wots the best approach?????

[ace123]

I've just brought a lovely little cob foal. Unfortunatley he has not been handled. I've got him in a nice big stable and spending lots of time just sitting in there talking to him. He is interested in whats going on and doesn't mind me in poo picking ect around him. He is eating hay, drinking and pooing ok but won't touch any other type of feed and backs off if i approach him, should i just sit talking to him or take another route? Bit WORRIED about not eating and he needs a name......He's piebald cob,,, so far got CASPER, MERLIN, DOMINO, Being called scruff monster at the mo.. Thanks

 

[kerilli]

as long as he's eating hay and drinking, don't worry. it's natural for him to be suspicious of everything new. offer him a tiny bit of food in a bucket and just leave it there for him to explore at his leisure.
just sitting talking to him is a great idea, as is (slightly warily) reading a book in there, until he gets intrigued enough to come over and sniff you.
advance and retreat also works in a big stable. go towards him, if he backs off, you back away too. amazing how it works. when he does finally let you, lots of stroking and gently scratching all the itchy bits works wonders!
my skewbald lad was called Oddy, short for Oddity or Oddbod depending on my mood, which really suited him, strangely! one competition name i had lined up for him was The Oddfellow, which is something a bit like a Freemason iirc, and i still really like the name. it's all yours if you want it!

 

[mandyl]

puzzle