When I started my journey back into the horse world after a long break, I ran into a big problem here in Sweden. I just couldn’t find the right horse. So I flew to Texas, and found Trash—the horse that changed everything. But when I decided I wanted to get into breeding, everything changed again. I bought Shanaya, and after a few months I found myself preparing for my first foal.
The why behind my foal training journey
A lot of people in the horse world told me the same thing: don't get involved and just let the mare raise the foal.
But that didn't really sit right with me. I couldn't just stand on the side; I wanted to be part of that journey from its very first breath. So I immersed myself fully in foal training, learning everything I could find through online courses. When Shanaya’s filly, Sessan, was born, I devoured Clinton Anderson’s training videos. At first, I followed his methods step by step. But as more foals were born, I realized something fundamental: although basic training methods give you a foundation, every horse is unique and very different from one another. You can’t apply exactly the same approach to each and every one of them.
Horses, no matter how well-trained they are, are still powerful animals. Imagine a newborn foal: full of boundless energy, completely untrained, and eager to explore the world. Even though they’re small, they can be truly dangerous if they don’t learn their limits. Since I wanted to surround myself with safe, healthy, and well-behaved horses, I had to develop my own way of training them. I learned to listen to my instincts, adapt, and find unique solutions to the obstacles I faced.
Being legally blind shaped the way I train
People often mistake sight for the most important factor, believing that if you can’t see perfectly, you can’t work safely or effectively with horses. They are completely wrong. Energy and intuition go far beyond what the eyes can see.
Being legally blind has completely shaped the way I interact with my herd. Since I can’t rely on my sight, I’ve learned to read the energy of the horse I’m working with. I rely on my hands, my ears, and my memory. When I place my hands on a foal, I immediately sense whether its body is relaxed or tense, and I decide right then and there what our next step in training will be.
Having low vision means learning to rely on my other senses, but, more importantly, learning to trust the horse. Horses never lie. They sense things long before we do, and feeling their energy allows us to connect in a way that words cannot easily describe.
Teamwork makes the dream work
I train my foals because I want to give them a good start in life by establishing boundaries based on trust, mutual respect, and love. I train using the pressure-and-release technique, always prioritizing that the foal remains calm and relaxed. If a horse trusts you, it won’t fear you, and you’ll go much further in your training and in your lifelong relationship.
The most important step, without a doubt, in training a foal is having a relaxed, trusting relationship with the mare. You have to team up with the mother.
Lavendel is a beautiful example of this teamwork. We work together perfectly. Because she trusts me completely, she knows I’ll never hurt her daughter. Together, we raise Daisy as a team♥️
A foal training tip I live by
Whether you’re just starting out in foal training or trying to establish that deep connection with your newborn foal, my best advice is this: follow your instincts. Take the time to get to know your foal—and yourself—before asking anything of it. Work with what you have in front of you on that particular day.
Nothing can replace that overwhelming sense of pride and happiness when you achieve something new together and make real progress. Years later, when I look at the horses my foals have become, my heart is filled with joy knowing that their greatness came from that calm, connected foundation we built from the very beginning.
You can follow the adventures of our newest foal, Daisy—including her birth story, training, and other exciting moments—on our YouTube channel!
