Post by Zoe RA on Nov 25, 2009 21:08:57 GMT 1
What a difference it makes when a pony - Forest born and bred - doesn't have to pass through the sale ring!
Today was a text book first head collaring for Bonnie, the 6 month old New Forest filly foal who has belonged to Sarah (who owns Stormy) for four days ;D
In the last four days Sarah has gained Bonnie's trust enough to be able to stroke her on the shoulder, and, although she is obviously nervous of anything new, Bonnie was very brave.
I started off by working out which corner Bonnie was happiest standing in (they always have one place in the box where they feel most comfortable) and then I worked with her there, first by rubbing her all over with my false arm, then introducing her to the bamboo cane with the line looped over.
She had a little worried moment before I popped it over her head, but once it was on, she was tolerating it enough for me to be able to work more closely with her.
I worked quietly with her until she was happy for me to touch all up her neck, between her ears, under her chin, and around her face and nose - giving her regular little brakes - until I was confident that she would be accepting of a head collar. She did have one or two wobbly moments, but she calmed down very quickly after each little wobble. I always use a head collar that opens at the nose for a first one as horses are far more accepting of it coming from behind and around than of coming toward them.
I then fastened the head piece around her neck with the nose band open, and fixed a thin dog lead on to one of the eyelets on the nose band so that I was able to pass the nose band around her nose from above so to speak, and quietly do it up. It took me a little while to get to the stage that she was happy to have it round her nose and done up, but we got there ;D Not all horses need to have the extra length of the dog lead to enable this maneuver, and are quite happy to have you put your hand under their chins and push the nose band up and round until you can reach it with the other hand to do it up.
Her very first head collar was slightly too big for her (the buckle is on the bony part of her nose), but it is easier to get a larger one on first, then swap it for a smaller one once she is wearing one, so in the following photos she is wearing her larger one in the first couple of pics, and the right size smaller one in the subsequent pics.
Newly head collared but still worried:
I unclipped her, let her have a wander round, then Sarah went in with her. She stood beautifully for Sarah to clip on, but is still concerned:
In her corner again, but with her proper head collar on:
Ain't I pretty?! And look, I'm relaxing now!
Ooooh, I get tea for being so brave
Today was a text book first head collaring for Bonnie, the 6 month old New Forest filly foal who has belonged to Sarah (who owns Stormy) for four days ;D
In the last four days Sarah has gained Bonnie's trust enough to be able to stroke her on the shoulder, and, although she is obviously nervous of anything new, Bonnie was very brave.
I started off by working out which corner Bonnie was happiest standing in (they always have one place in the box where they feel most comfortable) and then I worked with her there, first by rubbing her all over with my false arm, then introducing her to the bamboo cane with the line looped over.
She had a little worried moment before I popped it over her head, but once it was on, she was tolerating it enough for me to be able to work more closely with her.
I worked quietly with her until she was happy for me to touch all up her neck, between her ears, under her chin, and around her face and nose - giving her regular little brakes - until I was confident that she would be accepting of a head collar. She did have one or two wobbly moments, but she calmed down very quickly after each little wobble. I always use a head collar that opens at the nose for a first one as horses are far more accepting of it coming from behind and around than of coming toward them.
I then fastened the head piece around her neck with the nose band open, and fixed a thin dog lead on to one of the eyelets on the nose band so that I was able to pass the nose band around her nose from above so to speak, and quietly do it up. It took me a little while to get to the stage that she was happy to have it round her nose and done up, but we got there ;D Not all horses need to have the extra length of the dog lead to enable this maneuver, and are quite happy to have you put your hand under their chins and push the nose band up and round until you can reach it with the other hand to do it up.
Her very first head collar was slightly too big for her (the buckle is on the bony part of her nose), but it is easier to get a larger one on first, then swap it for a smaller one once she is wearing one, so in the following photos she is wearing her larger one in the first couple of pics, and the right size smaller one in the subsequent pics.
Newly head collared but still worried:
I unclipped her, let her have a wander round, then Sarah went in with her. She stood beautifully for Sarah to clip on, but is still concerned:
In her corner again, but with her proper head collar on:
Ain't I pretty?! And look, I'm relaxing now!
Ooooh, I get tea for being so brave
