Filly training questions?

Question

I have a nearly 2 month old filly who I have halter trained. This is not the issue, she'll do anything I ask her and she's way more cooperative with a lead than her dam. My issue that I can't catch the little thing for anything. I spend at least half an hour every day trying to do it. I've abandoned chasing her a long time ago, but even if I sit quietly she'll never bring her head close to me. Most of the time she will pull the halter out of my hand and run around the corral with it in her mouth like a dog (please remind me why I bred to a smart stallion!) only to come back to me a few rounds later and lay it at my feet. Any suggestions? Remember, this is a freakishly smart animal.

I'm considering teaching her to fetch. At least it'd be useful.

Answer 1

Haha! What a cutie-pie. :)

Hmm. Does her dam run away from people? If so, put them both in with another few horses (if you can) that COME to people. They'll feel alone if they don't come to the people and that easily teaches them to like you! If that still doesn't work, just put them in a small area, not a stall, but maybe a round pen if you have one, and wait. Sit with a book, magazine, something and just read, forget about them. Eventually they'll want to come over and see what you're doing, especially with such a playful filly! Just WAIT, that's the hardest part, it can be an hour or more the first few times! Take a really good, long book and just forget about them. Horses can sense when they're being ignored, and from my experiences, they want to see what's making you ignore them. Oh, and when you do this, don't bring a halter, maybe just a few carrots so when they come to you, give them a carrot and get up and leave. Don't halter, just leave the barn. Come back a little while later and repeat, still without the halter. Once they're coming to you well, and pretty fast, bring the halter in and start the process over again. But the first few times, don't halter them! It's hard not to go "Oh, they came over, let me just halter them and ride", but resist the urge. I did this with both of my horses and now, no matter if they're in the pasture or in a stall, they're at the gate waiting for me when I go see them. :)

Answer 2

I had this same problem. I consider a blessing to have such a smart animal. I know it probably was a bad idea but, every time I would go out there to get her I would shake a coffee can with oats (her favorite) and catch her and feed her, the whole time shaking the can. so now I walk out the back door shake my can here she comes running sometimes its an apple or carrot or whatever, nothing much, not enough to give colic, just pure bribes.