Horse doesn't like being touched on off side

Snowy Celandine

Snowy Celandine

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I've just got two mini Shetlands and I absolutely love them. They keep me entertained for hours each day :) One of them, however, is very reluctant to let me touch her anywhere on her off side. They are still babies (2 year olds) and one has been well socialised but the other hasn't had as much interaction with people and is a mixture of very friendly and very nervous. I can tell that she wants to be affectionate but she is very wary of me being on her off side and will do anything to push me back to the other side of her body.

I've never had young horses before and am keen to do my best raising them so please can anyone advise me if this is a 'normal' thing for young horses and if I'm ok to just continue taking things very slowly and building up what we do gradually i.e. reaching over and scratching her off side when I am standing on her near side?
 
It might just be that what little she has had done with her previously, has all been done from the left and continuing as you are doing will gradually get her used to being touched all over.
I have had two that were a bit like that as youngsters but got over it with patience and perseverance.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
It might just be that what little she has had done with her previously, has all been done from the left and continuing as you are doing will gradually get her used to being touched all over.
I have had two that were a bit like that as youngsters but got over it with patience and perseverance.
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Thanks for the reassurance Pearl :) I'm happy to carry on as slowly as she needs until she feels more relaxed about being touched all over. She's a lovely girl and seems a lot happier when I am sitting on a bale and therefore more on her level rather than looming over her.
 
Snowy Celandine said:
Thanks for the reassurance Pearl :) I'm happy to carry on as slowly as she needs until she feels more relaxed about being touched all over. She's a lovely girl and seems a lot happier when I am sitting on a bale and therefore more on her level rather than looming over her.
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It sounds as if you are doing the right things with her. Our Appaloosa is still happier if you approach her with anything new from the left and work round to using it from the off side later and we've had her 4 years.
 
I have two mini Shetland ponies too. One of mine is 2 and the other 8. I bought the 2year old at 6 months and she is fine with working from both sides. The older one had been a herd mare at 2 studs was basically neglected and just like yours hated being touched or grooming on the off side. I found regular grooming and gradually building up on offside has worked and after 12 months I can now groom her on either side and even lead her from the offside. I suggest regular grooming as its relaxing and just gradually do a little on offside and build up. Although they are small they are also pretty smart and learn easily. I love my two and would not be without them having had larger horses all my life. I am taking mine to Shetland shows and show them in hand which is great fun. So enjoy and don`t worry persistence pays off.
 
One of mine wouldn't lead or be held from the offside for the first few months :rolleyes3: He's a perfectly normal horse to handle now, so it may be nothing. If she doesn't get over it, I would get her eye checked on that side for starters, but I wouldn't presume anything's wrong at this stage :)
 
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