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Post by lizpurlo on Dec 15, 2010 23:36:10 GMT 1
I had virtually the same problem as you two years ago, when I bought a wild Sec D colt at Brecon Market. I posted about him on the Horse Help board - sorry, can't do the link, but the thread's called 'Nervous cob weanling - any ideas?' and it's currently on page 15 of Horse Help! I got some brilliant tips there which you might find useful. And I ended up being able to put a rope halter on him, all on my own - it took several weeks but it was well worth it. He's fine now, and a big jolly two year old.
I found Kelly Marks' book 'Handling the Untouched Horse' incredibly useful, especially the bit about advance and retreat, which is really effective. The book is great value (about a fiver) and available from the IH office.
Best of luck with your filly, and well done for taking her on.
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aceofspades
Grand Prix Poster
My Little Baby Ace
Posts: 1,308
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Post by aceofspades on Dec 15, 2010 23:37:29 GMT 1
I went to one lady in brighton lastweek she had brought a foal from the nf sales in september. The poor thing had been stuck in a stable with a headcollar on that was too tight and had started to create sores on her nose, when we went there she was so scared and was throwing herselfs at the walls. It took 20 min to get her used to me being in her stable and she was the most friendly filly i had ever worked on giving me lots of kisses. How many horses is she going out in a field with as if out with others she might not stay with the other filly
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Post by kafee on Dec 16, 2010 20:11:05 GMT 1
Hi crazywelsh,
I've pm'd you. I'm not too far away, if you'd like some help/ideas, let me know. I've bought 6 semi-feral foals and they're all friendly, easy to handle ponies now.
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Post by taklishim on Dec 16, 2010 20:40:47 GMT 1
your horse sounds similar to mine except he was 2 and had been badly treated the head collar being his great bugbear. I was shown how to get it on easily and quickly by an expert. I couldn't believe it would work as we had tried for a year on our own. The next day we were putting the headcollar on by ourselves and leading him around the stable. ;D ;
He had the head collar on by the person sitting on a milk crate with a bucket of feed between her knees in a stable. Pony kept coming closer to take a mouthful and was soon happily eating out of the bucket. The headcollar was then opened out and put on top of the bucket. Pony came and eat with his nose gradually getting further through the headcollar. The same was repeated with the person moving their hands up and down the sides of his face, then with their hands holding the sides of the headcollar until gradually the sides were moved up his face etc etc. I think the buckle on the front of the nosepiece was unfastened to start with to make it easier. It took her a very short time to get the headcollar on and off. I would think that with several short sessions you would make a lot of progress. He was very very nervous but having the heacollar on mentally was a great turning point for him. Almost instantly his attitude to us changed and we made a lot of progress very quickly.. I taught my current foal to lead to the field by wrapping a long headcolloar rope right around him and that worked well. He learnt that very quickly.
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 19, 2010 14:41:49 GMT 1
Well the turnout was a disaster!!!! Holly and Indi went gallavanting around the field and pulled all the fencing down and let all the other horses out. We ended up constructing equine alcatraz to keep them in but when we got down the next morning they had broken out again. Holly is happy to follow the colt on a lead rein but they just cause so much trouble when they are out together and there is no way of having them both out and seperated as Indi now knows that if he walks through the fence with his rug on he doesn't get a ping!
Holly is now back in the stable so I will have to continue working with her for the next few weeks. Debbie wants the barn back for her old horses though so we are still on borrowed time and need to get out. There may be the possibility of another stable nearby which we could move her too but this means stressing her out again and getting her in and out of a trailer.
Holly is used to touch now and is happy to be stroked all up her neck and back and quarters when you have a food bucket. I have also touched her a little wothout the bucket but she is not so keen. Im not sure it's so much ofa fear thing now as she knows me well and I always bring her food or water or clean the stable and have never hurt her. She is just skitty and unsure, what would you suggest from here? I was thinking about rubbing the headcollar up her neck if she will let me?
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 19, 2010 14:42:30 GMT 1
Also I am going to buy Sarah Westons book after Christmas as hopefully this will give me some pointers.
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Post by kafee on Dec 19, 2010 18:20:59 GMT 1
I would get Sarah's book immediately, it's only £16, you are making progress, but you'll progress a lot faster with it.
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 20, 2010 1:03:39 GMT 1
Hi Kafee what does pm'd mean? Im new to this forum thingy. I have just realised there are two pages of this post lol. The milk crate headcollar idea sounds great i was thinking of a similair thing myself. Will most definately be getting Sarah Westons book now.
This may sound like a stupid question but what do I do if im putting the headcollar on and she pulls back or freaks out? Should I let go and see if she comes back to the bucket? What if it's flapping around and scares her more? If I hold on will that be a good idea if she feels the pressure wont she freak?
Taklishim can I ask how long this took? was it several sessions or over one feeding session?
Sorry guys I must sound like a right idiot but I know how much one little thing can really affect a youngster and im determined to get it right.
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Post by kafee on Dec 20, 2010 1:38:45 GMT 1
Hi crazywelsh, pm'd means I've sent you a personal message. After you've logged on, click on the word 'messages' at the top of the page and it'll take you to your inbox. All I've said is that I'm near you, and I'm willing to come and help.
I wouldn't try to headcollar her while she's eating, it's better to have all her attention so there are no misunderstandings: you want her to learn that she can trust you.
I wouldn't try to hold on if she pulls away as that will frighten her, and she will feel that she can't trust you.
If you would like me to show you how to approach her and gain her trust, pm me, and we'll get together. As she's already let you touch her, I would imagine you would be able to put the headcollar on within 30 minutes, with the right approach.
aceofspades has also offered to help, so you've plenty of support available to you, if you want it to accept it.
All the best with her, Kafee
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 20, 2010 21:47:02 GMT 1
I went and sat in the stable whilst feeding her from a bucket on the floor and she came and sniffed me all over. Then I spread the headcollar out on the bucket and she sniffed at it and ignored it so I rubbed it all over the back of her face and up the sides of her face. She even let me rub between her eyes and the front of her face which she has never done before. I did up the noseband and she happily pushed her head in and I carried on rubbing it all up the sides of her face but she kept backing away whenever I got too near to her ears and I decided not to push it and try to get the headband over her ears. I am really happy with the progress we made tonight, I know it doesn't sound a lot but if you had seen her a few weeks ago you would agree. My friend is saying I should rub a rope around her neck area and try to drape it over her neck then grab the end and have a Lariat type thing going on around. She then said that Holly would freak out which is "normal" and I would have to stand my ground and keep hold of her. I'm really not keen on this idea and would love for one of you guys to come up and "show her how it's done" but I really can't afford to pay you for the trouble at the moment I would love to try getting her used to the headcollar without the food bucket but she is just not interested in me unless I have food of some description. Thank you guys for all your help and advice this forum is brilliant, I don't know where I would be without you all!!!!
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Post by kafee on Dec 21, 2010 0:55:17 GMT 1
Please don't try getting as rope around her neck and holding on. You will frighten her, loose the trust you have built up, and you may well get hurt.
It's more important to build up that trust and be able to touch/rub her on her neck and back, than it is to get the headcollar on. Once you have that trust, putting the headcollar on is easy and stress free for both of you.
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Post by gillee on Dec 21, 2010 2:36:12 GMT 1
Hi Crazywelsh, I noticed that you said you are moving to Somerset in January which isn't so far from me. You may already be sorted out with help from Aceofspades but if when you move you find that you need more help then I would be happy to come over for just petrol and bridge toll if you like. Hope things are progressing ok.
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Post by crazywelsh on Dec 22, 2010 0:01:00 GMT 1
Had some good progress today, rubbed her all over her face and neck whilst she was eating and then put the bucket outside and carried on using advance and retreat. I managed to rub her all up her neck and back using this and not a feed bucket in sight!!! She even followed me around the stable and was a lot more interested in what I was doing, constantly watching me instead of walking away and turning her bum on me. Can't wait for Sarah's book to arrive, for the first time in a while I really left feeling happy and have hope
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Post by kafee on Dec 22, 2010 0:11:22 GMT 1
Brilliant, well done. It's such a great feeling when they give you their trust.
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Post by SarahW on Dec 22, 2010 15:37:21 GMT 1
HI Crazywelsh, the book went to the post office at 8 a.m. this morning so, providing it has been collected, it should be with you as soon as the snow allows. Hopefully by Friday.
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