Haltering a yearling that has never been touched before I got him!?

Question

I have a new yearling, as some of you know, George. Anyways...I am looking for tips on getting him haltered.

What I have been doing so far is just spending time with him, petting him and getting him use to me. I was going to try and halter him this weekend but decided against it. Figured that was moving too fast for a poor guy that hasn't ever had human contact before.

But I am looking for other tips too. I don't hand feed treats so those kinds of tips won't work for me. And I don't believe in treat training.

So far, he lets me pet his neck and back...I can start at the ears and move down. That is what I have been doing so far and for only 10 to 15 minutes at a time so that I can walk away after petting him and not have him walk away from me...hope that makes sense.

Answer 1

Get a very soft nylon lead rope.  While you're petting him/brushing him, lay the rope gently over his neck by his ears.  Leave it there for a minute, keep petting, and then take it away.  The next time, put the rope in a loose loop and put the loop over his neck.  When he's okay with that, put a loose loop over his nose instead.  Keep petting and praising with every step.  When he's comfortable with the loop on his neck and also on his nose (separately), put the loop over his nose, and then draw the end of the rope around his ears to make a second loop.  When he's comfortable with that, you can try replacing the rope with a real halter.  If he panics at any point, slow down and rebuild trust before you try again.

Answer 2

You have already accomplished so much with your patience and the trust that you are building up with him.  You can speed it up now if you can get the end of a soft rope over his neck, up by his throat latch.  drag enough length over so that you can, with one hand (while you are petting him and feeding the rope with the other) slowly twist a loop in the rope and put it over his nose and bring the end up and half hitch it to the one that is going around his neck.  Stop. Keep petting him, then take the end of the long end of the rope and run it under the loose loop that you have formed around is nose and tie if off.   Leave it alone and just pet and calm him and leave the stall.  He will get used to it quicker than you think.  Now, you can enter the stall anytime, several times a day if you want, and pick up the end of the dragging rope (it isn't long enough to get tangles up in his legs, but lone enough to pick up) and hold it and walk up to him, keeping his head facing you and petting and brushing him.  Then I would proceed to the process that has already been described, the one where you put just a little tension on the rope, hold it and when he takes a step, let him keep the slack that he earned.  If you do this quietly and deliberately, there doesn't need to be a fight and you don't need to get hurt.

Answer 3

Keep doing what you are doing. Work slowly to get him used to touching his head and face. And then to petting him over his neck so that you are petting the oposite side...It will take time.

You can also hang his halter where he can see, smell and touch it with his nose. Just be sure that he can't get it and possibly hurt himself on it. You might also want to go in with the halter over your shoulder so he gets used to seeing you with it. Then after a few times, go in with both the halter and lead rope over your shoulder.

When you think he is ready, try to halter him. Do it slowly though, if he jerks back, give him a minute and try again. Don't praise him. Just tell him whoa, its okay, etc...You will need to get the halter on him that day. Don't let it end in a bad note, which can teach him that he doesn't have to be haltered.

After you get the halter on him, praise him. Pet him, scratch his favorite spot. Tell him how good he did. Let the halter stay on him for a few hours so that he gets used to the feel of it. After its been on for a while, go in and take it off of him. Work slow. Don just let it fall off of him. Use one hand to undo the clasp while you pet him. And then slowly let it slide off his neck. If he starts to pull back, stop what you are doing and just stand still, go back to petting him, then try again. Once the halter is off praise and love on him.

After he gets to where you have no problem getting the halter on and off of him, take a ratty old lead rope and cut it so that it is only about 1 1/2 ft long. Put his halter on and then attach the lead. Let it stay on him for a while. He might act up from having the "monster" dangle from his halter. But he will quite down. After having the lead on for a while take it and the halter off. Repeat this until he is used to it. Then you can move to the full lead rope.

With the full rope, you will need to stay with him. Don't let it just go. Hold on to it. Tug it gently so that he turns to look at you...From here it will be alot more like halter breaking a foal. Just be carefull that you don't get hurt.

It takes time and alot of paitence when you are working with a horse that hasn't been handled. Just keep working with him everyday and he will come around.

Answer 4

You've gotten plenty of great advice to proceed with and I really have nothing new to add.  

I just wanted to wish you continued success with George and look forward to hearing about your trials and tribulations and achievements!!  

Pictures of George the Fjord always appreciated!!  I hope he is not camera shy!!

Answer 5

Keep desensitizing him with your hands, rub him all over his body until he gets used to you. Once he has gotten used to your hands and doesn't shy away from them, you can introduce the halter. Don't just try and put it on him. Take the halter and rub it all over him. Let him see it. Whenever he retreats pull it away. Never pursue him with it. Rub it around his face pulling it away when he retreats. Keep doing this until he accepts the halter being rubbed on his face. Once you have accomplished this, open the halter up and move towards his nose. If he pulls back, pull the halter away. Never get him exited or force him. This where people make horses head shy. Just keep slipping it over his nose and taking the halter away when he pulls back. Keep talking to him in a calm voice. Use your free hand to constantly pet him and reassure him. If you do this and you don't get aggressive or try and force him at any time you get him haltered in a very short time.

Answer 6

Sounds to me like you're doing the right thing! I would keep working on getting him used to you, and getting him used to the halter, by rubbing on his back, neck letting him sniff it stuff like that, and then when he trust you I would start to hold it it with the crown piece UNDONE so if he freaks  then it will come right off, and it will not stay there, you will have to hold it up.

Then he can lower his nose out whenever he want to.

If you don't want to use treats use lots of praise when he has done something well, and you might want to consider 'joining up' with him to get him to trust you, if you have access to a round pen.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Hi-what you've been doing is good-Now, get yourself some kind of a short rope , put it in your back pocket(before you get w/ him)& then slowly & easily put the rope around his neck, then you can get the halter on, no problem.

Answer 8

It sounds good so far.

What you should do soon is hold the halter near him DO NOT ATTEMT TO PUT IT ON HIM YET.

Just stand there and drop it on the floor, let him sniff it, and play with it if he wants to.

Then after about a week of that, try to do it up round his neck, not on fully so that he knows it does him no harm at all and make him feel happy with it.

Then you can start to put it on him properly but make sure you are moving at his pace.

Lots of prais when he has it in, make him associate the halter with good stuff, maybe a carrot or apple too.

good luck.

Answer 9

Hi, it sounds like things are going well, I have been reading your updates and it sounds like things are going well. You have gotten some awesome advice on how to proceed. But just be prepared for when he feels pressure on his head for the first time he gonna pull. When you work with him is he in a round pen? you could also try lunging him and doing round pen work even before you have a halter on to get more control over his body and him more focused on you and respecting you. Good Luck and keep us posted on his progress! BTW I love the name George, lol cute