Imprint Training: A Swift, Effective Method for Permanently Shaping a Horse's behavior

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for the New Breeder
Review: I love this book. Miller's indepth descriptions of the initial bonding, desensitization and sensitization of newborn foals is incredible. He describes in great detail how to teach a foal that humans are "the boss," how to desensitize a foal to stimuli that it will experience all its life (i.e., the farrier, the vet, etc.), and how to teach a foal early on to react to other stimuli positively thus learning to lead, back up, move laterally, and even load into a trailer before it is 2 weeks old. I have used these techniques for the past several years with great results and will be using it again this year. The foals are easy to handle, stand well for the farrier, and even accept the bit and saddle without incident once they are three. Bottom line: this technique creates horses that trust humans rather than fear them.

Rating:
Summary: "IMPRINTING"
Review: I TAKE THIS BOOK TO THE BARN EVERYTIME I HAVE A FOAL IN MY BREEDING OPERATION, FOR REFERENCE. THE AUTHOR CLEARLY STATES HOW TO "IMPRINT" A FOAL TO REMOVE FEAR AND FOLLOWS UP WITH "RESPECT" TRAINING IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS. MANY PEOPLE CLAIM THEY IMPRINT THEIR HORSES BUT I FEEL THAT THE METHOD DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK, IF FOLLOWED, WILL PUT ARGUMENTS AGAINST IMPRINTING TO REST. VISITORS ARE OFTEN AMAZED AT HOW RESPECTFUL AND TRUSTING OF HUMANS MY FOALS ARE AS A RESULT OF THESE TECHNIQUES. A MUST READ FOR ANYONE SEEKING NEW LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH HORSES. THIS METHOD SETS THE STAGE FOR TRUE COMMUNICATIONS FROM BIRTH TO COMPANION HORSE. I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH BETTER THE IMPRINTED HORSES UNDERSTAND MY BODY LANGUAGE: FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, TONES OF VOICE...

Rating:
Summary: "IMPRINTING"
Review: I TAKE THIS BOOK TO THE BARN EVERYTIME I HAVE A FOAL IN MY BREEDING OPERATION, FOR REFERENCE. THE AUTHOR CLEARLY STATES HOW TO "IMPRINT" A FOAL TO REMOVE FEAR AND FOLLOWS UP WITH "RESPECT" TRAINING IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS. MANY PEOPLE CLAIM THEY IMPRINT THEIR HORSES BUT I FEEL THAT THE METHOD DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK, IF FOLLOWED, WILL PUT ARGUMENTS AGAINST IMPRINTING TO REST. VISITORS ARE OFTEN AMAZED AT HOW RESPECTFUL AND TRUSTING OF HUMANS MY FOALS ARE AS A RESULT OF THESE TECHNIQUES. A MUST READ FOR ANYONE SEEKING NEW LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH HORSES. THIS METHOD SETS THE STAGE FOR TRUE COMMUNICATIONS FROM BIRTH TO COMPANION HORSE. I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH BETTER THE IMPRINTED HORSES UNDERSTAND MY BODY LANGUAGE: FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, TONES OF VOICE...

Rating:
Summary: Very Good Book for first-time foal handlers
Review: I thought this book was very good for the young, or novice foal owner/handler. I found that most of the information I already knew by learning the hard way i.e. trial and error. I have seen many intolerant/uneducated people handle foals rough so they should have read this book first before the foal was ever born. If they had they would be having a much more loving and harmoneous relationship with their foals, and also their grown horses.

Rating:
Summary: The proof is in the results
Review: I used Dr. Miller's techniques from this book to imprint my first foal. He is a 4 year old stallion now and is docile as they come. He still thinks he's my baby. The second foal I had, by a different sire & dam, I didn't really imprint. Although he was born with a good temperament, he was so much behind and harder to train than the first had been. He's also a stud.

Rating:
Summary: Run, don't walk away from this book.
Review: I was really excited about the method of imprinting, I read the book and saw the video a 100 times. He made everything look terribly simple. Well the blessed event finally occurred and I did everything according to textbook. I've had trouble with my colt since. He doesn't respect me, no matter how hard I am with him. I've never seen him submit, obey after a big fight, but never submit. Submit = licking and chewing behavior. He still fights me with the feet occasionally. In fact almost broke my arm the other day after a war with the back hoof. Most will say it works with fillies but not with colts. It could just be my colt, but it sure has been an ongoing battle. I don't recommend the method or the book. Yes handle your foals, but I wouldn't overwhelm them with 45 minutes of stimuli. I would gently do each stimulas as the day progresses and as the weeks progress. One thing at a session.

Rating:
Summary: A great system
Review: If you have heard of imprint training and want to imprint your foal, you have to read this book. There is a lot of misinformation about imprinting foaling around out there, and this book lays it out logically and in a organized fashion. If you are simply interested in imprint training or want to learn more, then read this as well. Dr. Miller is the fellow who has popularized this method in the past 15 years, although it has existed to some degree in remote pockets of training. Essentially, imprinting training is neither of those two words. It is two different times in the foal's life. One, the first hour after birth, during which the foal is accepting of its surroundings. This time can be used to get the foal used to just about anything. Touched everywhere (except the sides of the barrel, which you sensitize when they are standing), restrained, used to clippers, plastic, etcetera. The second period is during the first week of the foal's life during which you can follow up on the desensitization and starting leading and tying. What I like the most about it, is that the foal will not be afraid of humans. He or she had you there at birth and therefore accept you into his or her definition of a herd. My second favorite aspect of this training method, is that you will end up with a halter broke foal that can be taken almost anywhere needed.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST for anyone desiring a true bond with their new foal!
Review: It was very easy to find this book on the top of my stack of accumulated materials on foaling - great illustrations really set in my mind what I would be doing with my foal at the time of her rather eventful arrival. Now that she is seven months old, we are still working with the lessons of the book and I believe that starting her with the Imprinting as the book recommended gave me a huge advantage in our being comfortable together and her being accepting of the lessons we have proceeded through thusfar. She's awesome and I know this is part of the reason why that is!!

Rating:
Summary: The diffrence is imprinted at birth.
Review: The Author Robert M. Miller, D.V.M. takes you through the process of imprinting a foal from birth, all the way through the first year. This beautifully illustrated book can educate the novice as well as reinforce the experienced professional on the step by step procedures to follow. From personal experience, my yet to be yearling is a perfect example of the theory behind the authors teachings.The final outcome is a well-mannered animal that trusts humans and is willing to be taught.To anyone that is expecting a foal, this book is a must!

Rating:
Summary: Excellant book for the breeder and horse lover
Review: The Book is very informative and is a must for the 4-H breeder and horse lover that intends to breed their mare.