Yearling New Forest filly, Tilly, is very happy to be touched by a hand but won't accept touch from anything else (except for grooming brushes). Last year her owners were able to put a headcollar on her but she seems to have gone off the idea over the winter. She's learned that moving away from people, either in the field or within the confines of the large barn, thwarts any attempt to put a headcollar on her.
In these circumstances I often need to start halter training from the beginning. This means being able to touch her at a distance first so that she doesn't suddenly kick me if I present her with something new.
The trusty feather duster with it's extendable handle is a good place to start. I've also put up round pen panels so that she doesn't think about jumping over the armco surrounding her barn.
Once first touch was established with the feather duster she soon realised it was a good feeling and allowed me to touch her all the way from her tail to her ears. This enabled me to start making friends with her head with something other than my hands.
The next stage was the scarf which I can drape around the feather duster and then steadily drop it over her neck. You'll see that she is most comfortable with presenting her right hand side, something that may have been a factor in her feelings about the headcollar which tend to be put on from the left.
We're trying not to conform to gender stereotypes but Tilly is not sure about the colour.
Now I can start to get her face used to being touched with the scarf...
...and she's happy to let me work on both sides of her face.
Making a figure of eight around her face, this is her first 'headcollar' of 2015.
From here she accepts the real thing...although this one was too small...
..and the owner is able to take over from me...with one that fits.
There, first real headcollar of 2015.
Back tomorrow morning to work with the owner's sister so that they both work in the same way.
Over to Winchester in the afternoon to work with Maserati who was as shiny as the real thing. A two year old Welsh D he asks his owner a few questions such as: Can I bite you?, Can I lean into you? and can I drag you off to the stables?
We worked on answering those questions, setting up a few boundaries and showing him that just being orange and charming will get him the attention he likes.
We finished with the L-shaped poles which are a really good way of occupying a young mind.
Next we did some loading practice with Benji who sometimes sticks at the bottom of the ramp. With panels in place we worked with his yeses and his maybes rather than practising his nos.
He was soon flowing in and out without any hesitation and one by one the round pen panels were taken away.
I am so proud of this pony and of Hilary who took him on when he was a very frightened two year old semi-feral in a barn at a riding school. He is glorious now both mentally and physically.
"I don’t know anyone, anyone including me, who had the time, patience, skills, sense, love and sometimes a bit of money to bring Benji back from as close to the brink as he was and to actually make something of him, and to do it in such a way that he believes in himself and has the room to have character. That takes some doing. Physically he looks like a stud bred pony and that takes some doing too." Sarah x
Update 4.5.15:
"Great show morning with Benji- 3rd in a big M&M class, 3rd in New Forest class and qualified for Royal London show in August!! Plus he loaded with ease after our trailer work with Sarah Weston on Saturday." HP
