New horse has a problem, help on how to overcome it?

[showjump]

So my new 3 year old came with a sore under her chin. (Not strangles btw) So because we were cleaning it everyday, and we were all new to her i thought that was the problem.

However she still hates having a head collar put on.. . She is fine when you put it on her nose, its when the strap passes over her head. She just puts her head in the air, and tenses up. I have a feeling somewhere along the lines somethings happened to her?

So any ideas how to get her over this. She still acts the same now as when she came. When i went to see her she had head collar on, and she left it on her when we took her, so im guessing shes been like this for a while.

Any idea would be fab, as could do with introducing a bridle at some point!

 

[CracklinRosie]

How do you do your head collar up? Do you unbuckle the strap or do you undo the clip at the cheek and put it on like a bridle?

Maybe she has tension in her poll? Will she let you touch her ears and the top of her neck?

Sorry, lots of questions!

 

[Gingerbird]

Just spend ages randomly rubbing behind her ears etc, from the neck up at first and then from her cheek. Just get her as used to movement in the area as possible.

My horse was like this when I got him and he was about 8 or 9! i could throw the rope over his neck or anything!

 

[showjump]

I undo the buckle, rather than the clip on the side of the cheek. Shes ok with you touching her near the top of her head, and will let you slowly touch her ears etc. It seems to be the strap that worries her, i dont chuck it over just slowly pass it over to my other hand. (if that makes sense, but she still hate it.)

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Time, time, time. Give her a polo every time you pop the headcollar on. Pop it on for no reason at all and immediately take it off again. Buckle it loosely round her neck for 5 mins (obviously, stay with her) so she gets used to it being no biggie at all. Do it from the other side and see if the reaction is the same. Play around with it but above all never, ever stop half way through, never ever give in, never ever get cross. Betcha in 3 months time it's all forgotten about! Good luck x

 

[Evelynmary]

Mine very head shy if I forget to put his flymask on, even if its windy/wet. One on our yard wears his in the stable too. A flymask with ears that is.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Time, time, time. Give her a polo every time you pop the headcollar on. Pop it on for no reason at all and immediately take it off again. Buckle it loosely round her neck for 5 mins (obviously, stay with her) so she gets used to it being no biggie at all. Do it from the other side and see if the reaction is the same. Play around with it but above all never, ever stop half way through, never ever give in, never ever get cross. Betcha in 3 months time it's all forgotten about! Good luck x

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree with this advice.
My OH always liked to play with my youngsters...games like going 'back' and 'over' for a treat, but the favourite was 'Who's got your ear?' at feed time (so they associate having their ears, forelocks, polls etc handled with positive things like food).
S

 

[showjump]

Will put all this into practice, starting from tonight!

Thanks guys, will let you know how i get on in a month or so!

 

[CracklinRosie]

All the advice is good and I'm sure she's going to be fine. You could also try leaving the buckle done up and sing the clip at the cheek to put the halter on and off. This way it's very similar to the action of putting on a bridle!! This is what I always try with new horses and youngsters.

Good luck.