Scared of headcollar!

[lauren_237]

Our boy has developed this fear of his headcollar...to the point where he won't let it go anywhere near him, which makes him quite difficult to catch in at the end of the day. If I spend an hour or so with him getting him used to it he will eventually let me put it on him but then the next day just goes back to his usual ways! He used to be absolutely fine with it but not anymore!

Any ideas of how to get him to like it again? He's never been hurt with it or anything like that so I don't really know where it's come from! Not even food or treats can bribe him!

 

[Tickles]

Sounds as though *something* must have happened. Can you have a quiet word with whoever looks after him on yard or wherever?

Is he the same with a bridle?

 

[lauren_237]

He lives at home with us....first few weeks we could just walk straight up to him and catch him, then it got a bit more difficult so we used carrots which worked! And now he just won't let us go near him with it and I don't know why! There's only me and my sister that handle him and he does the same with her too! He's fine with a bridle, no problems at all!

 

[Enfys]

No sharp bits on the inside catching him?
Have you tried different headcollars? Maybe a rope one?

Interesting face markings he has

 

[saddlesore]

Mine is scared of the headcollar too! I leave a fieldsafe one on him just to be sure. I regularly get him to 'join up' with the headcollar though and that has really helped. Pm if you want more info

 

[Tickles]

Can you try putting the head collar on like a bridle? Rather than undoing the head piece just undo the bit underneath? Could it be that he doesn't like the head peice flipping over his ears?

Or, as it sounds as though he is new, maybe he is just getting more confident, realising he is only coming in for work or being stabled and avoiding being caught for that reason?

Either way could you try
- bringing him in in it, feeding (if he gets hard feed)/treating/grooming and turing out again?
- catching with bridle (to work out if it is the different situation of the different bit of tack that he really minds)
- leaving him out over night?
- not sure if you have enough space for 24/7 turn out so if not would it be possible to leave him out for the longer period overnight and just have him in in the day time?

Good luck!

 

[lauren_237]

Thank you for your replies

they're really useful and I'll have a go at them tomoro! I was thinking that the confidence thing could be the answer because when we do get him in, it's usually for bedtime and he's not a great fan of the stable so this would make sense!

 

[Louby]

Hi, my horse was like this but with a new leather headcollar. I would be about to put it on, he would jerk as if he had got an electric shock or something, then run off. Finally he got used to it and is fine now.