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  Discussion on Hard to catch and haltering
Author Message
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 8:45 am:

Dennis and Imogen
I thought this might be better for our discussion.
Yes. I use hide the rope, fake feed bucket and jealousy. I have 2 colts I am working with now(not near enough time to spend as I would like). My born colt was great the first 3-4 months about haltering but is back sliding as the weather has been awful and I havent worked with him as much. I got a rescue colt a few months ago. The first month was just working on trust (was unable to touch him for a few weeks). We have been leading some and now I am working on taking the halter off and back on at feeding time. Morning feed I put it on and evening I take it off. Do you think this is a good idea for now? He is still seperated from the other three and his corral is a mud hole so we have limited space to work.
Member:
Dtranch

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 9:11 am:

Colleen ... If you feel secure that the area is such that the colt can't get the halter caught on anything and posibly injuring himself, then this is ok. One other drill I use on my young ones is just simply sending away .. and then let him come back in on his own. His curiousity will generally get the best of him and he will come in. Pacify him for awhile, then send away again. This doesn't have to be running him off, but gently sending away, or just going away yourself. I have similar mud problems and this is one exercise that works well in limited space. When the colt gets used to this, start putting halter on and off when he comes in, rub down with rope, etc. All of this helps him learn to trust you (he's not getting hurt) and respect you (cause he has to accept something from you). Let me know your thoughts and, please anything you do that works.
Member:
Jef3382

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 9:26 am:

I've kind of been following this thread but don't know if this has been suggested before, if it has just ignore. But have you tried teaching your horses to lead without the halter on. I've worked with a number of rescue horses that for good reason took off at the sight of a halter. One mare in particular was impossible to catch but she did like to be petted and loved on. So I would go up to her in the pasture and started by just getting her to give to my hand pressure on her face. We progressed to me being able to lead her all around with no halter. From there I progressed to a piece of baling twine made into a makeshift halter and from there a halter and lead. I did give her treats but it was only after I had gotten her back to the barn and then I gave her a good rubbing and a couple more treats right before I released her to make sure everything ended on a positive note. I also made sure that what I did with her varied everytime I caught her. One day I'd just brush her, the next I'd take her to graze. We always did a little training of some sort but I made sure there were perks to letting herself be captured.
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 9:55 am:

Dennis,
I will try more of that when the weather gets better. Normally I never leave halters on, but feel safe in doing so with Sam in the stall and corral. He thus far is quite calm. He was abused, sick and starved. We have come a long way with the trust. Now I am beginning to feel like a feeding machine to him as it is barely light at morn. feeding and getting dark at eve. feeding so I dont linger. That why i think halter on halter off is better than nothing. I am assuming you work with the young ones in a round pen or corral, etc. with this haltering.
Member:
Dtranch

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 12:09 pm:

Colleen
I am in the same boat as you with the weather and the darkness. I do have a round pen behind the barn with flood light where I do most of work ... man am I freezing ....
One of these days I'll have indoor facility .. right
Just a poor cowboy! Any way I limit my work with the young ones to 20 to 30 minutes so they don't get bored.
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 12:26 pm:

Dennis
round pen and flood lights sounds up town. I have muddy corral and a flash light.LOL.
Colleen
Member:
Dtranch

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 4:32 pm:

We are a sad lot ... huh
Be sure you post any tips that work cause this comes up regularly, especially with young or mis-treated horses. Thanks and Good Luck
DT
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 1:44 pm:

Hi Colleen and Dennis,
What is your halter made of that you leave on your horse? Hopefully it's of leather that will break if he gets it caught on something. Even in your small corral or stall your youngster can get his hind foot caught on it when he goes to scratch his ear. If it's nylon, try this safety tip: instead of buckling, tie the halter closed with a shoelace. This way it will easily break and remove the danger of getting caught on anything and who knows what a horse can get caught on. A woman I know left her horse in the paddock wearing a nylon halter which got caught on something while turned out. After that episode, he couldn't raise his head above chest level. He's on the lucky ones.

Don't mean to rain on your parade, but nothing scares me more than leaving nylon halters on horses.

Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 2:19 pm:

Holly
I have also heard may instances where horses have died due to getting their halters caught or getting their foots caught in the halter. I have also seen horses whose halters are never off. I do not leave halters on my horses as Im am with you on this being a scary thing. My first horse was very high strung when she was young and could get hurt in a plastic bubble. I learned quick that leaving halters on was not a good thing. This was a special situation I spoke of earlier and I only left the halter on for short periods and only for a few days. I am happy to say both my colts halter fine for now.
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