Introducing a rug to a youngster!

[cblover]

Hi there,
I've started working (gently) Luna on the ground with her dually headcollar on. She's starting to understand the pressure and release in the forms of tactile, visual and emotional. She's very responsive but we're not at a stage were she enjoys it or welcomes my attention. Early days I know!

Anyway........ I want to introduce a rug to her so if I need to rug her it won't be a big deal, plus she's quite fine skinned and would benefit from having one on in the depths of winter. So, I've laid a lightweight rug over her a couple of times, rolled up at first then I've unravelled it over time. She's very unsure, particularly when the straps are down even though I can groom her all over, under her belly and her legs and she's fine. She's just not relaxed. Early days again I know! LOL

I think I'm on the right lines, can't remember when I did it with Kinzzy. Just wondering if anyone has any different ideas?

Cheers!

 

[Cliqmo]

Sounds good to me

Just make sure you are relaxed when you are doing it; if you are tense or anxious because you're anticipating a worried or negative response from her you may inadvertantly cause it

 

[MrsMozart]

Rug just before you do something she likes, e.g. feeding time

. Give her a good scratch or whatever it is she likes when the rug is on. Make it a positive experience. When you put the rug on, be completely matter of fact, no sneaky stuff.

Keep doing it, keep making it a positive experience, and she'll get used to it

.

 

[CBFan]

I'd echo the advice above really! I think being calm but matter of fact is the key. let her sniff and investigate the rug foer herself too - perhaps hang it over the stable door / fence / gate or wherever it is you 'do' her. perhaps tying the belly straps up out of the way would be a good idea for now and just practing reaching under her belly as sif reaching for the straps. It might be an idea to practice with a rug that doesn't make too much nise at first - like a fleece or cooler rather than a turnout rug as sometimes it's the noise of it thats off puting more than the actual thing.

Both my CB babies have become accepting of a rug very quickly with consistent practice and despite only having a rug thrown on him a few times before, Starsky happily endured a mamoth trying on sesh this week to work out what fits him! (I can recomend the weatherbeeta landa Original turnout)

By the sounds f it you're doing really well - I'm sure she'll come on leaps and bounds once she gets to know and trust you xx

 

[Rudey]

I would agree totally with the above posts! I got my yearling use to a cooler at first and then the rug situation. Although he was unsure initially, within minutes he wasn't fussed. Just practised popping it on and off till he didn't care. I also did the rug him while he ate his feed - worked a treat! I must admit, I am very lucky that he takes everything in his stride and accepts it!

 

[Theresa_F]

Chancer has always been easy to do from the start. I just tied him up, and laid on a fleece, let him stand for a minute sniffing it on him, then did it up and took him for a walk first time he wore a rug.

Next day he had on his no fill turnout and I put it on as I would any rug on a horse but did not fling it on as I do sometimes - he was ok with that a week later.

I have tended with everything, not to faff around or make an issue of it, just gone on and done it as if he was any other horse used to everything. I think this approach has worked as I am calm and acting no different to anything else so he has not got worried.