Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal (A Western Horseman Book) [Paperback]

Robert M. Miller D.V.M. (Author), Pat Close (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

America's best know equine veterinarian explains, step-by-step, how to handle a newborn foal in a way that lays the foundation for an ideal lifelong relationship with humans. Some of the topics covered in this book include bonding, habituation, sensitization, dominance, immediate postpartum procedure, teaching the foal to tie and much more. (8 x 11, 152 pages, b&w photos)

Product Details

• Paperback: 149 pages
• Publisher: Western Horseman; 1st edition (January 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911647228
• ISBN-13: 978-0911647228
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Horses > Showing & Training

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

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great system, February 1, 2000

By 

L. Peasley (California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal (A Western Horseman Book) (Paperback)

If you have heard of imprint training and want to imprint your foal, you have to read this book. There is a lot of misinformation about imprinting foaling around out there, and this book lays it out logically and in a organized fashion. If you are simply interested in imprint training or want to learn more, then read this as well. Dr. Miller is the fellow who has popularized this method in the past 15 years, although it has existed to some degree in remote pockets of training. Essentially, imprinting training is neither of those two words. It is two different times in the foal's life. One, the first hour after birth, during which the foal is accepting of its surroundings. This time can be used to get the foal used to just about anything. Touched everywhere (except the sides of the barrel, which you sensitize when they are standing), restrained, used to clippers, plastic, etcetera. The second period is during the first week of the foal's life during which you can follow up on the desensitization and starting leading and tying. What I like the most about it, is that the foal will not be afraid of humans. He or she had you there at birth and therefore accept you into his or her definition of a herd. My second favorite aspect of this training method, is that you will end up with a halter broke foal that can be taken almost anywhere needed.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "IMPRINTING", September 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal (A Western Horseman Book) (Paperback)

I TAKE THIS BOOK TO THE BARN EVERYTIME I HAVE A FOAL IN MY BREEDING OPERATION, FOR REFERENCE. THE AUTHOR CLEARLY STATES HOW TO "IMPRINT" A FOAL TO REMOVE FEAR AND FOLLOWS UP WITH "RESPECT" TRAINING IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS. MANY PEOPLE CLAIM THEY IMPRINT THEIR HORSES BUT I FEEL THAT THE METHOD DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK, IF FOLLOWED, WILL PUT ARGUMENTS AGAINST IMPRINTING TO REST. VISITORS ARE OFTEN AMAZED AT HOW RESPECTFUL AND TRUSTING OF HUMANS MY FOALS ARE AS A RESULT OF THESE TECHNIQUES. A MUST READ FOR ANYONE SEEKING NEW LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH HORSES. THIS METHOD SETS THE STAGE FOR TRUE COMMUNICATIONS FROM BIRTH TO COMPANION HORSE. I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH BETTER THE IMPRINTED HORSES UNDERSTAND MY BODY LANGUAGE: FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, TONES OF VOICE...

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Imprinting Book I have read!, July 24, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Western North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal (A Western Horseman Book) (Paperback)

I have a TWH mare that is very precious to me. This was her first and my first foal. I read and reread and reread this book by Dr. Miller. I must admit I was so nervous, I had never imprinted before. I slept in my barn for three nights before the delivery. I was already exhausted. But when the time came, everything I had read fell true. Each reaction was exactly as the book described. This colt is so easy to manage and my husband and I are enjoying this little fellow more than I can tell you. Please, if you are considering breeding, buy this book!