Advice needed on nervous pony...

[MrsMagoo]

Hi all, I need some advice please..not used to these little ponies lol. Well we rescued a little 11hh pony who is now out with my youngster and 1 other. We think he's had a bit of a hard time bless him as he seems very nervous round people, the main problem being we can't catch the little blighter...well have managed to twice but after 1hr each time lol!!

He seems to want to come over but will only come so far then as soon as you move he's of - even with a bucket of food he'll come so far grab a mouthfull then run. He's fine living out but I really do need to handle him some more even just to check him over!

He does have a headcollar on - not that I can even grab that. I was hoping him watching me with the other 2 will encourage him or he'd follow my boy but its not the case.

Any advice what we can do? The idea eventually is we want to donate him to a disabled riding school when he's settled and ready.

Thanks

 

[ThePony]

I'd just give him time. Be in the field with him - poo picking, checking fences etc and don't go to him just let him come to you, check you out and then walk off again. If you take a bucket of food in then again, allow him to come to you, take what he wants from the bucket and wonder off again. If he is worried about someone going to grab his headcollar etc then he will just make a dash for it! After time letting him come to you, when he seems settled with the idea and doesn't just take a mouthful and run off, then slowly touch and stroke his shoulder etc. As long as you don't lunge at him and stop before he shows signs of being uncomfortable with it then he should come right in no time. Ponies are generally nosey hungry creatures so inquisitivness should get the better of nerves when he feels he knows and can trust you!

 

[miss_bird]

I had this with a stallion i brough he was compelety wild and i had him in a 3 acre field on his own.
I used to go each day with his feed and sit next to the bucket, at first mouth full then off, gradually he ate it all. then i sat and held the bucket, eaach time he accepted my move i moved on to the next step.
Seems silly but i then had my thumb sticking out so when he ate my thumbs was near him then wiggled the thumb, touched him with the thumb, and so on, each time moving another bit of my hand.
It did take 3 moths but all throught trust i was able to go to field and give him his food and stroke him all over whilst he ate (still no head collar mind).
When it came to breaking the horse he was just the easiest horse ever as nothing that had been done to him by me was ever unplesant.
I still have him and anyone who meets him does not believe he is a stallion as he follows me around the field with his head on my shoulder.
Trust was the thing that built our relationship and it is the thing that keeps it strong.
He is the 2nd picture in my siggie