Foal going backwards!

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Knoir

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I have just bought an 8 month old filly, who is fabulous, but has worryingly started going backwards behaviour wise. While she was still at the breeders, I spent some time getting her civilised before her move to a friend's yard, 5 mins down the road, and she was doing very well. However, since moving, 3 weeks ago, her behaviour has declined dramatically. Catching her is difficult, and she's generally showing little signs of trusting humans at all any more. Her journey was calm, and she is with 2 other youngsters of a similar age, but she is by no means on a level with them, heirarchy wise. I'm recieving advice left right and centre, and am considering taking her home for 3 weeks over easter, but the journey will be nearing 3 hours, and I wonder if the trip away would just unsettle her more, even if I could return to intensive training for a few weeks? She is handled on a regular basis at her current home, but she's not reacting well, so much as she managed to strike out at a grooms face recently.
Has anyone else had to deal with similar problems? I have a strong network of support at my end, and I have dealt with a lot of problem horses before but usually from about 2 year olds up, and this young mind seems to be getting the better of me!

Thanks for reading this essay to anyone who has!

Kate
 
Uhm, try one on one, only one person handle her and do stuff with her, once she trusts them, try introducing new people? Thats the only thing I can think of anyhow..
 
My boy also went backwards behaviour wise (he is now 21 months and moved when he was 5 months ago that he moved) and it was because although he was getting daily handling in terms of checking him and bringing him in every other day he wasn't getting strict handling in different situations and so wasn't being mentally challenged. He has been getting better since he has been handled properly every day (or near enough) and although he still has some way to go (for which he is going to get some intensive training by someone better suited to handle it than me) he has improved. Personally I would keep doin what you are doing but make sure that she is concentrating when you handle her. Also maybe try loose schooling in a big area (so as not to hurt her limbs) as I found that it really helped to focus my boys attention on me and regained some respect.

Good luck
 
Your filly is having to adjust to a lot of change - weaning (I'd prefer to wean them later than 8 months if I had the choice), meeting new, dominant people, a different environment with different germs (she may feel a bit under the weather), and new people.
I'd leave her to settle with her field buddies, do minimal handling for the next month or so...but make it positive if you have to ...for example feeding, etc.
Then start to catch her at feed times, groom her, take her little walkies, teach her basic commands like 'back', 'over', 'walk on' etc, practice lifting her feet, putting on rugs. Keep each session short and sweet (less than 15 mins is ideal).
With time and patience I'm sure she'll be fine...don't worry.
S
grin.gif
 
thanks for the advice everyone, will certainly be taking it onboard.
I am inclined to think that keeping her where she is, even if it means less handling for a few more weeks, may still be less stressful for both of us.

Kate
 
Echo Shilasdair completely!

You have taken her out of her comfort zone, away from her home so it's not surprising she's trying to find her feet at all so for this reason alone I would be inclined to leave her where she is for the time being. It might be easier if you leave a leather headcollar on her in the field, that way you have something to hold rather than faffing about putting one on and while I believe quiet firm handling is the best way, if she ever lashes out like that again I would be inclined to give her a short but very sharp whack; behaviour like that must not be tolerated at all, however young she is. Also, when you do catch her and bring her in, have a mouthful of food waiting for her in the manger so she gets the idea it's nice to come in, you don't have to do it forever, just long enough that she gets the right idea; I'm sure it's one of the reasons I never have any trouble with catching any of mine, they're all food orientated!

Good luck with her, can we have some pic's?
 
I wouldn't move her again so soon unless you really have to. She's going through a phase and will come round given time. It's all been very traumatic for her so you need to give her a lot of time. My now 10-month old filly went through a phase of not being able to get near her when she was 4/5 months old but the minute she was weaned she became easy again. She then sent through another phase of not wanting to be caught for a month or so which she has just got over again. She's out with a NF of the same age and he has been a little sod to catch but all of a sudden is an angel. I was putting it down to the fact that he is still entire (he gets the chop next week) but no, he's just kind of "grown out" of it.
 
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