Alyth
Well-Known Member
I read the first 4 pages and then jumped to the last as almost everyone seemed to be very very critical, jumping to conclusions, making amazing assumptions and generally making asses of themselves without giving the op any help at all. Now assuming the op is genuine there are lots of things you can do with a 9 month old colt (as well as geld him!!). And turning him out "to be a horse" is no more helpful than letting a toddler run wild in the garden with no guidance!!!
So. To recap. You need to build his confidence in being handled. Allow you to pick up each leg and tap it with something, rasp it. Or allow you to rub him all the way down the leg without picking it up. This means you need a "pick up" signal. Such as a squeeze to the chestnut or hock.......Can he do this without restraint while in the paddock (sorry field!!)? Does he understand following a steady feel? Such as leading (do you relax the feel as you should when he is doing it correctly?) Does he respond to rhythmic pressure? Does he stand still with rhythmic motion going on around him? Rugs flapping, umbrellas opening etc while you have a relaxed body language? Does he "follow a feel" so you can squeeze him past you through narrow spaces? As has been mentioned, grooming all over, is he happy with clippers, a hose, going into a float (trailer?) having a rug put on and off (not just carefully, but flung over - take it in stages). As has also been said walks around learning about different things and places, up and down slopes and banks, around machinery, road cones etc. All these things need to be done in small doses and increases made in small increments. And rewards often for good behaviour. Not necessarily food rewards, just a stop, rub and reassurance. Going back to the rhythmic motion, can he stand rhythmic motion while maintaing a walk? It's a good idea to have a long lead (at least 12' as he gets used to it it can be longer) so he can follow behind while you do something, like swing a rope, drag a tarp on a shorter lead, wave a stick with a flag on the end....use your imagination!!! He need to learn to move his forehand and hindquarters to pressure from your fingertips. Remember the "drive line", pressure in front of it means move forehand, pressure behind (especially where your heel will eventually be used) to move his hindquarters. See if he crosses his hindlegs (that's good!) That's the start of a turn on the forehand!! Also useful when boxed to ask him to move over!!
I have raised several foals to be responsible riding horses and these guidelines have worked every time. Without wanting to raise the temperature of the thread again the Parelli games are the basis of handling young horses. They make sense to the horses..... Here we have basically covered the first 3 games and game 7......It's really a case of commonsense, consistency, establishing a language and building confidence.....
Good luck OP, I hope you are still reading this thread and haven't been put off owning horses by now!!!
So. To recap. You need to build his confidence in being handled. Allow you to pick up each leg and tap it with something, rasp it. Or allow you to rub him all the way down the leg without picking it up. This means you need a "pick up" signal. Such as a squeeze to the chestnut or hock.......Can he do this without restraint while in the paddock (sorry field!!)? Does he understand following a steady feel? Such as leading (do you relax the feel as you should when he is doing it correctly?) Does he respond to rhythmic pressure? Does he stand still with rhythmic motion going on around him? Rugs flapping, umbrellas opening etc while you have a relaxed body language? Does he "follow a feel" so you can squeeze him past you through narrow spaces? As has been mentioned, grooming all over, is he happy with clippers, a hose, going into a float (trailer?) having a rug put on and off (not just carefully, but flung over - take it in stages). As has also been said walks around learning about different things and places, up and down slopes and banks, around machinery, road cones etc. All these things need to be done in small doses and increases made in small increments. And rewards often for good behaviour. Not necessarily food rewards, just a stop, rub and reassurance. Going back to the rhythmic motion, can he stand rhythmic motion while maintaing a walk? It's a good idea to have a long lead (at least 12' as he gets used to it it can be longer) so he can follow behind while you do something, like swing a rope, drag a tarp on a shorter lead, wave a stick with a flag on the end....use your imagination!!! He need to learn to move his forehand and hindquarters to pressure from your fingertips. Remember the "drive line", pressure in front of it means move forehand, pressure behind (especially where your heel will eventually be used) to move his hindquarters. See if he crosses his hindlegs (that's good!) That's the start of a turn on the forehand!! Also useful when boxed to ask him to move over!!
I have raised several foals to be responsible riding horses and these guidelines have worked every time. Without wanting to raise the temperature of the thread again the Parelli games are the basis of handling young horses. They make sense to the horses..... Here we have basically covered the first 3 games and game 7......It's really a case of commonsense, consistency, establishing a language and building confidence.....
Good luck OP, I hope you are still reading this thread and haven't been put off owning horses by now!!!
