Pleased with baby Merlin's latest progress!! + some help please?

[Lill]

I know it may be boring for all you lot but its exciting for me

He is 2yo now, been introduced to the noise of clippers, he comes in to watch Blue being clipped and is not fussed

His next lesson was about numnahs

i chose what i thought might be a less scary numnah than most, small brown saddle shaped one

Had him in the stable and was grooming him, and then picked up the numnah and let him sniff it, and then proceeded to 'brush' him with the numnah over my hand - he looked a little bit worried but not overly.

Let him sniff it again before 'brushing' him again with it and then slowly put it over his back and left it there for a min or 2 and he was fine

Was so pleased with him being brave

I think, after a couple of days of this numnah, then will progress to more scary looking bigger and brighter coloured one, before progressing to a fleece rug and then all types of rugs - how does that sound?

However, baby girl 2yo Mable, not so good. She is too in your face and has no respect for your 'space'.

I am having mega trouble trying to get Merlin in at the moment because of of her being in the same field.

If you push her away, she comes back even closer than before

you can't shoo her away because she just comes closer again. Its pratically impossible to get Merlin through the electric fence gateway thing without her coming charging through and almost flattening you at the same time

She is not ours anymore, but she still lives out with Merlin so not sure what to do??

 

[fornema]

My friends 4yr old who is a lot bigger than me is the most in your face horse ive met in a long time to the point he scared my mare

With the one thats in your face try before anything in the field or stable try growling at her making youself as big as possible, jump if you have to, she'll soon learn its a sign to back down as its helped with me

 

[Lill]

She's barged me from behind before and sent me running forwards but i thought it was a one off thing. Now though, after yesterday, i think its becoming a habit.

Also because she is not actually ours anymore as she's been sold i'm a bit wary of disciplining her like i would if she was still ours if you know what i mean?

But at the same time i don't want to be trampled!!

 

[cre8tivekid]

Perhaps I might be inclined to zap her with the electric fencing gate connector if she tried to barge through again.

Having accidentally done this to my horse trying to shoo him away with it in my hand (and having forgotton to switch it off) I can assure you it works a treat. He has been impeccably behaved near the gate ever since.

 

[Cliqmo]

Your boy sounds lovely and it seems like you are doing very well socialising him and getting him used to everything!

Probably the most useful and beneficial thing you can do with the bolshy mare is to do some basic training with her, notably teaching her what 'back' means so you can get her away from the gate when needs be. It obviously seems a bit boring having to train another persons horse but it will be the safest and best option in the long term

 

[Lill]

I thought i had zapped her with it yesterday but it obviously wasn't switched on as it didn't help matters!

She understands 'back' but won't stay back, as in she'll step backwards when asked but as soon as you turn round she's back to where she started - as close as possible and right in the way!

I think, will either ask to switch them to a field where there is a wooden gate so i can get merlin through and shove her back with the gate or ask for the electric fencing to be switched on...

Going to try with the nice brown numnah with merlin again tonight and possibly tomorrow before going for one a bit more colourful!

Might see what he makes of tendon boots too next?