My Welsh D filly.

[MickysGirl]

Hi Everyone.

I've got a lovely Welsh D Filly called Jeanie who is 16 months old, I've had her for six moths nearly. She was very nervous when I first got her, but with work I've got her to wear rugs, turned out (Had to live in when I first got her as I could'nt catch her once she was out!) and enjoying a brush.
But I still cant do anything with her head or front legs, I've manged to loosen her headcollar and sometimes tickle her chin, but she wont allow me to stroke or brush her head, ears or forelock and I can just about get to her front knees before she objects and threatens to rear!
I'd love to in-hand show her next year, but obviously this is not possible as I cant show her in her tatty leather headcollar! LOL.

 

[Divasmum]

It has taken two yers to get a nervous wreck we bought more confident. Honestly six months although it seems like a lifetime is still early days. It sounds as if you have made great progress.

 

[rips01]

i have a nervouse anglo (my friend calls him special) thats her being polite, its taken me nearly ten years for us to get where we are now and hes still a n.b so no rush lol

 

[SpruceRI]

Let her rear, and keep doing it!

Your safety in mind and hers too, but every time you try and then fail to touch an area of the horse, it cements in her mind when you back off, that her reaction is the right one.

You've got to stroke and brush those areas more.

I bought my Welsh D as a vaguely unhandled 2yr old, though she wasn't nervous at all, more bolshy.

She didn't like her hind legs being brushed and hated having them washed or hosed. So, every week I brushed, washed and hosed!

She did a Highland Fling for weeks, and would've won a prize in Strictly Come Dancing!

Especially with the hosing. I suppose in reality it's taken 18 months for her to stand and be relaxed about being hosed!

Don't tie up though, you've got to be able to hold on!


I've had a very headshy mare before too. She'd headbutted me by accident a couple of times when I was trying to put her bridle on, early days of ownership used to have to take the thing apart to get her bridled.

So back to the drawing board. Donned hat, body protector and steel toe capped boots. And spent some afternoons in the stable wittering away to her in a soothing voice whilst playing 'the lets touch the ears and head and you get a treat' game.

It took a few of those before she was pretty much fine.

It is all about trust, but I think you've got to take the lead.

Good luck, you're doing well

 

[Ellies_mum2]

When I got my filly at 8 months old she hated picking her feet up and having her head touched. Although I could tickle her chin that was as far as it went.

5 months later I can touch her all over and pick her feet out and she will stand lovely for the farrier.

Patience and repetition and lots of it was how I did it along with lots of OTT praise

Bit by bit I touched the no go areas til she was calm then the next day a bit more then a bit more

Good luck with Jeanie. Look forward to an update that says you can touch her all over and lift her feet etc