Hi, I've recently bought a yearling which is now 16mths old, so I've had him for 4 mths now. He's very nervous and I've spent a good part of the time building his trust with me as he was so scared of everyone and everything. I'm now able to approach him and can get a dually on him, but the trouble is when I take him out of the field to work in the school, one minute he's fine and the next he freaks, bolts and I can't hold him. He's only little but when he goes I can't hold him. Last week he bolted off and I thought I had lost him for good. He found a whole in the fence and jumped the school and headed off into the distance. Of course no one else can get anywhere near him except me, so the chances of someone catching him is 0%. Really scared me. Am I expecting too much of him to take him out for a walk? Should I leave him longer in the field to settle? I just wanted to be able to allow him to walk out and see things early so as he gets used to everything around him. I've already started on desenstising his rear end with a glove on a stick as he always kicked out, but he seems much better there, and the next job is to introduce a turnout rug ready for the winter. It just concerns me about when he leaves the field, he just for no reason bolts!
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Hi Shazza,
The first thing what I was thinking is, do you know his background, his history?
Did you ever video yourself with him to see how he is reacting?
Maybe you can see what he is doing and also what you are doing. There must be a reason why he is doing these things and when you watch the/your video, maybe you see it better, because it is from a "distance".
Are you working with the dually in the school and then he can be oké and the other moment he freaks out?
Sorry I can't help you with solutions for this problem, because I am a beginner.
I hope you will get a lot of advices on this.
Good luck, May
Hi Shazza,
I hope you don't mind but I too have some questions for you that perhaps will help us to understand the situation better.
How much experience do you have?
What is his back ground?
Is he gelded?
Are there other horses?
Do you use a long line and the dually when you walk him?
Answers to these questions might help us to give you suggestions on things that might help, OK? Also, as much information as possible will help us to have a clear picture of what's happening.
Some of us have dealt with remedial horses and have succeeded in helping them.
I would not presume to know what you have done or are capable of doing, so by answering these questions will help me to make proper suggestions that could help.
There are so many on the forum that can help you and direct you to sites that will help with the problems.
Ronda
I bought him locally from a woman who bought him at a horse sales. Apparently they treat them pretty badly and this is shown on his face. He has total fear of humans! He does trust me to enter into his space now, but in the school he just panics and the "flight" mode kicks in. He's not trying to get away from me that I'm sure, as he often comes to me in the field if he gets frightened. I'm just wondering if I should just leave him a bit longer as he is only 16mths old and obviously has had an awful experience of life before I found him.
Yes I always use a dually when I take him out of the field, with a 20ft long line, but even with these I still can't hold him when he decides to bolt.
Shazza Bombazza
A couple of suggestions for you to consider. First, does your horse understand the dually halter. That is does he know the pressure release concepts and have you taught him to backup and then move his flank away from you. That is to say does he flex when you have him move in a circle?
How much round pen work have you done with him? If you have a round pen the horse should not be able to see out and be distracted. Remember you are working with a very young teenager and it does not take much for them to loose their focus. While he is a little young top do a join up I would still attempt it. Since he is afraid of everything you will need to be very calm and work slowly so as not to frighten him to the point of him loosing his reasoning. Be sure you understand the concept and process of join up then go for it. Once you have achieved a join up you will need to do it several more times to see the benefit. Your horse will be much more trusting of you and while he still may get all nervous around other people, if he trust you and sees you as a leader you will be able to calm him with your voice and body language.
Cheers
Hi Shazza,
Thank you for answering some of my questions, I really appreciate that.
I also rescued my little girl, two years ago. She is now three.
She was not treated well and still has a fear of most people.
I'm not sure if you need to do join-up with him right now as he comes to you for protection when he's frightned.
He is very young and has had traumic experiences in his young life.
He should be treated as a remedial horse.
Monty has lots of video's on this and how he trains the very young horse that has problems.
Watching these will build your confidence and when applied to the horse will also build his.
I had to go very slowly with my young lady and only do one thing at a time with her so it would imprint on her young mind.
Right now, my suggestion for you is to just be with him, walk with him, where he is comfortable. Rub him wherever he will allow you and just be his buddy for now.
Time heals many wounds for the horse, they forgive easily but do not forget.
Beleive you have all the time in the world and it will take only a short time. If you feel you have only a few minutes it will take years.
Monty's book and lessons are what gave my horse back her life, by applying the methods he teaches you can see the softness in her eyes now.
It has been a long journey but the trail has been worth it for both of us.
Your horse loving friend,
Ronda
Hi Shazza - it is so scary when they take off like that on you. I expected to much of my young 3 year old QH when I first got him as I had been promised by his breaker that he was very quiet. I wrapped some gate chains in a chaff bag and tied them on the front of the saddle intending to ride out to the back of a property to put them on the gates. Fortunately my neighbour suggested that I should lunge him first. He became terrified by the rattle of the chains and took off like your fellow - jumped five paddock fences and galloped about 4 kilometres ending up on a neighbouring property. I thought I would find him killed or badly injured but instead after a rather lengthy search found him still terrified but standing perfectly still under a tree so that the chains wouldn't rattle! So much for my shared experience. With a youngster like yours I wouldn't try to take him out of his environment until he is perfectly relaxed in your company and you have done so much more with him. Yes it is good to expose them to things early if you can but do this as much as you can in a safe environment. There is plenty of time in the future to go outside his home area and you need to have his trust first. My young 5 year old mare, Tricka, has very few phobias but I am only just starting to take her out into a range of different environments. Admittedly her progress has been delayed as it has been difficult for me to find the time to spend with her which she needs. She is ready now and I have started walking with her along the fairly busy gravel roads - always with the dually halter on - and soon I will lead her out off my very quiet, docile warm blood before I ride her out by myself. My strongest advice is don't be in a hurry with your youngster. Just keep working with him in his home environment with the dually for as long as it takes. You will know when he is ready to do more.
Hi Shazza,
As always, great comments up here!
Let me describe the method Monty's advanced students use for absolute starters and rescue horses. Maybe you know the chute, but this you'll not need, because you can touch and halter your young horse. What is in front of the chute is an area, just big enough to let the horse come out and move freely, but just small enough to not let him reach the end of the longline. So if the youngster takes off, the handler will be able to keep in touch with the Duallyhalter, which ofcourse the horse is wearing. Sometimes you need to give a fairly strong tuck on the line, once or twice, before the horse starts to understand that you're leading him and that he can free himself from the pressure of the Dually, but not from you as his leader. This way your horse can learn to lead, without the risk of losing him, when he gets scared. If this procedure is clear to both horse and handler, then advance to a slightly bigger, but safe, area and give him confidence that the two of you can handle any situation. Important is, that you're really leading and the horse is following, so nose at shoulder. This gives him a sense of protection, you're his leader, and it gives you some safety.
Don't ask too much too soon, but build up on good experiences and stay safe!
Miriam
Thank you all for your sound advise. I've allowed Monty (my horse), to settle back in the field after that terrifying incident last week and last night was able to put on his dually and walk him around my round pen which is in my field. He was very good at walking with me and staying on the "sweet spot", but did panic when I ran on in front. But thankfully he didn't have far to sprint off and I was able to hold onto him and allow the dually to do it's work. I shall follow all your advice given and continue to remain working in this safer enviroment now until I am totally confident that these episodes are eliminated and he is bolt free. Thank you again as I really appreciate all the help. Any suggestions on how I introduce a rug next would also be much appreciated as we get closer to those colder days.
Hi Shazza,
Good for you to go back to basics with your Monty, until he has more confidence!
About the rug: Put the Dually on and then I would introduce a towel or any lighter cloth, fold it and touch him with it at he whithers first and take it away, desensitizing him to being touched all over. Put it on his back and as soon as he accepts it, take it away. This way he "teaches" the scary thing to go away when he stands still. Now you can unfold and put it on his back, always using the same procedure, approach and retreat. Next you can take a bigger piece of material and eventually move on to introducing the, first folded, rug and later unfold it.
Let us know how you're progressing,
Miriam