unhandled weanling advice please

ivandenisovich10

ivandenisovich10

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Hi all, just after a bit of advice please if you would all be kind enough, now sorry if it rambles. I class myself as relativly experienced having owned and ridden and worked with a large variety of horses for 20 years, I've worked with foals and weanling etc but never owned one that was totally unhandles. My new boy arrived at the weekend and is settling in as well as can be expected he is very calm in his stable and can see other horses, allows me to muck out around him and I spend a lot of time just sitting reading in the corner and he comes over like he really wants to be my friend but just can't quite be brave enough. My question is how long did it take you to gain trust, be able to catch etc and did you do it the softly softly let them come to you or were you more forceful? I would like him to mix with my other youngster asap but obviously want to be able to catch him first!! He does already have a headcollar on, this was done before I got him in a cattle type squashy thing when he was microchipped. So obviuosly this wasn't a nice experience! So any opionions welcome? I know I'm more than capable but would really like some second opinions and how you did it. Thankyou for reading this far.
 
I know it sounds horrendous but is fine - arms around his neck and hang on - he will whirl around but as long as you hang on he will be fine.

I've done this with several unhandled weanlings and never had a problem after. In fact one in particular would only allow me to catch him.

If you want to carry on as you are it will take a little longer and will achieve the same result. Though I've found that it is not easy to get hold of the headcollar should he start to try and escape - thats why I prefer the arms around the neck approach.

Do we get to see pics of the new man in your life?
 
^^^ this. They stop whirling pretty quickly but you do need to hang on!! Both mine were totally wild and I did this with them and they have been fine since. Once they stop a good scratch on the withers is normally appreciated :)
 
I had a similar weanling, and i spent a couple of weeks in his box with him - he would approach me, and if I stood with my back to him, he would sniff my hair etc. I just put my hand out and on his shoulder. He visably relaxed, as if he was thinking that it wasn't too bad, what a relief, she won't kill me!

I had all the time I needed, so went softly softly with him, and it paid off. Never had a problem catching, leading etc. The first time he had a headcollar on was also the first time he had his feet trimmed. I'd read Sarah Weston's book on handling feral weanlings, and this worked really well - use a headcollar which you can undo on th nose and head, with it undone, lay it on the youngsters back/wither area (yeah, you need to have sorted out touching first!). You want it with the long head strap back left. You inch the headcollar up the neck and mane, making lots of nice fuss. and when it's far enough up, do up the head strap. Swivel it around, pull it up a bit further and do up the nose. It works really well!
 
Xmas In The Sun said:
I know it sounds horrendous but is fine - arms around his neck and hang on - he will whirl around but as long as you hang on he will be fine.

I've done this with several unhandled weanlings and never had a problem after. In fact one in particular would only allow me to catch him.

If you want to carry on as you are it will take a little longer and will achieve the same result. Though I've found that it is not easy to get hold of the headcollar should he start to try and escape - thats why I prefer the arms around the neck approach.

Do we get to see pics of the new man in your life?
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^ this! I grab the mane first, then one hand round the nose. They stop eventually and are quiet.

That said too. I'm sat here with a busted nose. LOL.


If he already has a headcollar on, I'd braid some baler twine up into a long enough line and put it on his headcollar and leave it on him. Do it sneakily, if he comes up for food, sneakily clip a lead rope on him and either leave the rope on him, or then attach the baler twine plaited one. [I only suggest a 3-tier plated baler twine one as they do not snap/break/etc. Lead ropes I find snap too easily.]

Then catch him gradually with the long line, so he gets used to the idea of being caught. Find his scratchy spot or bribe him with food if needed. He won't take long to come around!

Best bet we find with the cobs is to just tie them up for a while and leave them to sort out the pressure/releae on their own, you don't get dragged about then and they soon learn themselves to yield to the headcollar pressure. Once they've done that and are quiet, we then lead them about [with 2 people, one leading, one behind to 'push start' and guide].
 
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Been there so I can speak from experience. You are doing the right things so far, by mucking out around him and sitting in his stable and not being a threat. Good work! You do need to be able to touch him though. Start very gently at his withers or neck, find his nice itchy spots. If you keep your hand curled when you go to touch him (use your knuckles) he won't see your hand as a much a threat as if you have your fingers outstretched. You can work your way up his neck and towards his ears and eventually his headcollar. Poor lad by the way, cattle crush, not a great start. I've found that about 3 sessions a day doing this works best if you've got the time. Don't forget to breathe by the way, sounds silly but it's important, long slow breaths and do some deep sighs, it means 'all is well' in horse speak, it helps to relax you and him. Think tai chi, slow breaths, slow movements.

If he's REALLY freaked with you trying to touch him here's the plan. Stand near him with your body slightly angled away. If he looks at you turn away, it's rewarding him by taking the pressure off. Work your way towards him in small steps, still angled away, if he moves off look at him, if he stops and looks at you, look away. He'll soon get the message and you'll be able to go to plan A with the scratchies etc.

I absolutely recommend a little book called 'No Fear, No Force' by Sarah Weston. Full of very useful tips and advice for handling the unhandled.
 
I think ill give the neck grab a go, I'm confident I can keep hold :-) although I do have time for the softly approach I really would like to get him mixing sooner rather than later. Thankyou for your replys its nice to have some good advice and pics will be up as soon as computer is fixed
 
i've only used the softly softly method, tempting them with a bit of hand feeding so that they get used to your hand being by their chin, then it's just a step further to take hold of the head collar:)
 
gala said:
Been there so I can speak from experience. You are doing the right things so far, by mucking out around him and sitting in his stable and not being a threat. Good work! You do need to be able to touch him though. Start very gently at his withers or neck, find his nice itchy spots. If you keep your hand curled when you go to touch him (use your knuckles) he won't see your hand as a much a threat as if you have your fingers outstretched. You can work your way up his neck and towards his ears and eventually his headcollar. Poor lad by the way, cattle crush, not a great start. I've found that about 3 sessions a day doing this works best if you've got the time. Don't forget to breathe by the way, sounds silly but it's important, long slow breaths and do some deep sighs, it means 'all is well' in horse speak, it helps to relax you and him. Think tai chi, slow breaths, slow movements.

If he's REALLY freaked with you trying to touch him here's the plan. Stand near him with your body slightly angled away. If he looks at you turn away, it's rewarding him by taking the pressure off. Work your way towards him in small steps, still angled away, if he moves off look at him, if he stops and looks at you, look away. He'll soon get the message and you'll be able to go to plan A with the scratchies etc.

I absolutely recommend a little book called 'No Fear, No Force' by Sarah Weston. Full of very useful tips and advice for handling the unhandled.
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^^^I would say this is a much more rewarding form of horsemanship.
I bought an unhandled weenling last year and did the above. It only took 3 days to go from wild to leading,feet picking up and being pleased to see me.
One year on I think we have a lovely relationship and she is actively looking to do stuff with me.
 
Gala - thankyou for so much detail. Luckily the boys are kept at home so I go down 4 or 5 times a day normally most of the week when I'm not working so do have time. Think I just needed some reasurrance. Thankyou
 
Gala - after reading your reply this really does sound like my best option I just want to do right by my little man. I do have a friend that is ment to be giving me the book.
 
Your welcome. I've done the above with half a dozen unhandles including a completely feral 6 month old Exmoor straight off the moor. He'd been lashed up to a fence, hot branded twice and was literally climbing the walls when I got him. I don't think I've ever seen such terror in a pony's eyes. It took about 2 months to be able to handle him, he was an exceptional case but golly, he taught me so much. He's just lovely now, so chummy and adores people. I've been very lucky to be able to carry that on with other frightened youngsters. Good luck with yours, would love to hear your progress!!
 
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