Need help with scared pony?

Question

I have a miniature horse mare who is afraid of people and I'm looking for tips on how to gain her trust. I've gotten her to come near you and you can touch her nose, but then she'll turn and walk away and you cant touch her again and if you get her halter she backs up and goes crazy, but she is halter trained and that's a far as I've gotten with her. I want to try a join up, but we haven't got a ring. So any tips will be appreciated.

Answer 1

Usally if ponies are afraid we must keep them in a warm and a lighted place and give them their maximum time alone do not dusturb them...

Answer 2

Use what I call "Approach and Retreat". Do this in a few progressive steps.

1. Get your horse to walk up to you. When she does, instead of going to touch her nose, walk away the first few times. What this does is take the pressure off.

2. Next increase what you're asking, and have her walk up to you, and touch her nose once briefly. Then you turn and walk away *before* she does. When you're going to do this step note how long she waits before she walks away. If she does it immediately then you touch her nose and just walk off, turning your back to her and walking away a couple of steps.

3. Increase the amount of time you spend touching her nose. Start off by putting your hand on it and leave it there for 1 second, then walk away. Then do it for 2 seconds, and walk away. Keep increasing the amount of time you spend touching her.

4. If you get to the point where you can touch her nose without her walking off, start touching her neck. Rub her neck down and use the same procedure, just touch a little bit, walk off. Come back and touch more than you did the previous time. Your goal is to eventually be able to rub her down all over with her hands.

5. Bring your halter but don't attempt to put it on. Touch her with your hand first, and then rub her with the halter and walk away. This will teach her the halter is pleasant and not something to be afraid of. When you can rub her neck down with the halter and she doesn't walk off, start trying to put it on.

See the link below for more tips.

David

http://www.ehow.com/how_4483283_deal-sca...

Answer 3

All things like this take time. I had a similar problem with a mare of mine, and i found that with a little bit more coaxing and bribing each day, things finally came around. Your little mare just needs to know that you, (and the halter!) are there to be her friend. t*t bits and nibbles work a treat! The worst thing u can do is overdo it. It looks like you have already made some progress, by being able to make contact with her, even if its just briefly, its a great start. I found that a little professional help never hurts either. A join up is a great idea, the arena problem is easily overcome, is there a showground or pony club near by that could be used?

Hope this helps,

Keep at it!

Answer 4

This is a bit of a strange one, but try serving her water every day.  Instead of letting her have free access to water, take a bucket out to her several times a day.  This will establish you as the "boss mare" who lets her know when it's time to drink.  Take out a couple of gallons at a time, and soon you will be able to touch her.  I heard a story about someone taming a couple of wild mustangs doing this, but can't remember who it was, (Pat Parelli) I think.  I haven't had a chance to try it on any myself, but I read some of the responses of people who saw him do it and they said it was remarkable how quickly the horses responded.  She will still be pretty timid around you, and the only real way to overcome that will be to spend time with her just hanging out.

I still remember a stable I boarded at and did some work for in college.  The trainer there had a horse brought to him that had been very badly abused and I had to clean his stall.  He was a beautiful Quarter Horse.  I stayed calm and quiet any time I went into his stall or asked him to move so I could clean.  After a month or so, I was able to touch him without him cowering in the back of the stall, and I was the ONLY one who could touch him. Needless to say the trainer was quite amazed.

Just stay calm and easy and remember that she will like you more if you don't push her past a point that she's ready for.  Let her dictate the pace you go.

Answer 5

i would try join up i just did it with my horse and he followed me the whole way around the arena and trotted behind me when i ran get a dvd it is so cool.

Answer 6

if you have a small yard or something near where yoiu do your daily activities and stuff it might be good for her to be put inthere so she can get used to you walking past and might desensitise her to other stuff too...if u can get her in there. it sounds like you are doing a good job at the moment and you should just carry on slowly gaining her trust and not pushig her too far.  

Answer 7

Remember to the mini you look HUGE!  If you are prepared to take the time....take a 5 gallon bucket and some treats out to the field with you and turn it over.  Sit down and wait.  Eventually she will come to you...give her the treat.  Do this as often as you can.  If you can get the halter on her and groom her she will enjoy that and anticipate it.  don't ask her to do anything else.  Just brush her and give her treats so she associates humans with pleasure.  Eventually you will gain her trust.

Answer 8

You only need a closed in area for join up, and i've used a feild before. Try rubbing her face with your hands(gently obviousely) then let her smell the halter and gently rub it on her face then try putting it on, she needs to know that your not going to hurt her and imagine having a peice of rope tied around your face. Once you have it on try letting her go again in an area that isn't to big so she can't get away but she can still move(stable if possible) then try putting it back on. and keep repeating this.

Charlotte x