Advice on handling tricky 2yo please!

[Starbucks]

Was hoping someone might be able to help! I'm more of a rider than a handler myself and our other youngsters have been good as gold so not sure what best approach to take!

So 2yo, IDxTB she's about 15.1 at the mo. We know the breeder she's had a nice little life but never left yard, not done anything.

Anyway we couldn't get her in th trailer to move her here. She did go in a few times but would panic / rear / back out. So mum and dad had the bright idea of walking her over (5 miles but quiet lanes), well we've seen everything and she's here but it was very stressful! Then when we got here she wouldn't go in the stable!

So she's just a bit skittish / untrusting. But she doesn't have to do anything for a year or so now so we've got a bit of time.

What is the best approach to get her a bit more trusting and less wild?

 

[TGM]

Put her out with a fieldsafe head collar in a paddock with fairly sparse grazing, so she has to rely on you for extra food. Don't make a big issue about catching her at first. Encourage her to come to you for a bucket of food (you will probably have to catch and segregate companion at this point, handy to have a small electric fencing pen you can put him or her in). Gradually get youngster used to you standing next to her whilst she eats, then holding bucket, then touching neck, then face, then head Collar. Soon she we realise you are the source of good things and not scary at all. Our youngster was very wary when we got him as a 2yo but soon became a real people person after a few months! Once she is more trusting of you then you can work on things like stabling and loading. Did you take a companion in the trailer when you tried to load her as a big ask for an untraveled youngster to go in a trailer on their own. When we brought ours home he did have another horse for company, which was just as well as it took 5 hours in the lorry so walking home was not an option!

 

[melbournesunrise]

Spend time with her without any pressure. If she's a bit wild, make sure you're wearing protective clothing, but go and be with her. From when I worked with young horses, I'd say preferably a paddock or somewhere that isn't a confined space, so they have the option not to be near you. Just sit or stand and let them come to you. I've read books to horses in the past, so they get used to the sound of my voice!

Don't worry about feet or grooming or anything like that. Most I'd say if she's worried is basic halter training to begin with, using something field-safe so it doesn't matter if she disappears while wearing it. That way, she will learn to stand and allow you to catch her.

At this stage, they need to associate you with food, care, and calm behaviour. Baby steps, quite literally.

 

[TheMule]

I find buddying them up with a reliable horse and using that to introduce new experiences very helpful- things like walking the friend into the stable first and def helpful for going into the trailer

 

[Starbucks]

Well now we've got her home we have a cheerful mini shetty to lead the way! She didn't want to go in the stable so we got the Shettie out and she went straight in. So I reckon she will follow her in the trailer.