How do I tame a feral young horse?

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I have a sweet little rescue horse that has never been handled. She's three and has shocking hooves so my top priority is to have a farrier get at her. Never had a head collar on her and I wonder could she be knocked out to let the farrier at her feet?? Am trying to tame her and have her eating from my hand at the mo but won't let me touch her.

She was bred and owned by someone afraid of horses - he was too scared to handle her, or even enter the field! I might add that my arm is in a sling at the mo and am trying to avoid being knocked about so I have her in a field on her own and am feeding over the fence. In a couple of weeks I will be recovered enough to bring her in etc but would love to get cracking on the feet as they are completely split and will take a year to regrow and would like to have her ready for breaking next summer. Any ideas about knocking her out for the farrier/taming her quickly would be appreciated.....
 
Try to get hold of Sarah Westons book ' No Fear, No Force' it deals with handling semi feral horses and ponies. I used it for both of mine and it was a godsend.
Good luck
 
I bought a 3 month old foal this summer, who hadn't been handled, at times I thought I would never get close enough to touch her. But time and bucket loads of patience have finally paid off.

Her mum is lovely, but to be fair that didn't seem to make any difference at all. I let them both in with my others, and went into the field everyday and gave them all loads of scratches. I put haylage in the field next to the fence, so she would have to come close if she wanted to eat with the others. One day she just walked right up to the fence and nudged me ! so I gave her a little scratch and she loved it. From then on, no issues at all. She's so confident now its amazing, and will leave the others and come over just for a scratch.

im not a fan of sedating young horses, I like them to be aware of whats happening to them so they learn that its ok. So I would wait a bit before getting the farrier, and get her used to be being touched. Once she trusts you, you can progress to legs, and eventually picking up her feet.

Good luck
 
soulfull said:
I'm really sorry to be so blunt but either your a troll or if you don't know, what on earth are you doing even having this horse?
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Funnily enough when I got my first semi feral pony straight off the moors I didn't know how to 'tame a wild pony' either!
 
We had a totally unhandled nearly 17hh 4 year old Clydesdale x; you couldn't get near him. We were very worried given his size and strength. We put him in a large round pen with an older schoolmaster with impeccable manners. We left them in together, handling the older horse as much as possible. We fed, groomed and tacked up in the pen, practically ignoring the young horse. It didn't take long for him to calm down around us and get curious. Especially when older horse got carrots. He did take a lot longer to adjust to ridden life than any of our other, well-handled youngsters. He's still not the easiest ride at 8, but then he was gelded very late too.
 
soulfull said:
I'm really sorry to be so blunt but either your a troll or if you don't know, what on earth are you doing even having this horse?
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a tad harsh, same could be said of me. Id only ever bred them and handled from birth. Taking on an unhandled one was a unique experience.
 
My advice would be to spend as much time around her as you possibly can, even if it's just sitting in the same field as her reading a book, or poo picking etc. She needs to get used to being around you and to realise you are not a threat.
 
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.
 
It'll take ages in the field.
You need to bring it into a stable (herd it in or get it to follow a friend). Then you need to get a headcollar on it with a good foot of rope attached. If the horse is totally unhandled you need to just get the headcollar on somehow. With my unhandled 2yo we put him through the cattle crush. 3 mins stress vs hours and hours of waving carrots in his face.
When he's stabled with a headcollar and rope, you can go in, get the rope, hold him and give him loads and loads of kind handling, bits of feed in buckets, touch him all over, brush him etc. Dont turn him out until he's fine to catch, put headcollar on and off, and not scared of you at all.

I definitely wouldn't consider 'knocking a horse out' but some domosedan or sedalin before farrier probably wouldn't go amiss.
 
Agree on the Sarah Weston book - an excellent resource for people wanting to work with feral horses and ponies.

Also, just a thought - can you *yard* her? So find somewhere with concrete hardstanding where you can leave her loose to move around, but feed hay? That way, moving around on the hard surface will sort the hooves out for you, while you work on handling. It's the way (more enlightened) safari parks etc. deal with zebra feet etc. A soft field will be part of the problem, since the horse gets no chance to wear her own feet.
 
Asha said:
a tad harsh, same could be said of me. Id only ever bred them and handled from birth. Taking on an unhandled one was a unique experience.
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maybe but the phrase 'any ideas for knocking her out for the farrier/taming her quickly gives me the impression OP is totally inexperienced
if not then fair enough we all need help with new aspects
 
This is a forum for people with all levels of experience...not just experts and professionals. It's a place to swap advice and learn from others and your input soulful hasn't really been of assistance.

Brightbay that's a great idea about the concrete floor. Ive been reluctant to stable her as the feet are very bad, one is split in three places and really flared out, wouldn't a concrete surface just split it further? Having said that she's not lame at all.
 
My first thought when reading the title was that you need Sarah Weston's book! Here is a link: http://www.intelligenthorsemanships...oks/products/no-fear-no-force-by-sarah-weston

I also thought the about idea of 'yarding' was quite clever, using the concrete to help self trim her feet whilst working on the handling side. FWIW I think the trauma of having her 'knocked out' for trimming would set you back even further than you already are.

Best of luck with her!
 
That book sounds ideal, will get it. Also like the idea of putting her in with a schoolmaster so she can get used to us up close. I have an old hunter who will be ideal but will have to wait til arm heals so I can do a bit more. Am just impatient to get at her feet and have them trimmed as they are really bad but I suppose there is not going to be a quick way of bringing her round.
 
Thanks for the link...I think putting her in might be the solution for the feet. That would be great as I know it will take ages before we can properly handle her as she's really nervous of people.
 
I also like Sarah Weston's book

I see the point about suspecting the OP is clueless but even if they are they have their priorities right, at least they arent calling it a 'baby' horse and wanting to play with it as many would so thats a start!

OP I use a big bucket of chaff containing a small amount of pony nuts to distract my pony for the farrier, I have to hold the bucket so his head is up but he surprisingly lets the farrier get on with things. Before this point I have used Sedalin from the vet which worked well. Unlike your mine had some past training which helped but am just suggesting an alternative to a sedative for when you are at a point where you can try
 
I've had a few semi-feral horses and one thing I will say about them, once you have them, they are totally committed to you. It just takes a little longer to get them.

If you're trying to overcome this in a field do be aware it can take a heck of a lot longer than if you stable them. Stabling them speeds up the process dramatically. Some people pussyfoot around them, others crack on and get the job done; either way is fine. I'm a 'crack on and get the job done' person when it comes to these types of horses. The first thing I do is get a halter on the horse and leave a 2ft length of nylon rope attached. Feed and scratching is your bribery, use it. I'm not a bribing person with regular horses at all, nothing gets treats on my farm, however semi-ferals are a different kettle of fish and bribery works. Sometimes with semi-ferals you have to be tough to get them over a certain thing. I have no qualms about being tough with them for the greater good (firmness, NOT hitting I hasten to add). Many can't, or don't want to for fear that the horse will be scared of them. They won't be. For the first farrier visit after they horse is comfortable with me picking up its legs, I've always twitched semi-ferals. For the protection of the farrier and the horse. Usually the second time the farrier comes, he can do the front feet without a twitch but back feet I twitch for. Third time he comes the horse is usually just fine with whatever foot he's doing. I would never consider sedating semi-ferals ever.

There are many ways to skin a cat. Most methods are fine, it just depends on how quickly/slowly a pace you want to move at.
 
Brightbay said:
Also, just a thought - can you *yard* her? So find somewhere with concrete hardstanding where you can leave her loose to move around, but feed hay? That way, moving around on the hard surface will sort the hooves out for you, while you work on handling. It's the way (more enlightened) safari parks etc. deal with zebra feet etc. A soft field will be part of the problem, since the horse gets no chance to wear her own feet.
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Just what I was going to suggest. Trying to rush sorting hooves out in an un handled horse can lead to all sorts of problems especially with sedation. Focus on developing trust and the basics rather than the hooves.

Third Sarah Weston's book.

ps. He is unlikely to die of over grown hooves in the meantime.
 
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Stable the horse as soon as you can because you really won't get anywhere with her turned out.
''No Fear, No Force'' By Sarah Weston is a cracking book and has helped myself and a couple of other friends with their ponies.

Best of luck.
 
I got a 5 year old mare off a bog, she had never ever been handled. It took 5 of us 6 hours to catch her.
If you could get a light leather head collar to leave on the horse it will make life so much easier. One that breaks easily obviously. I agree with other posters that say doing it in a field will take ages.

Mine was put into a shoot leading up to the horse box. She travelled loose. When we got home I put a headcollar on her in the box, (which stayed on her for days until she trusted me enough to get one on and off). She went straight into a stable, and I did lots of little sessions to get her used to me. Just grooming etc, building up to feet. Even just me pottering around the yard and her seeing other horses being handled. Within a few days she was a different horse. Now in saying that she is a connemara, so her temperament is good. If I had attempted to do this in a field, I suspect that I would be still sitting in the field 2 months later hoping she would come over.

I also agree, dont sedate for her feet. It will only make this an issue in the future. Her feet will survive another few weeks until she is trusting enough to have the farrier pick them up.

Good luck!
 
Patterdale said:
It'll take ages in the field.
You need to bring it into a stable (herd it in or get it to follow a friend).
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totally agree with Patterdale, it takes forever in the field. Only reason mine was done like this was we because we didnt have any stables, or hard standing, or actually anything but grazing ! Still don't, but the concrete in the barn is now done, and the internals are being made this weekend:D

Brightbay said:
.

Also, just a thought - can you *yard* her? So find somewhere with concrete hardstanding where you can leave her loose to move around, but feed hay? That way, moving around on the hard surface will sort the hooves out for you, while you work on handling. It's the way (more enlightened) safari parks etc. deal with zebra feet etc. A soft field will be part of the problem, since the horse gets no chance to wear her own feet.
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Great idea
 
fattylumpkin said:
I think you'd like looking at Keeping Up with the Kaimanawa's OP :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruV5lYnXBZg
http://www.windeaters.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KeepingUpWithTheKaimanawas

Their story is very inspiring and they have a lot of videos showing how each horse progressed from 100% feral to tame riding horse :)
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Thank you for sharing - I may spend a few hours browsing now. :D

Just to add, as some other comments have appeared since my last post:

Putting her on concrete is a good idea, especially with wearing her hooves down. I really cannot stress how much easier it'll be once she's out of the field.
 
I remember when I got my pony in April and with basic handling, ei just the head coller. The biggest thing was to gain his trust, once I had gained his trust everything clicked into place. Mine was covered in horrible mud matts so I had to groom him every day just to get these out, first I started with his neck, then his shoulder and then day by day I managed to be able to groom him all over. I did get kicked once though but my own stupid fault for rushing, that another thing, dont rush!

No my hardly been handled pony is able to pick his feet up, groom him, take him to shows, load him , take him on walks, everything! Even had a saddle and leaned over him! to see from day one where i was worried I'd never even be able to to[uch him hardly!! :)

Itll be worth it in the end, and youll have a really stong bond!
 
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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