Instructions
Wait after your foal is born for the mare and foal to bond. This should occur almost immediately as the mare begins to clean her foal and the foal begins to nurse.
Be present during this time so both the mother and baby accept you into their world. However, interfering with the bond between them may result in the mare's rejecting her foal, or confuse the foal.
Move quietly and slowly when around the mare and foal, and speak in a soft, soothing voice. You do not want to alarm the foal or its mother, causing either one to move away from you or flee. You want to condition your foal to move toward you.
Gently begin to stroke and rub your hands on the foal where you wish to desensitize it. These should be areas you will later need to touch for saddling and general care--the face, ears, neck, mouth, body and hooves. Spend only a few minutes doing this to your foal in the beginning, and no more than 10 or 15 minutes several times a day over the following days and weeks.
Begin introducing your foal to a halter after a few days of touch imprinting. In the beginning, put the halter on the foal, then remove it. Later, leave the halter on for longer periods of time as your foal becomes used to it. Also, start conditioning it to sounds and actions that will occur in general care throughout its life. Pick up each hoof, tap it several times and manipulate the foot as a farrier would. Run electric clippers and rustle grain sacks near your foal so it becomes accustomed to the sound.
How to Imprint a Foal
Imprinting a newborn foal begins in the first hours after it is born. It introduces the newborn to humans before the foal's natural instinct to flee perceived danger develops. Exposing a foal to certain stimuli or conditions early on and repeating the stimuli in the days, weeks and months that follow trains the foal to trust and not fear the humans in its life.