How do I tame a feral young horse?

p87 said:
A woman I knew years ago was given about 5 or 6 feral ponies by a farmer who wanted them off his land. And she decided I was to 'tame' and 'back' them. They were put straight into their stables - hadn't ever had head collar on, farmer reversed trailer up to boxes and manhandled each one into each box.

After letting them settle in I spent a lot of time (I was a school kid at the time, had loads of free time!) just sitting with them, feeding them, talking/singing to them and eventually moving around them in their boxes, not touching them, letting them come to me - but still no touching them. I wanted them to wonder why when they came to me I didn't respond back, and they did.

Once they were happy with me there they got quite curious and would follow me around the box (looking for treats no doubt ;) ) and trying to nose me, so I gradually started touching them, progressed to stroking and ESPECIALLY around the head, poll and neck while they fed from a bucket.

Then I jumped in with my sneaky wee trick.... noseband of headcollar in the bucket, they stuck their nose in and I ran my hands all over their head, poll, neck as I always done and got the headcollars on. I won't say it worked easily, a few spotted the headcollar, shied away etc but one or two were none the wiser.

I just gradually built it up, playing it by ear, listening to their body language and what they were reacting to, backing off when they asked me to back off, pushing it a bit more when they let me.

Before long I had tack on, driving harnesses on, rugs flapped over them, I'd make deliberate sudden movements and loud noises and they wouldn't jump through the roof. They trusted me, and I trusted them. Although they weren't ever 'good' with the farrier he could still get the job done.

Managed to ride a few, have memories of being careered round the field on one lol, broke a few to drive a cart and and one (total lost cause!) I couldn't get near at all from day one and never did.

At the time, being a school kid it was purely fun! It wasn't my job, it wasn't I MUST DO THIS, I never set myself any goals, targets or pushed myself, I just had fun spending time with the ponies.

I'm not in touch with the lady any more, but I often wonder what happened to them. No more advice than anyone else can give really, just wanted to share my experience of it :)
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What a lovely comment!
 
CrazyCobLady said:
What a lovely comment!
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Thanks CrazyCobLady! I have both good and bad memories of those ponies, but mostly good, as I just felt so lucky to have these ponies all to myself :)
I was always gutted about the one I couldn't get near. She was a lovely little palomino thing, and as a young teen this was a dream pony haha I was always hoping that one day we could strike up some sort of magical bond and gallop off through the stubble field together but nope... any time I tried to go into the box she would corner me and lash out. I tried and tried but never got anywhere with this one, although typically I think that made me love her more ;)
 
p87 said:
Thanks CrazyCobLady! I have both good and bad memories of those ponies, but mostly good, as I just felt so lucky to have these ponies all to myself :)
I was always gutted about the one I couldn't get near. She was a lovely little palomino thing, and as a young teen this was a dream pony haha I was always hoping that one day we could strike up some sort of magical bond and gallop off through the stubble field together but nope... any time I tried to go into the box she would corner me and lash out. I tried and tried but never got anywhere with this one, although typically I think that made me love her more ;)
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You're more than welcome, P87 :)
What breed were they?
 
CrazyCobLady said:
You're more than welcome, P87 :)
What breed were they?
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Ooh I honestly couldn't say. At that point I wasn't massively knowledgeable on horses (still wouldn't say I was but at least I know a lot more now lol), it was all about spending my free time with them and enjoying riding as a hobby, but I think it was these guys that made me want to take it more seriously!

From what I remember them looking like though I'd definitely be tempted to say maybe welshy types? No bigger than perhaps 12 - 13.2, they had a lot of mane and tail, quite robust bodies with biggish necks and spindly wee legs and feet! But again... could have been anything, that's a total guess from hazy memories!
 
Irish gal said:
Thanks for all the constructive advice.....I am just wondering what others have done soulful as I'm looking for ways to speed up the process so I can fix her shocking hooves faster. And if it wasn't for me this horse would be going straight to the factory....Calling me a troll is not really helping.
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Hello Op, I have not read through the pages so you probably have had some good advice, however, I do know where you are coming from and if you glance at my thread called 'My Next Equine Project' you will see why.

If your feral youngsters feet are so dire that they need immediate action, and I would think at 3 they certainly are, it may be a situation of being cruel to be kind is the way to go. If you have the right people to help you can you bucket feed acp to take the edge off enough to enable the vet to sedate her. What they are not aware of won't bother them.

You can then take the time, as I have (and it is very rewarding in between the disasters) to bring the horse on.
 
Patiance, time, consitancy, kindness with boundaries, and of course a few carrots

Good luck, recuse/feral horses are very work but so rewarding when you crack them
 
Thanks for all the advice and great stories, have really enjoyed them. Think I will go with yarding her and kill two birds with one stone, hopefully wear the feet down and provide plenty of human attention. Well as much as can be provided by someone with an arm in a sling. When I'm better we can get the head collar on and leave the two foot rope hanging as Spring Feather has said and it's also what most people do here too with ferals. So thanks again for all your help.
 
Irish gal said:
Thanks for all the advice and great stories, have really enjoyed them. Think I will go with yarding her and kill two birds with one stone, hopefully wear the feet down and provide plenty of human attention. Well as much as can be provided by someone with an arm in a sling. When I'm better we can get the head collar on and leave the two foot rope hanging as Spring Feather has said and it's also what most people do here too with ferals. So thanks again for all your help.
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It just occurred to me last night, perhaps provide a softer area, just in case the yard is too hard for her all the time initially and then she can choose where to be.

Hope you are better soon and good luck.
 
Irish gal said:
Thanks for all the advice and great stories, have really enjoyed them. Think I will go with yarding her and kill two birds with one stone, hopefully wear the feet down and provide plenty of human attention. Well as much as can be provided by someone with an arm in a sling. When I'm better we can get the head collar on and leave the two foot rope hanging as Spring Feather has said and it's also what most people do here too with ferals. So thanks again for all your help.
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I used the hanging rope system, there is a picture of my horse on his thread. I used a cut down lunge line and tied it using a normal quick release knot onto an ancient leather headcollar. Be prepared for the horse to lose the plot at first, mine climbed the walls.
 
get pony in stable, feed and water, to make pony realise you bring what it needs, dont try to muck out wear hat you dont know what pony might do, dont try to turn out till pony has started to come round should take about a week or so to see a change, dont put yourself in a situation of danger, talk to pony when your with it be happy and confident ponies like happy people
 
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