Wendy it sounds as if your horse has had some really nasty experiences with numerous people hence he is now terrified of them. Well done for gaining his confidence. Now you will need to help him accept other people too. Initially try with just one other person. Explain to this person how to approach a nervous horse Monty style and ensure they have no glasses on and preferably no hat. While you are holding him in the sweet spot with the dually have this person slowly approach. Talk to your horse in a soothing voice and stroke him while they come up. First up just have them come to about 2 metres away then walk away again. Keep them coming up slowly then walking away until they can come right to you and him and stroke him. Let him get completely familiar and relaxed with this person and then on another day try to introduce someone else. Once your horse is accepting a number of different people approaching him the you may try the same thing with a couple of people at a time. Your task is to desensitise your horse to people using Monty's incremental approach.

hi Wendy, our Barney was just the same and even now if people approach him too fast he bolts. everyone I introduce to him I instruct before hand how they need to behave, ie keep their hands still and no sudden movements and as Maggie says... No sunglasses or hats. It's been just over a year now since we've had him, but it's a path that requires lots of patience. Barney goes everywhere with me, if the supermarkets would allow him in he'd be quite happy to go with me. i would also suggest if you are on a yard that people do not approach him without your say so.
X

Hi again Wendy. This does confirm that your horse has been really badly treated by humans as my quarter horse has been. He will need a lot of time, patience and love.

Agree Maggie, and he's blessed to find you Wendy so you can give him what he needs. X

Hi - all brilliant advice, I too have a pony that was born virtually wild and unhandled except for the odd bit of horrible treatment here and there (ear screwed down etc etc etc.) He had also grown into his headcollar that they turned him out in when he was a baby and noone noticed so when they finally took it off (before I bought him) his poll and face were badly cut - can you imagine what it was like trying to get a headcollar on him after that?! Anyway he is just like yours - will do anything I ask him and trusts me totally but I have to be careful introducing others to him - once he realises they are ok and he trusts my judgement he is ok. However, I would like to point out two advantages to this type of horse (1) Noone will ever steal him because he won't go to them (2) No stranger ever feeds him over the fence or does anything to him when I (or someone he knows well) am not around because he won't go to them. He is very independent and not a 'cuddly pony' at all. I'm sure that if he was turned loose he would 'return to the wild' (as wild as any horse in the UK can be - more semi feral really!) very quickly so I always feel honoured and privileged when he trusts me. I watched Monty when he turned ShyBoy loose and cried when ShyBoy came back. I'm not trying it lol!! I'm not saying don't get him friendly with others, he needs to be, I'm just offering another view of him that may help you realise how far you have come and what great work you have clearly done so far. Take your time, he will get there :-)

Lol love it Vicci, nice to be online at the same time. :D

Thanks Mel, night owls us ;-) Off to bed now though!!

Hate what people do to horses but I am with Vicci. Maybe it is best to leave them a bit nervous. Cash the ex-race horse I voluntarily helped to re-train which some of you will remember is another example. He was so scared of people but after I had re-trained him he was really trusting and friendly. After the I was asked to finish with his re-training he would come up to me at the fence and allow me to cuddle him over the fence and stand there with his head on my shoulder while I filled the water troughs for my horses. Every evening when I go out to check my horses I give him a cuddle and pat over the fence as he comes trotting up. He became just so trusting and gentle but guess what? Last night when I put my hand out to stroke his nose which he previously loved he flew back away from me. Some idiot has obviously bashed him across the nose for being too friendly!! How stupid can some people be when this horse had a history of being scared of people? I am guessing it was the current instructor that lady who befriended him has. Currently feeling mean, nasty and very angry and just wish I had not quieten and re-trained this beautiful, gentle horse as then this lady would never have been able to get near him let alone ride him.

oh Maggie I'm so sorry to hear that, they must find it so confusing when owners keep changing who works with them. I hope he settles again with you soon. Xxx

Thanks, Mel. He was a little better to-night but it makes me so sad to see him hesitant again.

This is encouraging to read as I just bought a pony for my kids that I am more and more convinced has previously been badly mistreated. He is a beautiful pony that doesn't seem to be overly affected by things around him, but is very easily spooked by people. We've only had him about a month and he is getting better all the time, but I can tell it is going to be quite some time before my kids will be able to ride him on their own. It is sad that there are so many horses out there who have not been treated well, but I am also encouraged that there are people out there who are working to give these horse a better experience, and am proud to be one of them.

Hello Everyone! Thank you so much for all the replies. I have tried it and are back with an update. I started off with my son who helps me feed the horses. I asked him to come into his stall and just slowly stroke him. He had no problem with that (I was in there stroking too). Then I asked Hubby. Stavvy (my horse) were nervous at first, but the moment he settled I told hubby to leave. Then I started introducing new people and it went better and better by the day. The dentist came out and I couldn't be there to help. They had no problem catching him and he was absolutely fine with all the people. We are now up to 3 people and he is doing just great! Thank you to all for the help! I love this Uni!

Aww hat fabulous news, glad its going well :-)

Oh dear, typing too fast...try again... that should say What fabulous news, glad it's going well !

Excellent Wendy, keep on going and he'll get there eventually. A little update on our Barney (shetland), he is confident now for us to lead him via his mane or to get him to walk beside us we just pop our arm over his neck and he'll happily plod along. Amazing what horses will do with us when they trust us. :D

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Great news Wendy. Thanks for the update. Congratulations on your progress as it is not easy with these nervous horses. Hopefully there will be no set backs now but be aware that he will go backwards if anyone treats him roughly in your absence. Best to be with him if you possibly can be when strangers need to handle him..