fearful. § Examples: halter, clippers, hoof pick, humans, saddle, etc.
How does it work? Imprint training shapes behavior in the following ways:
1. Immediately postpartum (after birth), the foal bonds with the dam and with the one or more persons handling it.
2. Submission, but not fear: During imprint training, the foal cannot escape (its natural method of survival) exposure to frightened stimuli. As a result, it becomes dependent and submissive in its attitude. The foal sees the trainer as dominant.
How do you imprint a foal? § The first step is to get the mare and foal used to the presence of a person. Calm the mare so she is not nervous with you being around her new baby. § One way is to halter the mare and hold her loosely, where she can still see her new foal
§ Rub your hands on the foal’s body in places where you want the foal to get used to you touching. § Head: face, poll, upper lip § Body: neck, withers, back, base of tail, shoulder, ribcage, chest, groin, all legs, flex joints, feet § Cavities: mouth, ears, nostrils § Other: halter, clippers, spray bottle, bags
Important! § Do not rub the foal in areas that you do not want desensitized. § For example you do not want the abdomen desensitized because this is where a rider’s heels will be.
Expose the foal to objects: § During imprint training, you can expose the foal to objects that you want him to get used to: § Practice putting a halter on and taking it off § Turn on clippers and get the foal used to the noise and the vibration § Tap a hoof pick on the foal’s hooves
Important! § When you first perform a task, such as tapping a hoof, the foal may want to pull away. Keep tapping the foal’s hoof until he is completely used to it and no longer minds you doing so. § Perform each maneuver until the foal completely relaxes. § Repeat process later on to establish consistency.
Be Thorough! § Perform each task on: § Both ears § All four hooves § All four legs
Remember… § A newborn foal needs to bond with its mother and receive colostrum from the first nursing. Do not interfere with a foal while it is nursing.
The debate over imprinting… § Imprint training does have its critics. § Most of the debate over imprinting stems from imprint jobs gone wrong§ Horses that are too desensitized and no longer responsive. § Horses that were not fully imprinted (the person stopped imprinting before the foal was fully used to the object) and therefore respond negatively to the object/situation.
§ There is also the question: how effective is imprinting? § It is impossible to test imprinting (every horse is different and will respond differently)
It is important to remember… § Always be friendly § Continue each imprinting task until the foal is no longer fearful of it. § Do not over-imprint (desensitize) your foal. This will lead to a listless, non-responsive horse.
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