Would you have done this?

[Fools Motto]

I groomed a 'wild' pony (14hh approx?) today. She is rising 2, been led in from the field on the occasions when the farrier has been. She has been wormed and her feet trimmed (under sedation!) Apart from that, she has had little human contact. Today, was day 1 of 'growing up'. Grooming. Got her in, (she will now be stabled at night), and using a rubber curry comb started to get some of the ingrained mud off. Well, I had front legs striking out, and belly button on show at first, but I kept going, trying not to take the brush off her when she was being madamtastic! When she stood and relaxed I praised her, and then she let me touch all over he body (note, not legs or belly or head) and seemed to quite like it. Did both sides. I guess I was 10 mins with her, then left her to think about lesson 1.

Does this sound like the best thing to do?
Her owner wants to rug her up tomorrow, I think it is a little early for that??

 

[noodle_]

i have no experience of handling "wild" ones.... however from my limited knowledge its a bit soon for rugs...!?

well done to you though for persevering.... little and often imo

like i said no hands on experiencej ust what id do in that situation!

 

[zoelouisem]

She managed last winter with out a rug and lived to tell the tale, so i dont see why she would need one on now.
But yes in my opinion its a little early, we have youngsters in a at work to back and ride on and theyve had alot more handling than yours and they are in for a few weeks before they even get a light sheet on for and hour then taken off again.

 

[ladyt25]

I have not dealt with a youngster that's not been handled but i got a 15mth old last summer and, although he had been very regularly handled he could be a bit bolshy and had a tendency to try take a nip or throw his front legs out - he's never actually gone up. I think you did the right thing though just basically ignoring the bad behaviour and continuing on calmly.

I am another one though who wouldn't be bothered with a rug - it's just another thing for her to worry about. Mine is not rugged although i did put a medium on him last year but then the weather was bloody awful! However, I guess there is no harm in introducing a rug if she seems ok with it - in some ways it's better to get them used to these things as soon as possible. Mine didn't like the rig being near him to start with so we took it slowly first but now he doesn't give a hoot about rugs being flung about near him!

 

[Fantasy_World]

Well done with the youngster today However I would be warning the owner off from putting on rugs at the moment. If the horse has been living out as wild until now then it will most likely have a very thick coat and rugging it could actually be rather cruel as the little mite may overheat.
I had a youngster last year which I did rug up within a few weeks of buying him. He wasn't wild and it was in summer. However he developed a cold and had to have the vet for antibiotics. As the weather was unseasonal and pretty wet at times I got him a lightweight to keep off the rain and stop him from getting a chill. Otherwise I doubt I would have rugged him up for summer and maybe not even winter as he won't be in work for a long while yet, even though he has a lot of white.

 

[becca1305]

it sounds like you did well , however I don't think she would be ready for being rugged yet! I popped a rug on my (similarily unhandled) 2yo on the day she arrived within about 2 hours of arriving as shed been kept in for over 2 wks had no winter coat and it was very cold! however I first tied her up (for her first time), and groomed her head to toe for her first time without any issues if shed been showing me her belly she would have gone cold! but she is very straightforward and has been trusting and accepting from the start. I think this little lady probably needs a little more handling first since she's obviously not a dope on a rope you don't want to stress her.

I think it depends entirely on the horse tbh my girly seems to be instinctively trusting of me and so I opted for the crack on but gently approach with everything, ready to back off if she ever shows a sign Im asking too much but she's never quibbled once, but I think from what you've said the pony you've been working with will need the little and often method.

I found the best rugging method with my girly to start was to stroke her like i was brushing her with my hand and have the rug folded in half, and then stroke her shoulder, ribs and lower back with my hand through the rug steadily working my way up her side before gently sliding the rug over and then in small stages unfolding it and doing it up. Now several weeks on she is happy to have it flung over unfolded like the others do .

good luck

 

[Echo Bravo]

Far to soon, but if owner persists let them try and put it on

 

['S'teamed]

Don't even go there...if you can get one on the pony

Can you imagine the fear and panic if the pony got the rug caught up on something?

As someone has said, it managed last winter, it will manage this winter