Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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...

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!

We bought this book for the 2000 foal season and were amazed at the difference it has made in our babies this year! I have been breeding Tennessee Walkers for 7 years and had heard that imprinting made a significant impact with new foals - so I deceided to try a little experiment. Our first foal, came unexpectedly in the night - three weeks early - we didn't find her until the next morning. The next mare, we watched every minute until the foal finally came. We used the methods in the book and have a truely happy and socialized stud colt. I had a customer come to view the two babies, and he commented on the difference in behavior of the two foals. The non-imprinted filly, acted scarey and distrusting - the imprinted foal walked right up to him. It is like day and night. The bonding that occurs with the foal is unbelievable. Anyone who breeds should buy this book and used the well explained method that I know have changed our babies for the better!

I used Dr. Miller's techniques from this book to imprint my first foal. He is a 4 year old stallion now and is docile as they come. He still thinks he's my baby. The second foal I had, by a different sire & dam, I didn't really imprint. Although he was born with a good temperament, he was so much behind and harder to train than the first had been. He's also a stud.

The Author Robert M. Miller, D.V.M. takes you through the process of imprinting a foal from birth, all the way through the first year. This beautifully illustrated book can educate the novice as well as reinforce the experienced professional on the step by step procedures to follow. From personal experience, my yet to be yearling is a perfect example of the theory behind the authors teachings.The final outcome is a well-mannered animal that trusts humans and is willing to be taught.To anyone that is expecting a foal, this book is a must!

I had a mare in foal this sring, and it was the first time in over 10 years I'd had a foal due. We got this book and read it through. It had everything described AND illustrated with photos. We applied the techniqes shown last Thursday when the foal arrived, and she's as docile and easy to handle as we'd hoped.

I bought this book when my mare was five months preg. I read hundreds of times. When my foal came I did exactly what was in it, and my foal loads, ties, is good for the farrier, leads, ponies, EVERYTHING! One should not be without this book if they want a well-mannered baby.

It was very easy to find this book on the top of my stack of accumulated materials on foaling - great illustrations really set in my mind what I would be doing with my foal at the time of her rather eventful arrival. Now that she is seven months old, we are still working with the lessons of the book and I believe that starting her with the Imprinting as the book recommended gave me a huge advantage in our being comfortable together and her being accepting of the lessons we have proceeded through thusfar. She's awesome and I know this is part of the reason why that is!!

Few things contribute more to making a young horse a polite and respectful adult citizen than early imprint training. Dr. Miller demystifies the process with complete and accurate descriptions in a step by step format. There are numerous large photographs which help to make the book most instructive. A definite buy for anyone with an expectant mare.