tameing the 3 year old

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Aru

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My uncle is after getting two ponys in a local mart,one is a yearling conemara filly(very people shy) ..the other a 3 year old skewbald pony(cautious but more bold in approaching people) i was just wonder does anyone have any tips on getting them tamed?
they both fairly wild as they were not really handled so far but myself and my cousin have the task of halter training them this summer...
i no the basic's of handling horses
tongue.gif
but iv never been in charge of wild youngsters before so any tips are well appreciated!
our mission for tomorrow was to get a headcollar on them but im wondering if we should just get them tame to pet etc using food bribes first and then put it on or just see if we can get it on and go from there as according to my uncle they are quieter when in the yard...
it took us ages today to even tempt them towards us in the field and we were using a bucket of nuts as a bribe!tho patience prevaled and they eventually ate when we were within a few feet of the bucket..so i suspect we have our work cut out for us..
 
Have you ever heard of the expression "Green on green = black and blue"? Has your uncle any experience dealing with unhandled youngsters? The only advice I can give is not to attempt to force anything on them (like a headcollar) and get some experienced help.
 
Yup hes always had horses and is experienced at handling youngsters but he reckoned myself and my cousin could do with the valuable experience of taming these youngster's...im not particularly afraid of the ponios...i just am not used to working with such shy unbroken horses...i help out at a local showjumping yard so iv been around plenty of younger horses..they also break youngsters...so i no how unpredictable and spooky some of them can be...but fear isnt really a problem its just the fact they are so cautious of ppl...

i wasnt planning to put on the headcollar myself(i dont have a death wish) my uncle was going to do that because they need to have their feet done and get wormed...but i was tempted to leave it til they are a bit more tame... just wondered on opinions on how to get them more used to ppl apart from the obvoius using feed to win their love...sorry that wasnt very clear in the 1st post
 
I wasnt there for them being transported im afraid...i just meet them today when they were out the field...im told they are a little tamer when in the yard..and they were bought at a local mart but they dont belong to me.They belong to my uncle.
 
Personally I'd get them stabled for a week - if they havent been stabled before you may need to put a grill up on the top door incase they decide they want to jump out. Get them used to human company, even if its just sitting in the corner of the stable and waiting for them to come and see/smell you. Then move on to trying to touch them, everywhere. Use an extended hand to touch the legs so you dont get kicked. Reward any positive behaviour with using a soft voice and not neccesarily treats, as they may start nipping you in the future. Then start leading them, depending on how they are currently, you may need to place the lead rope round the bum to egde them forward to walk with you. but hopefully by that point there will be trust.

anyway just my opinion x good luck
 
oh and dont look them straight in the eyes. and make sure your body language is soft - stand so you arent in a threatening manner, stand facing them but turn your body sideways, do you get me? lol
 
Howie was wild when I bought him. Off the New Forest- but within 4 days he could be turnout out and caught without a headcollar- to be honest just treated him like a normal pony, but never put to much pressure on him- and sat in the stable with him so he got used to me. As long as you are quiet, calm and confident it wont take long- unless they have been mistreated in the past.
 
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