help with unhandled youngster

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rowy

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Really want to learn, any tips will b extremely appreciated!
I have just bought a 2 yr old exmoor filly who had basically never been handled so was very nervous! I have had her a week today. I kept her in for first 3 days where I went out loads to handle her and she has been going really well. She let's Mr stroke her all over, groom her all over, put headcollar on, brush tail, tie up, pick front feet.
However, if u go to stroke her without holding putting leadrope on or over the door she puts her ears back and moved away straight away. I can only catch her if I discreetly and quickly grab a piece of baking twine we hang from her field safe headcollar she has on 24/7. As soon as I touch bailing twine or put headcollar on over the top/ attach lead rope she is fine, laid back and falls asleep and not grumpy or anything.
So help please :) oh and I can catch her in the field straight away if u have food, she walks up to me.
 
I would say time will be your friend!! A week is not a long time, so I would continue how you are, and don't put too much pressure on her....
 
Your doing the right things, it will just take time, she needs to learn she can trust you and your not a preditor. The longer you do it for the more youll be able to do. But grooming touching all over and been rewarded for good behviour shell come good. And if you spend this year doing what your doing now, shell be more than ready to back as a 3 years old. Walking in hand is another good thing. Also if your a fn of join up you my find that usefull and it may help build bond. Although not everybody is afan of join up so its entirely your preference.:)
 
I have just bought two (yes I know I am mad) unhandled yearlings. They were born in a field and then weaned into a field with a load of others. I have just been very quiet and patient; the gelding is better than the filly (that's women for you). However I have researched Pax and bought some from ebay, it has revolutionised my ability to touch my filly and they are both easy to catch and bring in now. My O/H was very sceptical about it until he tried some and now uses it all the time when handling said babies.
It is an old horsemans remedy and I had a job to remember the name, but it does all it says on the bottle for me anyway. Hope this helps.
 
I have recently been through this with my baby. He came to be having been untouched 3 weeks prior to arriving at my yard.

I would say dont rush anything! Have a small handful of pony nuts in your pocket and stand in her stable giving her one at a time when she comes to you. She will quickly associate your presence with something nice. I also found "join up" very useful. For every interaction you have with her that is positive she will make progress. So make sure everything feels "nice" to her. I also used the IH pressure and release methods. I got myself an IH trainer just to give me confidence that we were moving in the right direction...and it has been such a rewarding experience.

My boy was a nervous reck when I got him. Everytime I entered the stable he would run to the back of it and show his bum, and even kick out! He was simply petrified. He is now the opposite! This morning (12 weeks after I got him) I found him lying down in his box, and went in a sat beside him! He rested his chin on my leg and went to sleep! lol! I was choked up!

It will happen just be patient. If she is only 2 years old you have plenty of time to do this stuff with her.
 
My younger horse came to me as a strapping 16hh unhandled 2 year old. He is now a lovely, well manered all rounder.

It took me time and patience. I refused to listen to other people who wanted to use ropes and force to get him to do what I wanted.

I read "Perfect Manners" by Kelly Marks as well as more traditional books by Pippa Funnell etc. I found Perfect Manners gave me ideas 'outside the box' and they gave me other ways to approach rather than using physical strength - which as a woman is a good idea.

Please make sure you teach 'personal space'. I didn't go into it enough and my lovely horse can be a bit ignorant at times. It is more important than I realised at the time!
 
Forgot to mention - although it is more work. Nothing compares to the feeling when they go to their first show or get their first rosette or even just walk over to you in the field - and you look and think, "I did that."

You feel so proud.
 
Time, she needs to learn to trust you and it's not something you can rush, some take longer than others, spend time around her in the field, plonk a chair out and read a book, horses are extremely nosey creatures even they shy and nervous type, she eventually want to be around you, or perhaps wander over to her water trough and sit there, have a splish splash, sounds silly but drinking time is a very social and relaxing time for horses, you may find she'll wander over and drink in your pressance.

Also think about your body language and what signals your giving off on your approach when going for her headcoller.
 
Thanks everyone for your help, its nice to hear your stories and that others have had the same problems and come through them, Just have to be patient and keep going :)
 
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