dianneS
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2009
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I think I understand what you're saying. Sort of the same theory my sister had when she got her dog as a 7 week old puppy. She figured she would imprint that dog, start training immediately and she would never have a single issue with the dog, no growing pains, no misbehaving etc. Well, she is a great dog now, but it wasn't like raising her was smooth sailing. She still chewed, peed on the floor from time to time, barked too much and eventually grew out of it. Starting her training young did nothing to prevent her from going through those phases. She still had to mature and grow up just like any other puppy.
All young animals go through difficult stages, they all mature differently and they all have different temperments that may come from their breeding more than their training or environment.
Just because you imprint and de-sensitize a horse at a very young age doesn't mean its going to be a bomb proof horse at the age of two. Young horses spook at the unknown, young horses have excess energy, they're silly, they act out, hormones kick in, they can be difficult just because they're going through a "phase". You just never know what you're gonna get no matter how early you start them.
As mentioned above, too much imprinting can be a dangerous thing. I know it makes sense in theory to think that if you raised a horse from a tiny baby and made it your best friend that you'd be able to totally trust one another, but they're still young and they must go through all of the normal stages that a youngster goes through to reach maturity.
Frankly, I like my older mature horses best. Give me one of those "been there done that" types any day over training a young one. Those older horses understand humans, what we're like, what we're capable of (good and bad) and what to expect from us. I love that.
All young animals go through difficult stages, they all mature differently and they all have different temperments that may come from their breeding more than their training or environment.
Just because you imprint and de-sensitize a horse at a very young age doesn't mean its going to be a bomb proof horse at the age of two. Young horses spook at the unknown, young horses have excess energy, they're silly, they act out, hormones kick in, they can be difficult just because they're going through a "phase". You just never know what you're gonna get no matter how early you start them.
As mentioned above, too much imprinting can be a dangerous thing. I know it makes sense in theory to think that if you raised a horse from a tiny baby and made it your best friend that you'd be able to totally trust one another, but they're still young and they must go through all of the normal stages that a youngster goes through to reach maturity.
Frankly, I like my older mature horses best. Give me one of those "been there done that" types any day over training a young one. Those older horses understand humans, what we're like, what we're capable of (good and bad) and what to expect from us. I love that.
