Lara has been in touch again with a pressure and release horse training story that I just had to share:
It’s also a wonderful example of how to bond with your horse.
“I got a phone call last week from a young girl needing help: she had a 6 month old foal, which she had had for two weeks – but couldn’t get near her.
But this wasn’t then only problem. The headcollar that had been put on her when she’d been bought was now far too tight.
When I arrived I asked the girl for a little history -s he had picked the foal from a field. Well, this little foal – who had never been handled – was herded into a cattle crush, had a headcollar put on as tight as possible, was whisked away from her mother, loaded into a trailer and left in a strange stable, at a strange place…all in one day.
Pressure and release horse training
Frankly, that’s just about enough for a young foal never to want another human being near her again. And so the work began.
As soon as I stepped into the stable she ran to the corner of the box. I really had a terrified, untouched foal on my hands. What was I going to do to gain her trust?
I approached her as near as she was comfortable with, and held out my hand. But she was having none of it – not even a sniff.
Then I tried with a food trail. She would only come so close, but with no interest whatsoever in going any further.
Then we brought in her pony friend from the next stable. I petted her and stroked her so the foal could see that we really were okay and not there to do her any harm.
She started to relax slightly and rest, but again, as soon as I approached her she moved away. Bit I kept this up, moving round in circles at a very slow pace. Whenever she looked at me, I took a step away from her, and all the time I was keeping my voice and body language soft and calm.
Pressure and release horse training
I sent her in several circles in both directions and then let her have a rest. I was getting closer to her, but still unable to touch her – then a thought entered my head as I was wishing my arm was longer. I asked the girl to get a stick.
The poor girl’s eyes popped out of her head. I just hoped this foal had never been beaten.
She came back with a stick and I laid it on the foals rump. She shot in the air and shot off – but I kept the stick touching her bottom. She did a few more circles with the stick touching, then stopped. I immediately removed the stick. In doing this I was releasing the pressure she was trying to run away from, and showing her by standing still, the pressure would be instantly released.
I then started with the stick again, taking time to work my way over her back and then finally, being in the right moment, was able to put my hand on her bottom, I then slowly and gently started to rub her back with my hand, then the stick onto her face – which was her most fearful and nervous part – and then my hand.
Very gently, I rubbed a leadrope over the foal and attached it to the side of her headcollar and then had her owner gently hold her whilst after rubbing her with another headcollar and leadrope.
Pressure and release horse training
I tied this loosely around her neck, just in case anything wrong, whilst I loosened the buckle on the headcollar she was wearing. I kept talking to her and touching her face and finally got to the buckle to loosen the headcollar.
All of the above took me two and a half hours from start to finish. Obviously a lot of patience is needed and of course, this approach would not have been suitable for a horse that has been beaten.
Best of all, I phoned the girl the same evening and she informed me that she had gone back to see her foal an hour later, rubbed her all over and was so happy, she had also taken her sister to visit.
All is well that ends well. This foal and her owner can now go forwards and build a bond together.
Lara – Equine Empath and Barefoot Hoof Trimmer.”
A huge big thanks to Lara for sharing his pressure and release horse training story.
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That is an interesting story and I have one that is very close . I was given a free foal. He was and is half percheron /quarter horse mix. He was an oops breeding. His dad bred at just a year old with his mom and (well bred quarter horse) and this breeder wanted nothing to do with this colt.
So at the ripe old age of four months soon to be five she decided to advertise him for free. He had not known a halter or the touch of a person’s hands. He had been let out with a herd of horses and left on his own. Now at four months he was already BIG. We arrived and they had just taken him from his mom and put a very tight halter on his head and they fought him into our trailer. He was so afraid .
We brought him home and unloaded him straight in to the barn and into a stall we had blocked off. Then we “bonded ” with him. I am not a horse expert but I go with feelings. I do this with all new horses . I stall them for two days. I go in to the stall every day and don’t touch them don’t move them don’t do anything. I let them sniff me and get use to me. HE was very gentle and he was lonely so he liked the comfort.
Then I let him out into the the pasture connected to his stall. He ran around and yelled at my other horse,Jill , who ignored him.
I would only feed him in the stall so he learned to “come” . Now how did I catch him you say. Well I didn’t . I would call him to the stall and when he came in I would attach a lead rope. At first he was afraid then he wasn’t. I used the lead rope to make it so we could touch him all over. I would rub all parts of his body. Now at first he would jump and act like a nut. OH did I mention that he was a biter and kicker ,just toward men. lol So we had my son work with him with me there.
It didn’t take two hours this took a good month before he would stand and you could lift his hooves and touch any and all places on his body.
After two weeks he was allowed to be in the field with my Jill. This was for his protection and also for his well being. A young horse needs another horse in order to be balanced. There are just some things another horse can teach that we can’t.
I would like to report that Teddy who is now 14 hands at 16 months is one of the best yearlings you could meet. IF you point at any of his hooves he will lift and hold, Press a rope to his left he will move right ,to the right he moves left, he will shake his head “yes” if he likes something and shake his lead rope if he doesn’t . He will back up with just a hand out, comes when he is called, cross ties, point and loads, lunges at liberty ,moves his hiney with a glance, goes through puddles (in fact loves water) , goes over trees and when he is afraid he “freezes”.
This didn’t take two hours in one day this took thirty minutes five days a week. I have only been working with horses for a little over a year myself so I am new to all this. I didn’t use any tricks. A young horse should not be given any treats by hand it was all natural horsemanship and bonding.
If I can do this anyone can. Don’t expect it to happen over night and every horse is different. Teddy is a gelding now too and can be goofy as any young warm blood.
I will say he is my vet’s and my farrier (barefoot trimmer/trainers) favorite young horse to work for because he is so polite.
Another brag ” He LOVES kids. I mean he adores them. I have a 12 year old daughter and he is her horse but any kid that comes out he will stand so still and just be so gentle. Any kid can come out here and lead him around. (we always supervise since a horse is a horse).
didnt read the whole story but I do the same with young or wild horses. keep them in small paddock with stall for them to hide (feel safe)in, but keep door open. I feed for few days and ingnore completely till they come closer to inspect. First few days only feed, cleaning paddock etc. I wil start touching and walk away. later, rub and walk away. eventualy you become there only and best friend and they cant wait to see you. but also saying. being able to live on farm with the horse and do this every day up to 3 times a day makes the process so much easier and faster.
I had a two-and-a-half colt like this who reared etc. when I went to view him. First of all I had him gelded (before he came to me) and so he arrived two weeks after this. The horse transporter (very experienced) had problems and then when he arrived he charged around the 2 acre field at 100mph with no brakes… I managed (via clever fencing) to encourage him into a smaller paddock next to his prospective field mates. Knowing he was scared of his own shadow I remained outside the fence and sat on a chair until his energy had burned down.. Given that his paddock contained several small haynets and a little (light) feed, he soon began to relax and munch on these delights.. After about 15 minutes he then came over to me. However when I put my hand out off he went again. When he aprroached a second time I stepped backwards..and lo and behold – he stepped FORWARDS. I then went in the paddock and did the same. Again this was a pressure-release tactic… Given however I have had great success with clicker training.. when he did touch my hand he recieved a gentle click (from my tongue – a clicker would have sent him into the next county!)and carrot stick was put on the ground for him… I continued this in 10 minute phases… and believe it or not within two hours he was gently coming up to me (head all low and relaxed).. Within a 10 days I had a rug on him and a numnah and and headcollar….A year later he does everything and stands like a statue for at-liberty hoof picking and everything else. Adopting a method that allows your horse to catch you….sets a firm foundation for the majority of tasks and disciplines that you may want to do later…
I too has this problem. I bought a 7 month foal that had not been handled, haltered, feet trimmed and had been beaten so she was very wary of me at first. It took a couple of weeks just being with her in her stable for her to trust I was ok and she eventually came to me. She is now 17 months and my best pal, I do all her handling, ground training and she is a very loving, trusting and happy filly and is not scared of dogs, cats, lorries, loud noises, people and LOVES kids.
I have a story for you too, I was conned into buiying a horse that was not what she had been advertised as, but when I finally understood what I had it was too late to back down, not for my own sake, but the horses’. I went to meet the horse, she was a little dark grey horse, so small she looked like a foal, I was told she was four and she was nervous of everything. I thought “minimal outside contact”. We tried for hours to get this mare on our float, everytime she got close she reared, when she came down she would run to me and place her head on my chest. Why me, a stranger? why not her owner? After three hours, I was up in the float standing there with my arms open to her resorting to begging at her to come forward, the owner came up behind her one last time, she looked at the old owner then at me, and she lept the entire ramp and landed right beside me with out touching me. We finally went home. Then the realisations began. Through word of mouth I eventually found out the mare was caught from the wild only 3 weeks before I got her, she had been taught nothing that I was told she could do, and not only that she was an 18 month old not a 4 yr old that we eventually discovered was pregnant and due to have a foal by the time she turned 2. We were out of our depth. But we didn’t give up. Bella we called her, because she truly is beautiful. Bella had a colt at 2yrs old, he died twice at birth, he was too big for her, but we saved him and now at 14 months old he is a full foot taller than his mum. Bella is stunted. It has taken nearly 2 years to be able to handle bella without her showing the whites of her eyes and turning and wanting to bolt, but now she does tricks for her food, spinning in a circle first then reversing back about 10 steps, once you say good girl she comes forward gets a mouthful then plants a dozen huge kisses on your lips. Amazing little horse. Pressure and release worked for me, and the wty I see it now, it was also the reason she eventually decided to jump on the float – She jumped away from the pressure of her old owner whom she barley knew, and into my arms, the release from the frightening events that had been the first few weeks of her captivity. She now lives a fairly free life, she is never locked up by will willing stand for hours tied up, she chooses to come to us, and eventually I hope she chooses to let me ride her again, I have 6 times, but that was before we knew what we know now. There’s a bond between us now that was never there before, I believe it will allow us to be the riding companions that we can be.
There are so many similar stories, like our fellow whose mother died in disgraceful circumstances when he was four months old. He was completely wild and traumatised. Now aged four years, he is the most laid back chap you could come across, highly amusing and wonderful with children. It just takes time, patience, skill and love to see miracles happen.
These story’s have given me some great tips, As the rest of you I to have a 9 month old Appy/Mustang foal. I have had him for a month his previous owner had got in an accident shortly after he was born and she could no longer get around.The day we went to see him we found him covered in huge mud ball up to his neck and scarred to death,other than being feed he had no personal interaction, he had never been haltered and there was like six people in this small fenced in mud hole to get a halter on it was insane 👿 . If my husband and I had any doubts of bring him home they were gone he was coming home. Next issue we had was was to get him in the trailer that was an adventure of is own 😯 We new we had our work cut out for us we got him home safe and in a months time I have been able to build trust from him still have a long way to go but could use some tips on how to get all the mud balls that caked in to his hide legs and hanging from his underneath. He has allowed me to brush out the loose stuff from his Mane,Back,chest and face but the rest is so matted in he is not having any of that and its to could to try to bath him any thought welcome.
Good thinking on your feet Lara.
🙂 thanks i needed that information i feel now better cause i have also the same problems with my two your foals.
I have one younger foal he is about 1 year and 4 months old i need your help also there? He’s feet have never be done?
I want to comb him but when he sees me he go stand in a corner.
it worked for me. just spend time in camp doing stuff or lying there reading a book as often as you can. he/she will come and inspect, smell etc but dont touch. just let him do what he feals comfortable with. you will know when the right time is to do what. he needs to show you that he is not afraid of any longer. spend time with foal and in his area and leave. spend time and leave etc. all the touching, stroking, etc will come with time. patience. its hard to have it by times but its worth it.
Hello I also have experienced the frightened foals. This one was 11 months never been touchedand landed at my place in a truck. Cutting a long story short. The foal was made as comfortable as possible, i talking to him each time i went to the stable. On the 3rd day i went into the stable which was sheltered one part, and a small run the other.After a lot of thought of which way to calm this boy, I proceeded to throw my rope up into the air. Of course the boy run and jumped, i did this for about 5 mins not looking at him. Then i put it up into the air trying to get it closer, and by this time he had faced me, and didnt jump so much. Within about half an hour the rope was falling onto him, and he didnt move… finally i got the rope onto his back and kept sliding it off. This boy started to follow me at this time, and when i thought it was the right time, i put the back of my hand onto his neck, he didnt move. It took one hour app to get the rope over his head, off again then over his head again… The next day i proceeded with the same approach and with no time i had his little halter on him.. I always took it off each time at the end, as i did the same thing each time.. Started from the beginning, . After that it was a gentle give take not a forceful routine..He leads like a dream.. I learnt that from an old bloke way back, only he used to throw small stones…
It is very sad that a foal would not have been touched by a person for so long! I have been a natural trainer of horses for over 30 years.The horses themselves taught me,sometimes very painfully!It takes time to bond properly with any horse and sometimes your life and others depend on that bond.We are small breeders of thoroughbeds who are now beginning to win races here on the west coast of the United States. This farm is the result of three generations of the Booth and Bartley families starting in England two hundred years ago.It is not easy being a natural breeder in an area where roughstock rodeo and “let-r-buck” attitudes are prevalent.In our area we can show you trainers that tie up young horses to 6×8 posts hard and fast fully saddled,double cinched for hours on end.These trainers are nice people to talk with and make lots more money than we do,but are not very progressive.Keep up the good work and spreading the word about natural methods of working with horses to others on this website! Fred and Joan.
My sweet mare is die mid June. I have a question. Di I separate the mother and foal from the other two horses..a gentle old thoroughbred who is the calmest horse a true grandmother type and let her teach my young mother ( four, first baby). And a fun loving mini who could play with the foal…when twilight, the mother lets him..she is alpha and not too fond of Joey, the mini?
I ask because I want all to be safe and get the best start in life possible for the foal.
Or do I just see what they do. Could that be dangerous. I imagine the mother could be protective. She could also be jealous. She loves all the attention.
Ant advice deeply appreciated.
Carolyn
if all in the same paddock – let be. If you separate – the others may get jealous re extra attention, and when back out in field – may attack the mare and foal.
Hi Kim you might have to trim those mud mattes out the hair will grow back and it might prove easier than combing it out less pain on both of you good luck and enjoy your new adventure.
iv had horses 38 years,i think its fantastic how people now feel for the horse or pony and work with them,you can do a million things right and a horse wont notice,do one thing wrong and a horse never forgets.find your bond with your horse and enjoy them.x
that was a good story reminds me of a foal we had when i was a kid we handled him all the time but he like to bite and kick so my sister came down from washingington and started to work with him he bit her and she in turn bit him back on the nose after that he stopped he then decided he could kick her well she knocked him down and kicked him in the rump just enough to get her point accross to him and from that day on he never kicked or bit again in fact by the time he was a year he was a perfect sweet gentleman like his mom he was a real sweetheart his name was toby
I don’t have my own horse, but am working on moving to a smallholding next year and would then get two horses (adoptions from one of our SPCA or horse care units that need a home). One for my daughter and one for me. My daughter has been riding for 10 months and is doing very well. I started again two months ago after 33 years. Fortunately our tutor doesn’t only give riding lessons, we also learn stable management on rainy days and she loves it when we are the last lesson on the day and stay on to cool the horses down and groom them and take them for grazing. I LOVE this newsletter with all it’s tips and read all the stories of how people have overcome problems with their horses. Thank you for this. There is one old horse at the stables (apparently been there for years) that no-one visits or touches and when I approached her she immediately put her ears flat and tried to reach out to bite me. I will try some of these ideas and see if I can eventually gain her trust. Hate seeing her stand in her paddock all alone, and even if I could get to a point where I could go and give her a carrot to nibble on and stroke her(and maybe later a good grooming)I will be happy knowing that she knows somebody cares.
I just started working with Spirit. Over a year ago, she came to me with a bunch of horses and mules my neighbor needed pastured. With her, it was love at first sight. I think she was a yearling Arabian mix. She was given to me as payment for pasturing the others. I have been feeding her and making friends since then. Now the other animals are gone and I have started seriously working with her. The first day, I sat beside her feed bucket and started just touching her front hoof while she ate. The third time I did this, she whipped around and kicked me in the elbow. It didn’t even bruise. I responded by getting up WITH the feed bucket and going to my house. She was highly upset with me for taking her treat. And I should have known better than mess with her while she was eating.
The next few days I tried using a rope to her halter. She resisted. I could feel that she was afraid she would be beaten. Yesterday with no rope, I fed her and just scratched her head and neck. She responded very well. I know it will take me a long time to earn her trust. Also, I am learning more about myself as I work with her. I may never ride her, but we will be best friends forever.
Oh, I do love how gentle she is with the rest of my herd.. a small dog and too many cats. You should have seen her the day Little Bit ran around and bit her tail. She just looked around and swished her tail.
This touching technique would be very familiar to those who use Tellington Touch. A flexaible piece of bamboo or dressage whip has the bounce and movement to mimic stroking.
Good for Lara, for helping save the day and Al for sharing.
😕 be patient and kind i have worked with young horses for many years understand and study horse behavior, before you even begin watch behaviors and inteaction with the mare if you are lucky enough to have the opertunity. body language is most important keep foal with foal for as long as possable.
keep me up to date would love to be of some help.
TERRI
Sounds like a 5 year old I had. It took 4 years to turn him into the wonderful show jumper that now belongs to a friend.
Yesterday I started again with 2 8 month old foals. I’m using the same method with them. The difference overnight is amazing.They were lassoed yesterday when we went to collect them. Today I have walked them around a little. The method rarely fails 🙂 x
I did this with a 4 year old arab, who had never been handled…but we have the best bond I have ever had with a horse execpt my first one at age 10.
Bestest thing I’ve read in long time. Ah, love …
😕 We have a Rocky Mountain gaited mare and a large gaited pony mare. They are the best of buddies. If we take one in the trailer to the vet the other just throws a fit, neighing, running, bucking etc. To the point: The Rocky Mountain horse is pregnant and expecting late Aug
2014. We are concerned how the pony will react to the foal. Should we keeo the mare and her foal in a separate paddock? If there is any
jealousy on the pony’s part, how should we deal
with it. We are new to horse raising and need
some input from some of you out there. Thanks.
If you ever have a horse that is hard to catch but has a headstall on put a old lead on it but make sure he can stand on it .It teachs the horse not to pull back plus get a length off plain wire at one end make a hook and when you go to catch that horse just go for the lead rope that is hanging down this is what with my standedbreeds .
I too have a story with a filly that had not been touched since the day she was born. Her and her mother were in a pasture with cows and one elderly 26year old horse. It was magnificent to watch her run. Her mom was very sweet laid back Arabian. We tried for a month to get her to load into the trailer with her mother finally had to get help from a few seasoned horsemen. Finally got her in the trailer. Took mom out of the trailer and left her for a week. Would go in to feed and water her.This was March.Took her till May to get a halter on used sweetfeed from a bucket. Took my lunge whip and put around her rump to make her come to me using pressure and release. This has been my first filly expirence. I named her Diva because of her attitude when we first got her. Love this forum.
Good day
I have the same problem as this girl had but my problem extends a bit further. I purchased a arab mare also from the field, she is 3 rising on 4 and is in foal. She too does what the foal did but that technique with the stick doesn’t really work. Please help I am desperate for a light at the end of the tunnel.
Come on! Using a stick on a foal or even a grown one. Would you use a stick on a human infant or young adult. Get real equines are just like us. Treat them with kindness and patience and they will repond.
😀 thank you ALL .. I don’t feel so bad JUST purchasing a 7 month old colt ..I don’t have him yet ..getting him first of Feb ..so please wish me luck trailering if anyone has any great ideas for that one …please let me know … thanks
Thank you so much for this informative info that you are sending me! The enlighten messages have help me relax in the call for a retreat for Therapeutic Recreation for a Christian Retreat Center. Blessings to you daily!
i liked the untouchable story…heres mine.i took in 2 spca court order horses.all i got from them was that they cant be separated ,14 years old,gelding(boe)brock to ride but its been years.sadie mare will take a saddle but not broke,also afraid of people.its been about 2 months ive gotten where i can take boe out and work him within site of sadie and she does fine.she will come to me if i have food and i hold her feed for her while while she eats.i began slowly just rubbing on her face while she is eating and talking softly.i can now reach back to her hip/flank.a couple of times ive been able to brush her whole body but never her tail.some days she just hides behind boe and i cant get near her,im really not pushing it if she moves away so do i.boe on the other hand is almost overly friendly.happy to be worked and happy it seems to have the break from sadie.so my question is…is it to soon to move boe to a pen 15 feet from sadie,still in view.its really hard to work with her with him there.at the same time i dont want to undo what we have already done.sadie is very sweet but so frightened.