I've only been lurking on this thread, but now I feel that I must respond as I think some are confused on this subject. Back in the day when we bred and raised arabs this topic was just beginning. In its truest form it is very mean to the mare and the foal, and we never allowed it here. This is how it was started, trainers thought that this process would make the horse more managable, maybe so, but I would never tie a mare up that has just delivered, hold the foal on the ground for an hour or more, rub it all over, stick my fingers in its mouth and rub its gums, turn on my clippers and spend time tubbing them down with clippers, putting on rugs, a halter on a off, and many other things.
With that said, when our foals are born, yes, they are examined quickly, navel checked, a quick check on the palate, ointment in the eyes, then left with mom to learn how to nurse and bond, and be a horse.
My hubby is also a farrier, we also show, so clipping is important as is a trained horse for hoof trims.
Some think that we actually trim their hooves too young, but not in my book. At three weeks of age I hold the little one in my lap and hubby rasps the tiny hooves, it doesn't take to long and they don't mind, as I'm talking to them and scratching them.
The weather dictates when they are clipped or not, but I use the same in my daughters lap while I clip just a little while they are still young, it they need a full body clip I usually wait until it is hot outside as I feel that the foal coat is there for a reason. We take our time with halter breaking and usually use Mom to follow the first few lessons, all of our foals are also taught to tie and cross tie usally before they are even four months old. I don't wean until they are six months, but once I did wean one at four months as he was being shown. To each his own, maybe you could visit some big horse sites and look up imprinting as I probably haven't explained it very well. Good luck with your new foal.
