How do you get a abused horse to trust people again?

Question

My mother bought two abandon horses and a donkey that was claimed by the sheriff department for animal abuse about 3 or 4 months ago. My horse is doing really well but my mom's is the one who got abused and she doesn't go up to anyone and she runs away when you even started to come towards her. She had a embeaded halter that had to be removed and after a couple months it took me, my mom, and one of my friends to get another halter back on her and she's making alot of progress but it takes sweet feed to get her to come up so we can get a lead rope on her and sometimes she freaks out and TRYS to take off with you. We can't seem to get her to get her to trust us. We need your help.

Answer 1

I agree with the above answers, but I want to add something. Sit inside the stall/pen (if safe) or right outside if not. She needs to be by herself to force her to trust you (you bring food, you sit next to her, etc- if she has a horse buddy in the pen, this won't work as well) And just read something or work on a quiet project. You can read outloud to her if you want. What you need to do is just sit there and ignore her. If she runs or comes closer, just ignore her. Let her sniff you, etc- still ignore her. After a day or two of this, just look at her, and pet her if she allows (time for a treat as well). If she freaks out- go back to step one.
Let her know that you are not always going to be making her to scary things when she sees you (including leading). We trained a couple stubborn wild foals, and it may take a week of doing this before they were interested enough to come over. Within 2 weeks (of doing this every day for at least an hour), they would come and stand by us for companionship because they didn't want to stand alone anymore (plus they started coming up to dig for a treat in our pockets).

It taks a lot of time and patience- don't get mad or scared of her- just relax and let her have her outbreaks of trying to flee- stand their calmly and once she is done, go on like nothing happened.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I saw a similar situation on an Animal Planet show. There was a man who was trying to gain the trust of an abused horse. What he did was this... He kept the horse in a fenced area, not too large, but big enough where the horse could run around and get excersize. He would crouch down, or sit on the ground for hours at a time, sometimes, until the horse would approach him. He said it was better to get at a lower level, so the horse wouldn't feel intimidaded. This was repeated several times a day, for a couple weeks. He would just crouch, or sit on a chair, talking softly to the horse. Prety soon, that horse approached him. You have to let them make the first move. Just be patient...with alot of love and attention, she will come around. It always has to be on the animals terms when they have been neglected and abused! Best of luck to you and your mom and the horses!

Answer 3

After using the feed to lure and the halter is on, attach the lead to the right lower loop on the halter ( to give you more control if she tries to run off or rears) and lead the horse around for hours just hanging out. Letting the horse get to know you and letting her learn to enjoy her surroundings and the company. Be patient it may take a while for her trust again. She is traumatized. Her face may be sore and tender still too. I wish yall all the best. Hang out with her for hours with out a halter on, also.

Answer 4

I agree with Dark Kit and Porkchop. I specialize in working with traumatized horses and am involved in several horse rescue groups. If you can get her in a roundpen or small pasture that would help. Try sittin ' on a bucket in the pen with her. Make little noises or drum your fingers lightly on the bucket to peak her curiosity. Let HER approach YOU. Allow her to investigate you without you asking anything of her. After she walks away of her own accord, exit the area. Try to repeat this process at the same time each day... perhaps right around feeding time. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT HALTERING YET. A horse that has experienced extreme trauma is more apt to panic as soon as it feels pressure. The goal is to get HER to CHOOSE to be with you. This is going to be a very involved process and she may have lifelong issues that resurface from time to time. Research Post Traumatic Stress Disorder inorder to familiarize yourself with "triggers", "flashbacks", isolating tendencies, etc. It is best if she has one pasture buddy who is super friendly and people oriented. Your mom's mare needs a buddy to give her confidence and show her the way. The mare will be more ready to trust another horse than a two-legged. Don't worry if she becomes dependent on her buddy, you can address that issue later. Right now this horse needs to feel like she has a support system. Once she is comfortable with your presence, spend great quantities of time just grooming her. With your hand rub her withers in a circular motion--- this simulates how mares nuzzle their foals. Massage therapy is excellent because if you can relax her body, you will relax her mind. Always move very fluidly around her. Keep a low, laid back way about you. "Nothing is a big deal". Limit her human contact with only one or two people (life has taught her that humans are the enemy). Keep things peaceful around her. Remember, she has good reason to fear the halter and leadrope with what she's been through; trust can't be forced, it must be earned. Be safe. If you seek the assistance of a trainer, make sure you observe their technique on several occasions with different horses. Training traumatized horses is quite different from training others... one must undo bad lessons, retrain with good lessons AND install coping techniques for when "triggers" or "flashbacks" occur.

Answer 5

I personally would place her in a small pasture, or even a large round pen, and just work very very slowly with her. I wouldnt worry about lead ropes and halters just yet. Try keeping her by herself in a small enclosure. Spend time with her daily, just you and her. Just try getting her to let you touch her without fear or resentment. If she isnt ready for touching, just go and spend 20 minutes a day standing outside of her pen. Try touching her on the side. Leave her head and legs alone. Just get her comfortable with your touch.

Do this for a few days, and then push her a little. Try her neck, her rump, and the tops of her legs. When she is comfortable with that, after a few days, try bringing a soft body brush with you, and just touch her gently on the side with it. (No need to actually brush her, unless you think she will let you) eventually, soft brush her every time you come to see her, all over her body.

Always make sure to leave her on a good note. She will start asociating you with positive and pleasurable experiences. (Maybe end the session with a fresh cut apple, or a handfull of carrot pieces {dont use whole carrots. Horses can choke on them} or some other favorite treat.) Start trying to pick up her feet. If you push her too far, go back to a step she is comfortable with, and just leave her to reflect on the session for the rest of the day. The next day, try it again. Just give her time. Horses never really seem to forget bad experiences in their past. The best we can do for them, is encompase them with new, better experiences.

Eventually, she wont be so worried when you start trying to put a halter and lead rope on her. If she is head shy, you may want to try just getting her to slowly allow you to touch her face (start by touching her on the cheek, near the throat latch, and eventually work your way up) before trying with a halter. Good luck, and I hope this helps. Just remember, go at her pace, not yours. Don't get frusterated if she isnt coming along as quickly as you would like. She has a lot of things to work through.

Answer 6

my horse was the same way .. we got it from cumberland island and it was abused by the other horses because it was smaller (only 15 hands) .. he used to be a really mean horse and would buck everytime we would put a saddle on him or anything .. the thing to do is to talk to him and be calm around him .. if you are calm the horse will be calmer .. try giving it apples every now and then .. but make sure to treat the other horses the same ..so that horse doesnt think it needs to get all the food and love .. etc. it might take a while .. but he will eventually start to trust you ..

Answer 7

Well, the first thing you need to know is to be gentle with her. Just sit down and talk to her, let her know you don't want to harm her. Some horses like it when you sing, that what I did with the mustang I'm training. It really works! Then you could justa let her get to know you, and soon you should be able to go up to her, with the help of some treats. And once she starts trudting more, try it without the treats. And remember, be gentle and nice, but let her know that you're the boss. when she trys to take off with you, try to hold your ground, but don't freak her out and start yelling or anything.

Answer 8

In dealing with abused horses at the local rescue, I can tell you that the Parelli method truly works miracles. The ground games help the horse feel secure and learn to trust again.

Answer 9

Nothing is going to be quick !

Only feed her by hand. Put her by herself in a stall or pen. Feed her by hand only. After a time she will get to trust you, but it is not going to be quick. Horses have very good memories, smarts.

I have done this with several horses and it does work. Start brushing her when you can and never yell at them, never act as if you are going to hit.

Trust is not given away by these critters, it has to be urned by you. You can do it nice like I like to do. Or you can do it mean which this horse dose not sound as if it needs.

Good luck with her. Do not give up! One day her eyes you will see her brain go DING, hey they are not going to hurt me! And it is a amazing thing!

Answer 10

Have you ever considered Join-Up? it is very effective, like in a wild horse herd when they run away you pretend you are a predator, mountain lion for example, and run after her, eyes locked on hers, and spread your fingers like claws. And as soon as she turns around and looks spin around, drop your gaze, and lower your hands, and completely relax. But keep an eye on her, if she starts to move away do it again, repeat these steps as long as it takes, soon she will slowly come up licking and chewing, and a lowered head which pretty much says, i am tired i want to stop running, please be my leader, as long as you keep that predotor away i will follow. pet her and ask her to walk with you, walk all around she will follow, but if she decides that she had enough go after her again! It won't take her long to relize, that you are leader that she can follow you.
Hope this helps you!