PitterPatterPonies foals are handled at birth. We are there when they are born. Their cords are sprayed and are checked to make sure that they are drinking from their mums. Being stabled every night enables us to catch and lead them every morning/evening. As soon as they start feeding from mums bucket they are given a small feed of their own, once feeding time is established we leave the foals in the yard whilst the mums eat in the stables, once mums and foals don't mind being separated. This gives us time to groom and practice picking feet up, ready for the farrier, when their mums are trimmed the farrier runs the rasp over their feet so that they get used to the sensation and routine. They are wormed ever 4 weeks from birth with Panacur and then at 6 months we double-dose then they go onto the adult worming programme. We are trying to give our foals different experiences that will help them to develop into well behaved easy to handle youngstock, such as leaving the trailer ramps down so that they can play or sleep in it.