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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 14, 2010 23:49:34 GMT 1
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I visited the New Forest sales in November with a friend...Big Mistake!!!! It was not my intention to buy a horse of any kind, I have been riding on and off for about 17 years and always helped out with friends horses. Anyway to cut a long story short I ended up bidding for a coloured filly 6 months old with blood on her quarters who was absoloutely terrified!!!
I won said Filly and my friend also purchased a half Arab colt of the same age from a breeder there. We had them both transported home and put them in the barn together. The colt - Indi has been a dream, very curious and nosy, he is now halter broken, wearing a rug and turned out with the big horsies.
My filly - Holly is terrified of everything especially people and touching. We have been close enough to realise that the blood on her quarters was not hers thankfully and she is sound in every way. However she is not interested in human contact and I am unable to get a halter on her to start handling her or building a relationship. We split Indi and Holly up this weekend and she has come on a little more, she is now happy to eat from a bucket in our hands and when you put your hand in she makes faces at you but you can touch her cheek - gently. We had an issue with her hiding her head in the corner and throwing her quarters at us but we have used a bit of natural horsemanship and she is now giving us two eyes and even follows us around the stable a little.
Problem is on Saturday I have to turn her out with Indi and I am still not able to get a halter or a rope near her. I don't want to hurt her or overload her as she is still a baby but I am at my wits end!!!
Any advice welcome!!!!
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jinglejoys
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Post by jinglejoys on Dec 14, 2010 23:59:18 GMT 1
Will she follow the other horse?Don't take any notice of her and lead the other horse slowly and calmly to the field?
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 15, 2010 0:04:02 GMT 1
Thats what we are planning on doing but won't it be harder to work with her in a big field? How will I ever get her to trust me enough to put a halter on her and work with her? She really doesn't want to know people and im scared I will never be able to catch her.
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Post by mandal on Dec 15, 2010 0:09:57 GMT 1
I think a visit from a Recommended Associate (RA) of IH would be your best bet tbh. Give your nearest one a ring or email and explain the problems. It sounds like you need some pointers and someone coming to see you and the filly is imo the best way to go. www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/content/view/47/97/Good luck.
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Post by kafee on Dec 15, 2010 0:12:30 GMT 1
Get hold of a copy of Sarah Weston's book 'No fear, no force'. Make yourself a hand (glove) on a stick, and use advance and retreat technique. You'll need to get her on her own in a small space, 10' x 10'.
Or go to the IHRA's showcase area, and follow links to Sarah's blog. Also look up Fred and Flora on Zoe Chipman's file in the IHRA showcase.
Good luck, you won't regret your impulse buy, NF's are wonderfully friendly ponies, once you've gained their trust.
Where abouts are you? I'd love to come and help if you're not too far away.
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Post by barbararob on Dec 15, 2010 8:47:14 GMT 1
It might actually work to your advantage in the field, I've halter broke ponies for friends and the ones who have turned out the best and most willing are the ones who have to be done in the big wide world - possibly because they have more choice and it is impossible to force your will in a 5 acre field. I find those that are done in confined space are good but a lot less willing. My advice if you can cope with the turnout situation for basics is to take the pressure off yourself - let her come to you.
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Post by barbararob on Dec 15, 2010 8:49:14 GMT 1
....and something else that popped into mind. With ones who are difficult to catch (once they are not scared) approach from the hind and give a good scratch then work your way along, some who haven't been used to people don't understand our need to get to the head and control that bit!!!
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milo
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Post by milo on Dec 15, 2010 8:53:51 GMT 1
she'll come round in time, let her follow her mate in and out the field, this is what i did with mare and foal that i brought at sales, i didnt put any pressure on the foal at all as she was so petrified of everyone and everything, with the advice from sarah weston i was able to put a head collar on the mum and just led her in and out and let the foal follow, after a short while the foal would let me scratch her on her shoulders and then all over and slowly began to accept that i wasnt going to kill her until one day i was able to calmly walk upto her and just put a ahead collar on and off again, never put a headcollar on your foal and leave it on if you cant catch her very well as it'll grow into her head as she grows, my little foal is now 2 and very very friendly shes seen the farrier a few times and has been good as gold.
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Post by treacletart on Dec 15, 2010 8:54:40 GMT 1
How long have you had her? Time is so amazing, give her more time than imaginable, she should come round. I have an 8yo which came from the forest as a frightened angry 6month baby. Time and understanding encouraged her to trust and have faith. It sounds like you have given her a good start so far, and are going along the right lines. It would be great if you had a progressive thread for you and Holly.
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joflo
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Post by joflo on Dec 15, 2010 9:02:56 GMT 1
Time, time, time. Take the pressure off yourself. She'll come round but softly, softly catchy monkey. My first proper pony as a kid was an NF. Half broken youngster, wary of people, not the ideal buy for a 14 year old but what an amazing boy he turned into. Some sound advice on here and try and enjoy the journey. Well done for saving her and lots of good luck, I'm sure she'll be well worth it in the end
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Amanda Seater
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Post by Amanda Seater on Dec 15, 2010 10:10:51 GMT 1
as barb said approach from behind. I could go on and on but get Sarah Westons book it will say everything you need. Or better still she maybe running a course soon. My friend buys welshies off the hills and sales and they are WILD. she keeps them as a herd outside after a week or so indoors. They are not all halter trained before they go out and we slowly catch them over a month or so.
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 15, 2010 22:21:26 GMT 1
At the moment I really can't afford an RA but it is definately something I will be considering when my financial situation improves. I managed to contact her breeders today and the man said that she had been taken straight off grass with her mum then crush crated, microchipped and shipped to the sales. She has never been handled at all. I have had her just over two weeks now and today I have made more progress, she will eat from a bucket against the wall of the stable and let me stroke her neck and withers. She is still not keen on this and makes faces at me and paces a bit but it is still progress. Debbie even managed to stroke her neck and walk off after we had fed her without a bucket so maybe she will come round on her own.
I am thinking that turning her out will maybe do her good, as she has never been stabled before maybe the last few weeks have been extra stressful what with leaving her mum and being transported. I don't think the hand on a stick idea will work at all as she is terrified of sticks at the moment as that was what they used on her to crate and load her.
I think I will keep a diary on here of her progress so maybe I can look back on this in months to come and laugh at myself :-)
A friend also commented that "she is just Welsh" I have never heard of this issue that apparantly all welshies have and i'm from Wales!!! Has anyone else heard that they think differently and are a bit loony?
We are going to lead Indi and hope she follows him out to the field on Saturday so fingers crossed for that. I am moving to Somerset at the end of January so will need to at least be able to get her in a trailer by then but as has been said time is an amazing think and thats 4 weeks away.....
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aceofspades
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Post by aceofspades on Dec 15, 2010 22:38:49 GMT 1
where are you based if your not to far away ill come and do it for you if you cover my petrol. I buy atleast 5 foals every sale to bring round, Im in southampton hampshire, if interested let me no xx
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 15, 2010 23:05:33 GMT 1
Im only in Bognor Regis so not too far, what sort of techniques do you use? We seem to be making some good progress now and im kind of liking the idea of turning her out now as it may make her easier to bring on.
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aceofspades
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Post by aceofspades on Dec 15, 2010 23:32:00 GMT 1
all natural methods, i get them used to the touch first to show them your not going to hurt them, all in all it normally takes roughly 20 min but by the end of it you will be able to touch her all over and go in and catch her. exsp foals seem to come round alot quicker and soon relise your not going to hurt them. Our foals are out in a walkway 2 days after we brought them comming in at night and bythe end of the week they are so friendly there out in a 12 acre field with other horses. You have def got the weather on your side as they will be hungry so make sure aswell shes eating hard food before she goes out
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