How can i help a 16mth old sec A colt to learn to trust me enough to let me touch him?

Question

His mum kept him away from ppl in a barn and in the field and now they are seperated i cant get near him to touch or worm him even though he is stabled. He belongs to a friend along with 10 others. He is constantly stabled because we cant get near to put an alter on him

The section A can only be stabled at the moment cos we cant get a head coller on him to get him out in a field or paddock. He will come to be when i pop my head over his stable door, he will take food and treats off me, and lets me muck him out, and i do talk to him all the time. He sniffs me and lets me stoke his nose briefly, but since being seperated from him mum a while ago, im the only one who shows him any affection, before that he relied on his filly step sister to protect him. He has only been stabled on his own for 4 weeks. Thats how long iv been trying for. I dont want to force anything with him and i know it will take time

I just want to say thank you to everyone who tried to help me with their great ideas. So far most of what was said i have tried, and i feel as though i am getting somewhere. Little steps take time!

Answer 1

Sounds like you are soing a good job, keep it up

Answer 2

I feel for you and your friend, must be very upsetting, especially as you want to care for him, stoke and groom him etc, and the sooner you do it the better.

Firstly, I would if possible turn him out into a round pen or small paddock and stand in it with him, but not looking directly at him. Curiosity will bring him to you (may take hours), when he does offer him your hand, but just your hand to sniff, keeping your eyes lowered. Turn your body away from him, and move slowly away, see if he follows - this again is a lengthy process, don't rush it or rush towards him. He will become nosey and look to you for protection finally - go onto the Monty Roberts website and click on join-up, that's what you are doing - asking him to join up with you. If you feed him, take the bucket into the paddock with you and offer it to him, but not by walking up to him, hold it so he can see it, again turn your head away, eyes lowered, asking him to come to you. If you read the Monty Roberts Join Up section you will find anything you need to know. You will be able to send him away and ask for him to join up.

Keeping him in a stable isn't likely to work long term either, horses are not meant to be stabled, they should be outside, especially a youngster.

I had a nightmare welsh section a gelding, wouldn't be caught, now do join up with him every day, comes to me like a lamb and virtually puts his halter on himself.

It's so rewarding when you succeed and you WILL succeed, just don't force him to do anything.

Good luck, and I sincerely hope the above helps

Answer 3

Ok its gona take you ages but you HAVE to be patient and calm.
First off you dont want to appear intimidating so try and bend down so you're at his level when you approach him - Id recommend rubbing whatever feed you're giving to him on your clothes etc so you SMELL approachable. Let him sniff you without trying to rub him or touch him. Keep this going for a few days and gradually slowly put your hand out to him - offer him something nice - then keep this procedure going for a few days - as his trust builds in you, try and progress further - try to stroke his neck - remember though NO fast movement.
Its gona take a long time, but patience should prevail and you'll gain his trust and hopefully once you have that the rest of training will follow smoothly - good luck!

Answer 4

My youngster was very similar, couldn't get a headcollar anywhere near him for ages. I used to go and sit in his stable on a bucket and read, curiosity will soon over come him and he will approach you. Try not to make sudden movements. Try and ignore him as much as possible but give lots of praise when he does approach you. If you can get a headcollar on him try and leave a short piece of rope dangling underneath where you would attach a lead rope, this will enable you to get hold of him a little easier. It does take time but it is very rewarding at the end of it! Stick with it and good luck.

Answer 5

I had a youngster and at one he had been really mistreated and it took a long time to win him round.
This is what I did and I hope it helps.
I sat in his Field with a bucket and treats and just waited. In your case put a rope across the door and sit on a chair near enough for him to come when he feels like it. Ideally if you could get him into a place like a small padock or school that would be great. Eventually about 4 hours later he wanted to investigate me further. he muzzled me he head butted me. and I did not react. except to give me a treat. (Food really does work wonders) I walked a few paces and turned my back on him and he followed.(eventually) I kept this up for what felt like an age. When he came to me I rewarded him and moved away again.. If you can assert yourself as a dominant pack leader he will want to be with you for protection and comfort. Then when you start to touch him he will view it as that instead of a confrontation. Once he follows you about stand with your shoulder to his neck and use your hand to gently stoke his neck. really long process but its the idea behind it that works. It worked for me I could call him to the gate to catch and he would follow me anywhere even into a horse box without a lead rope.. Its all about trust.. I could not get near him alone touch him to start with and in the end I was able to touch him anywhere I liked as roughly as I liked with no hesitation or fear of being kicked or bitten.. In your case. try to win the trust by mearly being there. It sounds pointless but he has to have a friendly face he can trust something like a mother was to him. Give it plenty of time and it will pay off. It definitely the way to go.. Make him want to please you and be near you and you have won half the battle.. Good luck.

Answer 6

Two words- Monty Roberts. Get his book-"From My Hand To Yours". It will explain everything to you about how he works and what you can do to help him figure you out. You are so lucky :) He is a clean slate, every thing he'll learn about people he will learn from you. "Join Up" is so much fun, you'll have a ball, and at the end, he will see you as his friend and leader, and trust you to no end. It is so gratifying. He'll follow you like he followed his mum, and look to you for protection.

To get more info on this guy you can go to www.montyroberts.com -

Trust me, it really does work, and it is soooo easy to learn (for you and him).

Good Luck:)

Answer 7

Sit in his stall with him every now and then. Let him come 2 u dont go to him. Hold a treat till he coms to u and then praise him very well he will learn with time! Ive gone through this before with a little colt too!

Answer 8

i hate thats sh-te.. why do we have years when people use months all the time.. whats wrong with saying 1year 4 months and the horse doesnt need an alter to be allowed to roam in the field freely they werent born with an alter on them s o cut it some slack and open the stable and let it run free in the field

zombie :)

Answer 9

hi i'll try to keep this short.. this is what i would do with a colt like him... spend alot of time just around him, talking to him(which i noticed you said you do, good work) if you can, make sure that you are the one doing all the work with him, so he slowly gets to trusting you, you can work on him trusting others later.. be the only one feeding him if you can too... he might start getting the idea like, hey this is the person who feeds me, im going to start being nice to her... with out putting yourself in a dangerous position.. try just softly petting his neck and shoulders.. and when he walks away, just leave it at that.. you always want to leave on a good note, so he remembers that the next time you work with him. slow and steady wins the race(and its good that you are not in a hurry, its hard to get any progress with shy horses when you are rushed) i wish the best luck to you!

Answer 10

SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO GIVE HIM SWEET LOVING CARE. TRY SWEET FEED. LET HIM GET ALITTLE HUNGRY AND TALK TO HIM THROUGH HIS STOMACH. DON'T FEED HIM FOR AT LEAST A DAY DEPENDING ON HOW STRONG WILL HE IS IT MIGHT TAKE UP TO 3 DAYS WITH NO FOOD BUT PLENTY OF WATER. SLOWLY ASK HIM DOES HE WANT A SNACK AND OFFER IT TO HIM IN YOUR HAND DON'T MOVE TOWARD HIM LET HIM COME TO YOU. HE HAS TO LEARN THAT YOU ARE IS FRIEND NOT YOU TELL HIM THAT YOU ARE. TALK IN A LOW STEADY VOICE TO HIM AT ALL TIMES YOU CAN EVEN SING TO HIM JUST LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE FAST AROUND HIM. WHEN HE TAKES A BITE USE YOUR THUMB TO TOUCH HIS NOSE BE CAREFUL THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE HIM JUMP JUST BE STILL AND OFFER FOOD AGAIN. BE SLOW AND HE WILL COME TO YOU IF HE KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE FOOD. HOPE THIS HELPS.

Answer 11

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