Rescue pony and feet

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zoon

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My little rescue pony is a sweety, but very nervous. Not sure about his past, but was found very underweight, riddled with worms and with grossly overgrown feet (so long they curled upwards)

He is somewhere between 1 and 2 years we guess and has not been handled. I've had him 5 days and he has come so far already - he'll let me catch him if he has a headcollar on and groom his body, but I can't for the life of my touch his legs. He pulls his leg up and runs backwards. His feet were sorted before he came to me, so no idea how farrier trimmed them! He is worse with the back legs and will kick out if you try to touch them. I would happily take it very slowly and just try to gain his trust, but he has a very bad case of thrush so I want to keep his feet clean. Impossible if I can't touch them!

He also leads very badly. he'll happily follow behind on the end of a leadrope, but doesn't like to walk next to you when led. Any tips to get him leading nicely?
 
Don't even think about the thrush at the moment, you have no chance of having him confident enough to let you pick up and work on his feet so quickly. I would just extend the grooming a little further down towards his legs taking total baby steps. Brush the top of his leg and immediately brush further up his body where he is happy with it, just act like it is no big deal and gradually work further down over a few sessions. You can do the same when stroking him, just touch gently and move back up again, when he is happy with you doing that in one area (on both sides) then move a little further down. Just don't rush him and don't move on until you are sure he is happy with what you are doing each time. When you get to the picking up feet stage you just want to be lifting the foot and inch or so then placing down gently and lots of praise gradually holding for a little longer as he gets more confident. Just remember never let him put the foot down, hold it until he is still, even if only for a second, so that he doesnt learn that he has a choice and can avoid it. Good luck, youngsters are so much fun!
 
The way I have seen it done on rescue is to have a 'fake hand' on the end of a broom handle or something like so that you can stand at his head and still b able to reach his legs without risk of injury. It still takes patience but I have seen it work. Once you have touched him with the stick, as the other poster said, scratch him where he likes it best. As for leading, is he ok with someone behind him? If so perhaps they could encourage him from behind? or the naughty way, have a few treats in your pocket so he follows the yum yums!! Sounds like your doing a great job and it has only been five days, so as long as everything is kept calm and clear I'm sure you will be fine. I have had to from the sales like this and both turned out to be fab ponies with a bit of work x
 
Those curled up slipper hooves are a result of laminitis - always. The fact that he still has bad thrush (another symptom of lami) tells me that he is still laminitic - and yes malnorished ponies can get lami too... it's all about toxins in the blood stream. Be very very careful what you feed him - the temptation to get weight back on means people often over feed. Get him on a balanced, healthy, molasses free diet, with preferably no grass but fed soaked hay instead and once his system is healthy the thrush will sort itself out and you can concentrate on his handling. I would also recommend giving him some Happy Tummy from Fine Fettle Feeds. It will clear out the toxins from his digestive system and give him the best possible chance of a good start.
 
I helped a friend many years ago with a pony that would only lead at a ropes length behind you, what we found worked (over a length of time!) was to have 2 of you one leading in front with 2nd person walking near the side we started off with the 2nd person being about 1 meter to the side and over time walking closer and closer then we attached a second lead rope for person stood at the side and did more leading, then undid front lead rope, but still had person protending to lead in front but getting further away, until we were left with one person leading him propably, I think it took us 3-4 weeks doing a little everyday, I dont know if this was the correct way of doing it but it worked on him.
Good luck!
 
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