long term conditioning.

["Dot Wiggins" <dotwgns@ruralnetwork.net>]

If foals are born in the open and can move around immediately after birth,
rather than in a stall or small pen, they have already started that
conditioning.
Furthermore, if they can be allowed to run in "BIG"   "ROUGH" pastures at
least most of the time, until they are three or more,  two thirds of that
five year conditioning program is already done.

This doesn't mean no handling during that time, just not lots of
confinement.   Any old time rider  knew that the range raised horses were
always tougher and sounder than an otherwise comparable "flatlander".
"Stall babies"  have a much harder time adapting to hard work.

Horses that  have the chance to learn to be "horses" in the open and in a
herd environment before they learn to be pets can usually take better care
of themselves and their riders.

I'd like to hear some pros and cons on this,  as I am aware that the
opportunity to bring up horses this way is disappearing.   What  are any of
you doing to compensate?







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