Imprint Training Myria Shipman Dr Frank Flanders and

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.