help with new pony

[jennyw]

Hello, I'm new here.

I'm embarassed to relate the following but this is where I am at and I really would appreciate some advice going forward if possible

My background: I had ponies as a child up to my early twenties we bred from a couple and as the only horsey family member I 'raised' the foals until they were sold at 3-4 years old, I dont remember having many set backs and both were well mannered youngsters when they left us

Fast forward fifteen or so years...

I've bought two colts, both hill ponies of 18 months old. one is fine no problems there, he is a pleasure to deal with

I've struggled with the other. He arrived in August. his old owners had done a lot of ground work with him, he had been walked out in hand around the village and he behaved well when I went to see him.
On the day he arrived I groomed him and turned him out. He was calm and easy to lead, over the next few days I caught him and tied him to the fence in his field and groomed him, all ok.

Then a group of friends visited and one tried to take him to the stable to be groomed and he tanked off through the electric fence (I wasnt there at the time and have no idea if there was a trigger that made him go) the next day he did the same with me when I clipped his leadrope on

since that day he has not been able to be led at all, he is terribly jumpy and just pulls back and runs off. I have a rope halter and understand the pressure/release idea but dont stand a chance of getting it on him but he is still wearing the headcollar he had on when he arrived

Over time I have managed to be able to touch him all over, adjust his headcollar and pick out his feet while he is eating (distraction) But if I try to take hold of his headcollar and move him or clip a leadrope on he panics and pulls back. I always wear gloves and hat when I am with him

I thought of using a long lead rope or lunge rein to give him a chance to move away but not get out of control but worry that if he gets away he will do himself a serious injury with the rope

He eats a handful of plain chaff, a vit supplement and a little magnesium powder (in an effort to calm him!)

Selling him isnt really an option as colts are ten a penny and he is effectively worthless and I'd like to try and push through the problem without passing it on as I feel like I have failed him

I'm not sure where to go from here. Every day he is trusting me more it seems so should I just keep at it softly softly?

Part of me also thinks he is just taking advantage of me

His hooves are going to need to be trimmed soon but unless there is a dramatic turnaround I dont see how this is going to be possible!

I know these colts were not an ideal purchase, I have already beaten myself up on that count but if any one has any tips of how to progress I would be interested to hear them. thank you for reading.

[ladyndibs]

Is your boy scared of the rope itself or is it just when you clip it on?

[jennyw]

you can clip it on ok but he immediately plants himself and if he feels even the slightest pressure he starts to back up, does a little rear (literally just hooves off the ground) and tanks off. his pull is constant so there is never the chance for him to feel the release from pressure.

[Steve Reid]

Bring him into a confined area, if you can, and work with him there; a stable/loosebox would be ideal, but a small, safe yard would do.

You can then begin doing some effective 'advanced and retreat' work with your colt, and, when you get a rope clipped on to his headcollar, you can then correctly teach him how to yield to pressure.

The essence of teaching yielding to pressure is to encourage a response without incurring resistance. So with that maxim in mind, you should initially simply use a light, short-duration pull on the rope so that the colt's head is turned slightly toward you when you are standing to one side of him. As his head comes round, release the pressure. Of course his head will return to where it was, so repeat the exercise until he keeps his head where you have 'placed' it, then praise him.

Then move to the other side and teach him the same from there.

Prolonged, or heavy use of pressure will cause the horse to resist. Resistance is born of the horse feeling restraint against his instinct to flee, so short-duration, gentle-but-firm tugs will invite a response (not a reaction) without creating resistance through fear.

Once your colt has learned to yield to pressure from either side, you can step in front of him and, keeping a passive stance and demeanour, use gentle and more prolonged pressure to ask him to step forward. Having benefited from the earlier training, he will be less inclined to panic at the sensation of the pressure thus applied.

It is important to get the timing of the release right. I watch for the horse's intent to offer a response to pressure. This is often just a shift in his body-weight, or some other sign that he is about to comply, and that is the moment to release the pressure. Treated thus, the horse will nearly always 'follow through' with the required response. If he doesn't, simply try him again.

If he is allowed to try till he gets it right, and has not been caused to resist, and has not been caused pain or fear through reprimand for failure to understand, your colt will soon find the correct responses to your cues and will progress quickly through his training.

[Deleted]

Don't worry about clipping him on for the moment. It sounds like you're focussing on that which will make you appear to him tat you're just trying to grab him. That then turns you into a predator.

For the time being, use advance and retreat to have him accept you standing next to him, then stroking him. Start at the withers and see if you can develop a soothing rub. When you can do that, you can start working up his neck, always being ready to reward any attempt on his part to stay with you when he starts to worry by a release from pressure. You should be able to work up his neck and to his head, then round his headcollar, still without trying to take hold of it.

Then you can start to do the same with the lead line (a line rather than a rope becausse of the next bit). Again, don't try to clip on until he's happy with the line all over him.

Now you're ready to attach the line to the headcollar. I wouldn't clip on, but would instead thread the non-clip end through the side of the headcollar, by his jaw. That will allow you pull the line free if he does have a wobbly. I'd rather that he can free himself than get chased or caught up in it. Also, by having it to the side you can keep within his field of vision, and also have clearer lateral movement.

To start off with, just apply enough pressure for him to feel it. Hold it and let him understand he doesn't need to panic, then release. Only when he doesn't feel the need to panic at the first pull will you be able to teach him to give to the pressure.

Hopefully that should get you back to where you were a bit. If not, call an IH Recommended Associate. If you're in the south call Sarah Weston. She's ace at this sort of thing.

ps - don't be embarassed. This sort of thing happens and it's much better to ask and get it sorted out before the problem gets any worse.

[varkie]

I would suggest two steps - castration and an RA.

Castration will really help. Find a good vet who is prepared to help you, even though handling may be a bit challenging, and then get them cut. For starters, should you have to rehome them, they have a better chance of finding a home. Secondly I have definitely found that once they are over a year old, being entire can contribute to challenging behaviour, and in some colts it can express itself as nervousness. So for me that would be a first step - to remove those hormones.

Then bring in an RA to get you started - even in just one session, I bet you'll be amazed how much they can achieve.

[marvin]

re- working in an enclosed space like a stable, is that really a good suggestion seeing that the pony rears personally I would not want to be trapped in a space that small with any pony that could rear or panic.

[jennyw]

Thank you all so much for your advice.

I am keen to get both colts gelded but have put it off because I am worried the vet will not be able to sedate the flighty boy. I'll give them a call and see what they say, I guess he wouldnt be the first tricky customer they have had!

I do have stables so bringing him in is an option but would need to get him through a field of lush grass to the stable and doubt I would ever see him again if I did! I will section off a small part of his field to start with and will try some of your tips and see how I get on.

I do agree that some professional help is needed

Thank you all again

[ladyndibs]

I had a major problem with my mare regarding getting a headcollar on her.
The advice LizP gave me about how to deal with Lady was so good that within, I think it was three days, there was a significant differance in Lady's behaviour which was down to the changes I made to my way of handling her.
Lady is now so easy to handle that I very rarely use a headcollar just lay a lead rope over her neck but if I do put a headcollar on her she will actually turn her nose towards it rather than it take up to an hour to even get it over her nose let alone done up.
Good luck finding a way too deal with your problem, don't forget to let us know how you're getting on.

[outoftheblue]

Vets are used to handling lively colts and I agree, gelding would make a huge difference. Also during the process and for a while after Rig Calm from Global Herbs is very good. Good luck.