Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal: A Swift, Effective Method for Permanently Shaping a Horse's Lifetime Behavior [Paperback]

Robert M. Miller D.V.M. (Author)

Book Description

Series: Western Horseman Books | Publication Date: July 1, 2003

IMPRINT TRAINING OF THE NEWBORN FOAL offers an easy-to-follow, step-by-step approach to handling and training newborn foals, as well as numerous techniques and exercises that aid the foal in halter training and later in performing riding maneuvers. Imprinting can be defined as a learning process occurring soon after birth in which a behavior pattern is established. The newborn foal is imprinted to follow and bond with whatever large object looms above it at the time of birth.
Dr. Miller's methods lay the foundation for teaching a horse most of what it will need to know to serve as a useful animal for the rest of its life. Early training can, in an amazingly brief period of time, assure an ideal relationship between horse and human, with the horse bonded and submissive to the human. In addition, the horse will be desensitized to the everyday frightening stimuli that typically elicit a flight reaction in the young horse, and which account for the frequent injuries that afflict horses and the people who work with them.
The book includes nineteen chapters beginning with initial imprinting training, then following with subsequent sessions, halter training, performance basics, response reinforcement, problem prevention, and sections on racehorses, mules, and brood mares.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Probably one of the most exciting and beneficial breakthroughs in equine psychology and training in the last decade has been the procedure the author calls "imprint training," the behavior-shaping learning process that occurs immediately after a foal's birth. Renowned veterinarian, clinician and lecturer Dr. Robert M. Miller researched, developed and presented these techniques to a world full of horsemen and - women eager to bond with their horses, understand them better and help them to live more comfortably and willingly in a world full of humans.
Dr. Miller, like most of us, was taught the conventional wisdom that excessive handling of newborn foals would result in spoiled foals and the risk of rejection by the mare. However, in over 30 years of veterinary practice, he found just the opposite. Foals he was forced to handle because of obstetrical emergencies turned out to be gentle and unafraid of him later on, and they recognized him. Horses, like deer, cattle, sheep and certain fowl, are a "precocial" species and are imprinted by what they see moving around them after they're born.
Dr. Miller experimented with his own foals, maximizing their handling at the time of birth to imprint them. He added desensitizing procedures and later conditioned responses to create "imprint training," a technique that¿s now in use all over the world, with all breeds and other precocial species, as well.
This book contains Dr. Miller's theories and techniques, including step-by-step procedures involving bonding, habituation and sensitization. He discusses how to properly handle the mare before, during and after imprinting. There are subsequent sessions detailing how to tie and halter-break the foal, and the added bonus of teaching performance basics that ultimately aid in under-saddle training. Dr. Miller also addresses problems and their prevention, plus the handling of special cases, such as race horses and mules.

About the Author

ROBERT MILLER, D.V.M. is a world-renowned veterinarian, animal behaviorist, author, and lecturer. Since 1965, he's been a much sought-after speaker at universities and veterinary and horsemen's groups on various aspects of veterinary science and horsemanship. His lectures and seminars have been presented all over America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. He's also appeared as an expert witness in many court cases. His other books include Health Problems of the Horse, Revised Health Problems of the Horse, and Most of My Patients Are Animals, plus the video titles Influencing the Horse's Mind and Imprint Training of the Foal. He lives in Thousand Oaks, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Western Horseman; 1st edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585746665
• ISBN-13: 978-1585746668
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Horses
  • #25 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Riding
  • #30 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Horses > Equestrian

More About the Author

Dr. Robert M. Miller is a world renowned speaker and author on Horse Behavior and Natural Horsemanship. He is also father of the revolutionary foal training technique known as "imprint training".

In his 30 years as an equine veterinarian, Dr. Miller has always been an innovator. Over the past 25 years, he has become a mentor to natural horsemanship clinicians around the world. His ability to explain how and why the clinicians training techniques are so effective has made him a driving force in the movement towards better, more humane, AND more effective training of horses.

The "other side" of Dr. Miller is well known among both veterinarians and cowboy poetry & humor enthusiasts. His cartoons, done under his initials RMM, have been published in veterinary and horse magazines around the world. He has been featured at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame's Cowboy Cartoonist Art Show.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The personality of my horse is testament to this book, March 30, 2005

By 

J. Tillotson (Richford, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal: A Swift, Effective Method for Permanently Shaping a Horse's Lifetime Behavior (Paperback)

I bought this book by Robert M. Miller with my very first
miniature horse foal, and it WORKS!!!!
I imprint trained him at birth and some the next day and
everything I did, helped that horse just like he said it would.
His personality is beautiful, he learned the desired responses
well and I know its because of the imprint training.It does not
take much time or effort on your part. I bought a foal that was
not imprint trained and the difference between the two horses
later on is UNBELIEVEABLE. The imprint trained horse is
friendly, obedient, and unafraid of anything ,thanks to this
book. TO me it was well worth the money I paid for it.I expect
2 more foals this year and already have my book ready to
do everything he suggests, I know it will make my life easier
when that little foal becomes a weanling thru full-grown.
For me, it was especially helpful because of my inexperience
with horses but this book would work just as well with the
experienced. It does shape the horses behaviors for LIFE.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellant method - if you have help!, May 31, 2004

By 

D. E. Denman (Hemlock, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal: A Swift, Effective Method for Permanently Shaping a Horse's Lifetime Behavior (Paperback)

I bought this book before the birth of my first foal. I thought I had a very good understanding of everything contained in the book. But be forewarned. This is not a something that someone can do alone. You need at least one other experienced horse person to help you. This is an absolute necessity!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No horse breeder should be without this book!, May 15, 2007

By 

T. Ann Price "Stardust" (Seymour, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal: A Swift, Effective Method for Permanently Shaping a Horse's Lifetime Behavior (Paperback)

My sister and I have always wanted to raise foals that weren't like your typical horses, our first foals we did lots to the minute they were born, like touching there ears, everything we could think of that we didn't want them to have issues with-and they're great, but still horses. I came across this book and LOVED IT! Our next years foals were thoroughly imprinted at birth and WOW! Even better than last years foals and we taught them so many more difficult things at birth-like working off their hind-quarters, it's amazing how effective it is. I have bought un-impinted foals in the past, and by a year you have a kicking biteing, don't touch me there yearling to spent hours patiently working with. No my babies come running to me and lick me to death and nothing fazes them!
Painted Blessings Ranch~Bringing out the best in Black and White paint horses.