Unhandled colt HELP!!

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jadeD

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I rescued a 6 month old colt and my friend has rescued his half brother too. mine is pretty much unhandled and understandably nervy. He has a headcollar on and will approach me with the shake of a bucket (not ideal using food I know) but as soon as you clip lead rope on he FREAKS out running backwards and doing everything he can to get away. He dragged my dad yesterday halfway down the field but he kept hold of him somehow. I have kept him and his foal friend in a stable together for an hour a day over the weekend and they are both happy to be brushed (very slowly) on head, neck, shoulders etc and have picked up both of their front feet. Will move into their hinds once a little more tame. Any suggestions of what I can do to help. My one is scared of gate ways and will not lead even when following the other one being led. He tried to run backwards at ANY slight pressure. Thanks
 
I would tackle the problem in two ways. Put an old leather headcollar on him with a 12 to 18 inch bit of rope attached to the ring beneath the chin. Do not use a clip just tie it on. Make sure there is nothing he can catch the headcollar and rope on (watch your door bolts if he is big enough to get his head over). Leave him to step on the rope which will in turn put pressure on the area behind his ears. I have found using a cut up flat lunge line the most useful type of rope. The fact the line is flat lets it slide out from beneath the front feet as the horse raises it's head. Obviously he will need to be on a decent bed to let the rope slide. I used a much longer line but my horse is half Shire and huge.

If he will let you, keep handling behind his ears using your fingers to put pressure on and release when he relaxes. He won't lead until he can accept and understand pressure and release. In addition to handling his head/ears try to get him to accept you handling his back end so you can either link hands with a friend and encourage him forward or use a soft rope around his bottom and held in the centre of his back which can be gently pulled along with a walk on instruction to get him going forwards. (just the same as you would hand a foal) you do need dexterity to do this, the hand with the lead rope in needs to work in conjunction with the hand doing the pulling on the bum rope. I found it tricky to begin with.

When all this is in place you will be able to lead him. I would strongly advise you to wear a hat and gloves and do not clip the lead rope on the headcollar, use a long rope with no clips and thread it through. If all goes wrong you can simply let one end go and the horse will clear off without reams of rope flapping around his legs. All this can be done in the stable until such time he fully understands what is required.
 
I would keep him in and practice leading him and handling him in the stable until he is completely comfortable with you and understands pressure and release. This should only take a week or so, then you can turn him out into a small corner of a field and practice the same in there...
 
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