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Laurelhighland English Rose,
2000 filly out of Guards Blossom by Waverhead Prince II, giving Mary Jean
a "smooch" when just a few hours old.
The Benefits of Imprinting Foals
What is "imprinting"? It is similar to the concept of imprinting ducklings. You know, if the duckling sees you before its mom at birth it will follow you around like its mother?! Imprinting a foal refers to a training technique developed by Dr. Robert Miller, DVM. At the time of birth, foals can absorb more information than at any other time. Lessons learned at this early age can last a lifetime. Imprint training is efficient (a lesson learned in a few minutes at birth can save HOURS of aggravation later if trying to teach an older foal the same thing). It also gentles the foals and prepares them for schooling later. Early exposures to certain stimuli allow the foals to accept the same stimuli later without fear, especially regarding humans. This technique includes doing things like rubbing the foal all over, pulling at ears, putting on halter, pressure on poll, taking a temperature, picking up feet, making loud noises, etc. It works best if you work with the foal as soon as possible after it is born (even before it stands) and then repeat the exercises within the first 24 hours during the "receptive" period, before the "fight or flight" instinct overpowers the foal's natural curiosity and receptiveness. Immediately after birth, the foal at this stage will usually "let you do anything" with little fuss -- of course there is no guarantee Mom won't fuss but she is often too weary at this stage to fret too much! If you don't use the technique within this time frame, it doesn't work. We are believers in this method of training and make every effort to imprint all our foals in a similar fashion. And when you start with a foal like a Friesian or a Fell that has a genetic predisposition to having a nice temperament, the combination is outstanding. With barn camera surveillance, I was able to work with the Fell pony filly shown above within minutes of birth. (She was literally just hitting the ground when I saw she was born on our barn cameras.) I'm sure this early handling established a bond or trust of humans more easily, allowing her to be willing to leave her mom and come over to me anytime I called, even when she was just days old. I'm sure her new owners will attest to the fact that she still seems to prefer to be in a human's "lap" as opposed to anywhere else!
After imprinting, our foals continue to receive daily, individualized care, while also enjoying the additional social benefits of life in a herd. This combination of herd life and positive human interaction provides the foal with the best social skills possible, helping to prepare them for anything life has to offer!
Fell Ponies & Friesians For Sale
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For more information about our breeding stock, see Our Fell Ponies or Our Friesians.
For more
recent updates on our new babies and all of our farm happenings,
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Many of our foals
have been reserved before birth if not before conception! Please feel free to
contact
us for pricing information and currently available Fell pony and Friesian
foals and/or weanlings for sale. We occasionally have older stock for
sale. The list
below is not necessarily up-to-date so please contact us directly if you are
interested! Right now, because of these very tough economic times, we have
an unusual number of fantastic quality ponies available! So we hope
you take advantage of this great selection and affordable pricing!
Also, please note that although our foals are in high demand
and are often reserved before birth
for guaranteed sound/healthy foal, the sale is not finalized until foal is born and
guarantee is satisfied. We have taken many years and great care in
selecting top quality breeding stock and take great pride in all of them, and we
fully expect that all of their offspring will live up to the same standard!
Note: Some foals noted below have been
reserved with a gender guarantee (either as fillies or colts) by return
customers. Since we don't know the gender in advance, a few of these could
thus become unexpectedly available after birth if they are born the opposite
gender.
If you are
interested in going on the waiting list for our foals, please
contact us.
All of our Fell pony foundation breeding stock were imported from England.
** 2011 Solid Black Filly "Laurelhighland Ditty" Available ** (by Private Treaty)
Laurelhighland Lyric X Waverhead
Model IV
(Shown as newborn and at 6 months old)
Ditty (meaning "little song") is a solid black filly (her foal coat was fawn, like her mother's was, but she is shedding out to black). She is a real beauty both in character and conformation, with a classic "sweet pony head", and compact, cobby build! She also has a great big trot for such a little lass!
*** 2011 Solid Black Filly "Laurelhighland Empress" Available ** (by Private Treaty)
Lownthwaite Monarch X Brackenbank Romany's Prince
(Shown as newborn and at 6 months old)
Monarch came from a semi-feral herd in the UK. Empress is a beauty with great bone conformation, and is very outgoing. She is a fabulous mover and coupled with her temperament and athleticism
she should be a wonderful prospect for riding, driving, jumping, or any other pursuit!
*** 1998 Black Imported Mare "Hades Hill Freya" FP3234* -- Bred to Laurelhighland Union Jack for a 2012 Foal -- Available ** (by Private Treaty)
Hades Hill Fancy II X Lownthwaite Drake
Freya is reluctantly offered for sale to the right home. She was "green-broke" under saddle in the UK before import, and had a colt foal before import as well. We don’t often part with our older ponies (since they are all "family"!) but once in a while we need to make room for our younger ones. We kept her 2009 filly (which is the only reason we are considering selling Freya) and we left her open in 2010. Freya was ridden a few times last summer just to see what she remembered. She is quiet but green. We have used her almost exclusively as a broodmare and she has been very reliable – easy to breed and 100% healthy foals. Freya has had a number of beautiful offspring by various stallions. She is a lovely mover! When Freya was imported she had basically no mane – had lost it in a barbed wire fence in the UK -- but it has grown back! She was bred to our newly-licensed 2 y.o. stud colt Laurelhighland Union Jack for a 2012 foal, which should be a very pretty baby! :-) There is more information about Freya and photos here.
Below: Laurelhighland Union Jack (left) and Hades Hill Freya (right) in May 2011
* 2010 Black Colt "Laurelhighland
Orion" Available ** (by Private Treaty)
Castle Hill Dainty X Waverhead Model IV
Orion is named after the constellation "the great hunter". He has a huge Fell trot and tons of hair! See video and photos below on
YouTube!
His foal coat is fawn-colored, like many other black Fell ponies, but he is
gradually shedding out to black.
Photos below show Orion at approx. 1 week, 6 weeks, 2 1/2 months and 6 months
Sleddale Wild Rose V X Waverhead Model IV
Due 2012
Hades Hill Freya X Laurelhighland Union Jack
Due 2012
Ludworth Lady Grey X Laurelhighland Union Jack
Due 2012
Lownthwaite Orange Blossom X Waverhead Model IV
Due 2012
All Fell pony foals are imprinted, extensively handled, halter-trained, DNA-tested, microchipped, and registered with the Fell Pony Society (UK).
Sofia vom Lindenbaum* X
Anton 343
*(a.k.a. Sophia Pandora v.L., Star, who was Reserve
Champion Friesian at Dressage at Devon 1999)
"Friso van Laurel"
2009 Colt - FHANA/FPS Reg. #840004200901
Friso is a stunning Friesian stud
colt with a gorgeous head, great temperament, lots of hair and fabulous trot!
His sire is
the famous Anton 343 (shown below) who is well-known for his tremendous amount
of hair and stunning good looks!
(Photos below at approx. 6 weeks of age)
Photos below of Friso in March 2010
Friesian foals are imprinted, extensively handled, halter-trained, DNA-tested, and registered.