how to get a wild mare to let me touch her back end

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chilworth23

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Ok she'll head collar, lead, let me pic front feet up, brush body legs etc, mane, however back feet, and tail and rump, she spins her ass towards me like shes going to kick! how can i over come this!
 
I would say to give her time and be very patient...you haven't had her that long have you?
Lots of desensitizing and build up her trust in you. Lots of horses can be funny about their back legs, let alone a mare off the forest that hasn't had much handling.

I'm sure some people on here can offer you more advice :)
 
Lots of de-sensitizing as mentioned above. I saw an interesting article on The Brooke and they use a glove on the end of a handle or similar so they can get the horse/donkey etc used to having its back end touched without getting in the way of the reaction!
 
It took me about 6 months with my mare before I got near her rear end to brush her and another year before I would risk standing behind her to wash her tail. She obviously had issues from the past but she learnt over time that I would not hurt her.
Give her time to trust you. Patience and kindess will be rewarded.:)
 
I know it might sound silly but i would try a fake hand...Get a broom handle or walking stick, fill a rubber glove so it's stiff (newspaper or cotton wool) and tape it to the end of the stick.
Rub her with the fake hand as often as you can until she gets used to it. This should keep you out of harms way until you feel confident to go back there yourself.

My friend did it with her youngster and seemed to work but took a couple of weeks.

It's just going to take time and patience with an unhanded (wild) horse.

Good luck.
 
I like the gloved hand approach too, but have also used this one to great effect. put a headcollar on and attach a decent length leadrope to handle your mare. then attach a substantial lunge line (not one of the cheap flimsy ones that blow in the wind) run it around the outside shoulder of the mare and over her neck, slowly 'flick it' lightly sort of like you would a hose that has a kink in it only not as severe. Flick it so I lifts a little and slowly moves ffurther down her shoulders, then her back and finally her rump and down her legs. You can move it about to 'desensitize' her whilst still holding on to her lead rope, she can move around as much as she wants and she will get used to the fact that it will remain and cause her no harm. I have found this to be very safe for the horse and handler and very effective. :)
 
long line is brilliant for picking up her back feet without getting hurt too.

one question though, has she been handled at all before you? I know of many youngsters that exhibit this behaviour and are actually just wanting a damn good scratch on the rump ;)
 
GoldenBracken said:
Ok she'll head collar, lead, let me pic front feet up, brush body legs etc, mane, however back feet, and tail and rump, she spins her ass towards me like shes going to kick! how can i over come this!
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i have the same problem, ive had my mare for 6 weeks and even under sedation she will not let me, a vet or farrier pick up her back feet, already been diagnosed with lymphangitus so not sure if its a trust/abuse or pain issue
 
Took me months and months to get near my mares backend and even longer to get the feet up! :p

Just patience i would say, and be wary that she might never loose that fear around her bum :(
 
Aside from moving your hands along slowly, almost massaging, I find that this method works quite well (some natural horsemanship guy showed me!), its like desensitizing like everyone else has said, but I just use a schooling whip, then attatch a bit of cloth to the end of it, so its almost like a flag, then just allow the horse to get used to it, then you can slowly get it used to having it go all over the body.
Its quite good because of the length of the whip, if she does turn and threaten anything theres a fair amount of distance between you, and its lighter to hold than a stick :)
Just don't use it as a whip!

Ditto what queenbee said about scratching though, if you're confident enough to go near the back end, then try giving it a scratch! Obviously make sure theres enough room for you to get out of the way if she's not happy with it!

Good Luck :)
 
Slow down, what's the rush? Are you on a deadline?:p:)

Glove on a stick can work, just aim to gently touch her at first. She has presumably managed ok so far without having her bum brushed, so a few more weeks won't hurt;)

This video shows a pony that has had the glove on a stick method used, and as you will see despite having had a very bad time she has improved greatly as a result of being given time and patience:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0h84MD8XeA
 
Fake hand (stuffed glove) on stick.

Run it from the withers and work it along her back, down her flank, giving nice rubs and scratchies with on the way. Work your way down her hind legs.

This is the crucial part!! When she moves, keep the hand on her. As SOON as she stands still take the hand away..it's her reward. It's all in the timing.

Can I direct you also to Sarah Weston RA, you'll find her easily enough with a google search, she lives in the New Forest and is a total expert in handling previously unhandled horses and ponies, and especially the New Forest breed. Do give her a ring for advice, she's lovely and very helpful.
 
Have a look at this http://www.logicalhorsemanship.co.uk/services.html I read her book, and used her method to get my wild weanling used to the headcollar, very good tips! I did try the glove on a stick, but my lad was very nervous of it, so I just waited a bit longer and finally touched him with my hand. He was delighted to be scratched, and this was how I got him used to being touched all over. Just take your time, better to be slow than to cop a hoof on your knee, and scare her too!

Also, I wonder if mares are just more wary around the back end than geldings - I am much more wary of our homebred filly than the bought in gelding. She has never tried to kick me, but is very bossy with the boys, think kick first ask questions later! Whereas the gelding is a sweet heart, and will run rather than kick.
 
Have a talk to Sarah and you could get her book "NO FEAR, NO FORCE"

I Have a semi feral new forest mare and have used the false hand with her. Another thing I have used is to get some Lavender oil and rub your hands in a small amount then offer it to the horse so that they can smell it. Lavender has a calming effect.
 
We've had this exact same problem with our mare. When we first got her some months ago, we could not get near her back end at all. After months of trust building (and the hand on a stick is a good idea!) we can now brush her tail, rump and back legs - but still can't pick those back hooves up. It takes time and a LOT of patience but is very rewarding when you make progress!
 
Nope not handled at all, was straight off new forest, im in no rush, im happy to play the long game, just wanted a few pointers on how to over come it, without pushing her to far, if that makes sense, other half is making a hand on a mop at the mo!
 
letrec_fan said:
Lots of de-sensitizing as mentioned above. I saw an interesting article on The Brooke and they use a glove on the end of a handle or similar so they can get the horse/donkey etc used to having its back end touched without getting in the way of the reaction!
Click to expand...

Snoozinsusan said:
Give her time to trust you. Patience and kindess will be rewarded.:)
Click to expand...

As lots of others have said, hand on a stick :) Search for approach and retreat on youtube and the likes, and get yourself a good understanding of keeping her (and your) adrenaline levels down, and using approach and retreat and ALWAYS keeping yourself out of harms way ensure that the reward (removing the hand from the place she isn't comfortable) is given immediately as she stands still - but it is gently kept there if she moves away or kicks.
 
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