The Regime
In pursuit of our philosophy of producing extremely relaxed individuals, foals
are imprinted at birth. This involves rubbing the foal’s entire body to
familiarise it to the human touch and for it to bond simultaneously with its own
mother and a human being.
The foaling box is equipped with closed circuit television and thermostatic heat
lamps. The mare wears a foaling monitor. If necessary, the mare is milked and
foal is given colostrum within its first hour of life.
Foals are haltered within twenty four hours of birth. All four feet are picked
up daily for at least the first three weeks of age. Foals are always led with
their mothers and not allowed to run loose, reinforcing the essential discipline
which makes them manageable when they are bigger and stronger than us.
Before weaning, they are fed with their own feed bowl so that they do not need
to compete with mother. All horses are fed in separate pens or stables to avoid
any aggressive behaviour developing at feed time.
During their first year, their feet are regularly trimmed. They are wormed and
vaccinated against tetanus. They are rugged in the winter and taught good stable
manners. This makes breaking in easier. They are taught to lorry load and tie
up.
As two or three year olds, they are sent away to be broken in and on return to
home are ridden away for three to four weeks. Hacking round the farm makes them
confident and imparts an understanding of the main principle of moving forward
without hesitation.
The Stud offers progeny for sale from three years of age. Should any show
precocity they may be raced as two year olds on the flat.
We prefer to sell privately and will sell at any age. Contact us
to arrange a visit to see the stock.