How to Walk Alone

Heaven's learning to lead (I debated posting this just yet, as there's a few other things that I want to happen and I'm not fully sure the order, but what the hell; have it anyway. I can fit in the other bits after ^^)




Again featuring A2459 Helheim owned by xxElanite


A note on the methods depicted  - and a disclaimer(feel free to skip)
Shown on Heaven is something called a 'Foal Hugger'. Its a common practice to 'cradle' young foals as a stepping stone in teaching them to lead calmly. The idea being that you bring the leadrope around the quarters (like seen here) and also lead from the headcollar/foal slip as a way of keeping the foal between these two aids; the head is controlled to monitor direction and speed, and the rope at the quarters is there to encourage forward movement, should the foal resist or stop. In the very, very early days, a person might even cradle the foal with their own arm around the quarters.

The foal hugger is something I stumbled on while reading up on youngstock (its been a while since college youngstock days, and Lakewood's last true baby with all the steps was a while ago (Becca gives us a quick rundown of Lakewood foals in the story below ). The hugger is designed to maximise control and comfort whilst minimising stress. The neck rope is rather like a dog's slip lead, and sitting low as it does, it provides ample control to more than just the horse's head. The rope attaches to a ring on the neck piece and lays around the quarters in the same way as the cradling method (which is what this really is).

Obviously some foals will get it faster than others. Some will muck around just for the hell of it, others may hate or fear the rope on their back legs. Every foal is different, and even the simplest of things in the hands of the wrong person can cause a lot of damage, so this may not work for everyone. Its simply the option Lakewood chose and, well...it works out...

...

It wouldn't be long now before the filly was confident to venture a bit further from her mother, even with people around, which meant the time had come, at just a few weeks old, to start teaching her to lead. She'd still follow Helheim from place to place for some time, but she needed to learn to be steered, rather than just tag along.

The cradling method was often the first step, and the staff at Lakewood were in agreement it was the best in their situation. Knowing just how spirited she could be, they needed to teach her to accept being guided in as controlled and comfortable a way as possible - rather than trying to lead from her head alone.

Besides, they didn't have anything really to lead her with. The last foal Lakewood had was some time ago and none of the halters they currently had in useable condition were small enough.

So it was after lunch yards - having put out the nets, tidied the boxes and finished throwing out the other horses - that Becca and Joanna, who had grown rather attached, headed out to the new block while the others went to prepare lunch.

"When did you last cradle a foal?" Becca asked the darker girl as they stopped outside the shared box.

"A year or two ago," Joanna said, frowning as she thought back. "Spindly, temperamental thing. I pitched in at the Racing Stud barn for some overtime. He got it, though. She will, too. What about you?" Joanna continued, because she was curious.

"Bird, I think," Becca said, thinking back herself. "Kairi grew up away from the Farm and Chess' Gran did a lot with her. Nemo - that little Chipmunk devil? - we arranged the breeding but he was weaned away from the Farm, too. Bird was the last one; she was born overseas in Washington but Chess and I visited her a couple of times, and we were there one of the days she was being taught, so we helped a bit. Before her there was Kaloua - the other tiny one. She came to us very young; just weaned. She'd been taught to lead though. Mossy had a youngster that was sold to a friend and years before that she had Poetry. Poe grew up here - like Heaven is - so she was probably the last one that we fully taught ourselves. Chess did a lot with her - Mossy is really Chess' horse - but so did Candace; the little sister of Mossy's old owner.

Becca took a breath, smiling over at Joanna. "There's been a few. Aphie had a foal, Dusty, before Poe, and she was sold to another friend's stable. She had a second foal later who was also sold. Chess did most of the work with them in the early days, what with Aphie being so sensitive. And right back at the beginning was Karma, who's still here. We hadn't even been here a year then, but there was a lovely mare, Rubaa...I'm not even sure where she is now, but we were able to breed her to Matches and Karma was...well, basically the same as she is now; high maintenance but clever and keen."

"Sounds about right," Joanna smirked. All that Arabian blood racing through her veins...

"I've got the mare, then?" Becca guessed, sliding back the bolt on the door and snatching up Helheim's headcollar.

"If you don't mind," Joanna agreed.

While Becca got Helheim ready, Joanna untangled the contraption she'd been handed back in the barn, Heaven trying to nibble the end of the rope. It was a foal hugger - a padded collar, like a dog's slip lead, that settled around the base of the neck and with a long rope attached to gently cradle the hindquarters. It offered a bit more stability and control to the handler without putting unnecessary stress on the baby. Other than trying to nibble at it as it was put on, Heaven didn't seem upset so much as distracted about it.

"Here we go, then," Joanna said, when she was holding the handle of the hugger and the rope end, and stood at Heaven's shoulder. "After you."

...

Helheim didn't seem bothered in the least. Heaven was not her first foal, and she was probably well used to people working with her babies. She strode out, apparently more eager to get outside for some field time than anything.

Heaven was a different story.

As soon as she'd realised she wasn't free to just wander after her mother, she threw a tantrum. She did a funny little kick then tried to shoot forwards, and when that proved fruitless, she snorted and pranced backwards. The rope at her hocks just scooped her together so she spun a circle.

Joanna stopped. Ahead of them Becca managed to halt Helheim and after a moment of annoyed head tossing, Heaven went still, nostrils quivering and ears twitching even as the clear intelligence in her eyes was taking stock of the situation.

Nodding, they started off again.

A handful of frustrated whinnies and one half-hearted rear later, they stopped at the gate, gave Heaven a good rub to leave her with a good memory, and let the pair go.

Helheim trotted happily away, snorting and already lowering her head to graze.

Heaven cantered off, right around her mother and up to the rise of the hill, kicking her heels.

Becca laughed. "Looks like we're in for some fun," she said. "Come on, let's go get lunch."

...

She was better, returning to the stable that afternoon and in the days that followed. She was a fast learner, and after a several more spins and stamps, she got walking. She pulled at the hugger and squealed; stopped now and then to test the rope, but just two weeks after they first began, she was walking out to the field and back without throwing a fit at the restraint.

Joanna worked with her a bit more, too. Before leading her out behind Helheim, she'd ask her to back away from the stable door, pick up all four feet, stand still for the hugger to be placed on, and then walk a circle around the box. She was praised for each step, and soon got the extra message that being asked to walk beside someone was just another thing that got her affection.

...

The sun was beginning to creep down on a Friday afternoon. Joanna had arrived just after school finished, quickly changing her clothes in the shower room in the new block before getting on with the afternoon yard chores. It was now a bit past six, and though she should have left on the hour, she'd already called her mum to say she was running a little behind. At least she had the weekend ahead to do her homework.

She finished sweeping back the fresh straw bed into a neat line and stood the broom by the door. Becca was approaching her again, the foal hugger over her shoulder, which she handed over.

"Let's fetch them," she said, nodding towards the doors at the end.

As eager as Helheim was to get out, she was equally eager to return inside, knowing evening feeds and a full net of hay was waiting for her. Heaven stood placidly alongside her mother at the gate of the Orchard for the hugger to be put on and Joanna to pick up and gently pick out all four of her tiny hooves. And then they were off, walking down the track towards the Farmhouse and then off to rejoin the path to the Yard.

Helheim strode into the headcollar, probably able to smell the hay already.

Just behind them, Joanna held the hugger and rope in one hand and rubbed gently at Heaven's golden neck with the other, but she was totally unphased. She walked loosely and easily, the rope laying gentle across her hocks. Her ears were pricked and she barely even pulled.

Beaming at her, Joanna glanced up and caught Becca's eye.

"Time we got that halter ordered online then, isn't it?" the older girl said.

Joanna looked down at the little filly. In the failing light, the speckles of pale pink alomst looked golden in her foal-down coat, spread like constellations up the backs of her ears. Yes. A halter was about due.

...

Progress is being maaaaaade

Featured here: Weekly art Feature [05.16.16]

Artwise...again, drawn a little while before I posted it (we're catching up, though). I was scouring information online about how to teach a horse to lead, and eventually this photo came up - it was one of the only decent images I could find that depicted the foal hugger in action, and with a mare in the shot, too. Everything was done with airbrush - lineart included this time. I've been on a bit of a kick for using the airbrush to line, lately. It mostly came out as I wanted it to, though I did need to do a few tweaks and resizing later on. It also felt just a bit bland, so I threw in a filter for a bit more sunlight. Heaven's foal pangare could be better, but in short I'm pretty happy. I do love how peafowl freckling comes out when I use greyscales, though

Time: hours. Didn't count.
Reference image: legacymedia.localworld.co.uk/2… (mainly for pose but some lighting influence)
Art and characters (save one) copyright to Tattered-Dreams
Helheim belongs to xxElanite
Nordanner belongs to Cloudrunner64
Do not take, copy, edit, redistribute or manipulate.