Seven Hacks For Picking A Great Dressage Foal - Hack #6: Look For Clues As To The Foal’s Demeanor

I have a 35 year old mare in our barn who everyone adores. She is smart, affectionate, and has always been the most wonderful riding horse. I’ve had this horse under my care since she was born and I rode her mother and her father. 

She had a full sister that was born evil. When I say evil, I mean a special kind of evil. She was one of the most beautiful foals you could think of and had absolutely incredible gaits. But from the first moment of her life, she would try to kill you if you went into her stall. 

There was absolutely nothing that ever happened in this foal's life to make her like this. It was simply the random arrangement of genes. She was extremely smart and she was mean. I was kicked more than once by that foal and she hurt me intentionally. I was a very experienced handler of foals, and was a professional at getting along with and handling babies and young horses. We sold the horse for one dollar to a professional, with full disclosure of her dangerous demeanor. 

I tell you this story to make a point that many naive horse enthusiasts refuse to accept; some horses are mean, difficult, spooky, nervous, uncooperative, stubborn, cantankerous, from day one - and you won’t change that nature. Some horses require a level of strong handling that most of us compassionate horse people are not comfortable with. 

All this to say, pay attention to a foal’s demeanor. Look for clues. 

I like to see a foal that is alert and aware of things around them, but brave enough to walk up to them. I like to see a foal that will get itself excited and really put on a show, but then drop its neck and walk calmly back to the barn after it is finished showing off. If a foal gets wound up and can’t settle down, that might be a red flag. 

I like to see a foal that lets you walk up to it and maybe even pet it. That can be a difficult assessment however, because some caretakers handle their foals, while others do not. If you need a nervous, hard-to-handle mare, be careful to look for the clues that the foal isn't also difficult. If the mare never had good rideability because of her temperament, don't buy one of her foals. There are plenty of others to choose from, so don't take the chance!

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This post is the opinion of Steven Wolgemuth at the time of publication. If you have ideas you'd like to contribute to this article, a question, or even a disagreement, please share them with Steve. Together we make one another better.

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