Unhandled 2 year old colt

[Coltmum20]

Hi guys,

I’m in a situation and I don’t know if I’m being too harsh on myself. I recently took on a two year old colt who has never been handled. He has never had a head collar on. I’m now only on day 6. The first day going he would not come anywhere near me. Not for treats only to get his food bowl which even then the moment it touched the floor he would pull it as far away from me as possible.

Fast forward to day 5 (yesterday) he comes over takes treats from my hands and while doing so let’s me scratch under his chin. But the minute I go to touch him anywhere he pulls away ears back and walks away.

Today (day 6) he wasn’t overly interested in coming close to me when I didn’t have treats until I started walking in and out of the stable. To which he then did start coming over and sniffing me nibbling again.

I’m limited to what I can do as he is just in this stable and I can’t get him out into the field.

He will need his feet seeing to soon and maybe it’s just because I’ve made now progress today that I’m disheartened.

I’ve had horses all my life, but not something completely unhandled with no background.

Any advice would be incredible!

Thank you!

 

[Ellie Equestrian]

hi it seems like you have made amazing progress so far.
do you have a round pen?
i like to start my first touches and trust gaining in a 5-6 ft tall round pen.

 

[carthorse]

If you have unlimited time you can try making yourself the only source of food and water in the day, gradually moving it closer to you until he's happy to eat while you touch him. Or do you have a very friendly pony that you can take with you so he sees one of his kind that seeks out people? What you're doing already is slowly working though so don't worry too much, it will take time. The other option is to get some help from someone used to this sort of thing, maybe call a few rescue centres and see if they can suggest someone, .

If his feet are desperate I'd speak to the vet and ask for some dope to keep it as stress free as possible. Although oral ones should be given by syringe they will work in a feed, you just might need a bit more.

 

[Ellie Equestrian]

If you have unlimited time you can try making yourself the only source of food and water in the day, gradually moving it closer to you until he's happy to eat while you touch him. Or do you have a very friendly pony that you can take with you so he sees one of his kind that seeks out people? What you're doing already is slowly working though so don't worry too much, it will take time. The other option is to get some help from someone used to this sort of thing, maybe call a few rescue centres and see if they can suggest someone, .

If his feet are desperate I'd speak to the vet and ask for some dope to keep it as stress free as possible. Although oral ones should be given by syringe they will work in a feed, you just might need a bit more.

yeah this method works as well. in fact its really good.
it is probably more effective than the round pen as they are pretty expensive lol.

 

[Huggy]

When I needed to settle Hogan for the farrier I put relaquin in his feed.

 

[Yogi0124]

I'll prefer round pen. Seems like you've done an amazing progress so far. After a few sessions in the round pen, your horse will have a higher level of respect for you. When you do put the halter and lead rope on him, he’ll be in a better frame of mind to pay attention and learn.

 

[Jessey]

I really wouldn't be concerned after just 6 days, take your time, he'll come around if you don't try too hard, busy yourself by the door, read a book/eat your lunch/clean some tack/anything not about him, let his curiosity get the better of him and don't reach for him for a few days. Think of it in terms of pressure and release, you should be releasing when he does what you want (coming to you), not adding (mental) pressure by reaching for him Getting him with a friendly horse/pony will definitely help, they learn so much from their herd and are braver with company. I rescued a colt a few years ago who wanted nothing to do with people, a couple of weeks in the field with my others and little pressure and he was following me around like a dog, let me trim his feet, worm him and de-louse him all with little fuss.

 

[Coltmum20]

hi it seems like you have made amazing progress so far.
do you have a round pen?
i like to start my first touches and trust gaining in a 5-6 ft tall round pen.

Hi! Thankyou! I don’t! I have access to a field but I can’t get him out there with leading him out! So it’s tough!

 

[Coltmum20]

If you have unlimited time you can try making yourself the only source of food and water in the day, gradually moving it closer to you until he's happy to eat while you touch him. Or do you have a very friendly pony that you can take with you so he sees one of his kind that seeks out people? What you're doing already is slowly working though so don't worry too much, it will take time. The other option is to get some help from someone used to this sort of thing, maybe call a few rescue centres and see if they can suggest someone, .

If his feet are desperate I'd speak to the vet and ask for some dope to keep it as stress free as possible. Although oral ones should be given by syringe they will work in a feed, you just might need a bit more.

Hi! Thankyou! He’ll take carrots and hay from me! I’ve got to that stage and as he’s taking them I can rub under his chin, but the minute I go to touch him properly he shys away!

There’s a little Shetland in the stall next door (only other pony there) and he’s always having rubs so he does see it!

I am thinking of maybe getting someone in but I seens as it’s so early on I just wondered what advice there would be because I know I’m being hard on myself given it’s only the first week!

His feet aren’t desperate there in surprisingly good nick, but won’t be long before I’ll have to get them done!

 

[Coltmum20]

I'll prefer round pen. Seems like you've done an amazing progress so far. After a few sessions in the round pen, your horse will have a higher level of respect for you. When you do put the halter and lead rope on him, he’ll be in a better frame of mind to pay attention and learn.

I unfortunately don’t have access to a round pen, I have access to a field, but I can’t get him in there without leading him, it’s almost a catch 22

 

[Coltmum20]

I really wouldn't be concerned after just 6 days, take your time, he'll come around if you don't try too hard, busy yourself by the door, read a book/eat your lunch/clean some tack/anything not about him, let his curiosity get the better of him and don't reach for him for a few days. Think of it in terms of pressure and release, you should be releasing when he does what you want (coming to you), not adding (mental) pressure by reaching for him Getting him with a friendly horse/pony will definitely help, they learn so much from their herd and are braver with company. I rescued a colt a few years ago who wanted nothing to do with people, a couple of weeks in the field with my others and little pressure and he was following me around like a dog, let me trim his feet, worm him and de-louse him all with little fuss.

Hi! Thankyou so much for that! I have been doing bits of pressure and release! And I do read my book or play games on my phone etc and he does come over, it’s just as soon as I move or try to stroke him even a tiny bit he shys! We have a little pony in the seal next door who is so friendly and he sees the fuss he gets but he just doesn’t seem interested! But your right it is still very early!

 

[Jessey]

Hi! Thankyou so much for that! I have been doing bits of pressure and release! And I do read my book or play games on my phone etc and he does come over, it’s just as soon as I move or try to stroke him even a tiny bit he shys! We have a little pony in the seal next door who is so friendly and he sees the fuss he gets but he just doesn’t seem interested! But your right it is still very early!

The pony being in with him would be so much better, so he can physically follow his lead but obviously that won't work in the stable, could you perhaps bring pony to the door though and give him a groom?
If he will let you scratch his chin don't try to do anything more until he is really comfortable with that, and then just very gradually scratch an inch further at a time and every session start at the chin again, not the max that you reached the day before. Slowly slowly catchy monkey Perhaps start doing something that involves reaching up/out but without touching him, and do it even when he is not next to you, so he can observe you doing it and it doesn't only happen when he's close. You could get someone out to halter him, but ideally you want him willingly coming to you, not just submitting because you have something to hang on to

 

[carthorse]

I'd say a stable is better than a round pen because he's more dependent on you.

Can you tie the Shetland outside his door? If you can and then stand at the door it may encourage him to be braver. I wouldn't fret about him moving away when you try to touch past his chin, just stop trying until he's more chilled with you being that close. If he has to move by you to get to the Shetland start by just keeping still and let him be the one doing the touching, that way he'll get the idea that moving alongside you is safe.

If his feet aren't bad then that's another thing on the "worry about it later" list.

 

[carthorse]

@Jessey, crossed posts!

 

[Coltmum20]

The pony being in with him would be so much better, so he can physically follow his lead but obviously that won't work in the stable, could you perhaps bring pony to the door though and give him a groom?
If he will let you scratch his chin don't try to do anything more until he is really comfortable with that, and then just very gradually scratch an inch further at a time and every session start at the chin again, not the max that you reached the day before. Slowly slowly catchy monkey Perhaps start doing something that involves reaching up/out but without touching him, and do it even when he is not next to you, so he can observe you doing it and it doesn't only happen when he's close. You could get someone out to halter him, but ideally you want him willingly coming to you, not just submitting because you have something to hang on to

Yes! I never thought to bring the pony closer over! Apache (the colt) is pretty good, the stable door can be open and he doesn’t try to get out! So bringing the pony over might just work!

That’s really helpful! Thanks!

I do want to try to avoid getting someone in if I can, because I want him to fully trust me and we do it together, but I know it may be something I have to consider if I don’t progress the way we should

 

[Coltmum20]

I'd say a stable is better than a round pen because he's more dependent on you.

Can you tie the Shetland outside his door? If you can and then stand at the door it may encourage him to be braver. I wouldn't fret about him moving away when you try to touch past his chin, just stop trying until he's more chilled with you being that close. If he has to move by you to get to the Shetland start by just keeping still and let him be the one doing the touching, that way he'll get the idea that moving alongside you is safe.

If his feet aren't bad then that's another thing on the "worry about it later" list.

Yes! I just said to the previous reply I didn’t even think of bringing the little one actually to the stable door!

I’m glad I posted here! It’s really helpful! Things I didn’t even think!