Throwback: Halter broke
**This entry is transcribed from my handwritten journal. This entry is from June 2017. It has been too cold to ride this week. So enjoy this entry instead.
The neighbors have this filly. She's cute. Unhandled. They had stuck a halter on her so that they could catch her and left it on all the time. But then they still couldn't catch her. They asked me to halter train her for them.
Her name is Lucy. She's almost two.
3. Slip the nose band on. Take it off. Repeat. Do not fasten the halter. If the horse pulls away, stop.
4. Ease more of the halter onto the horse face, take it off again. Repeat.
5. Place the halter on the horse, Fasten it. Then remove it. Repeat.
6. Start leading. To teach leading, I often initially use a treat to avoid yanking on the horse too much, but only if the horse is not inclined to follow me as I move away.
7. Practice leading, starting and stopping.
8. Keep practicing and repeating steps until the horse is comfortable with all parts of the process.
And now you're halter trained.
The neighbors have this filly. She's cute. Unhandled. They had stuck a halter on her so that they could catch her and left it on all the time. But then they still couldn't catch her. They asked me to halter train her for them.
Her name is Lucy. She's almost two.
Lucy in the late February 2017
Lucy in the late February 2017, featuring Sonny's ear.
It took us a while to earn Lucy's trust. She was out to pasture on 20 acres with a herd of cattle. I had to use some grain to bribe her initially. But she quickly learned that people equal food and scratching and she liked food and scratching.
I was reminded that often, young horses just need quality time. It was easy. I moved slow. I was patient and we practiced a lot. She's come a long way. No more bribes with treats.
For those interested, my method is pretty easy. I follow these steps. Sometimes I only get thru 1 step in a day. Sometimes I get through a few, depends on the horse. Depends on the day.
1. Without the horse being tied, get her accustomed to human interaction and touch.
2. As the horse grows more comfortable, introduce the halter. Hold it in your hands. Let them sniff it. Drop it on the ground. Pick it up again. Touch their neck with it. Touch their face, chin, etc. Don't put it on. Keep repeating until the horse appears relaxed.3. Slip the nose band on. Take it off. Repeat. Do not fasten the halter. If the horse pulls away, stop.
4. Ease more of the halter onto the horse face, take it off again. Repeat.
5. Place the halter on the horse, Fasten it. Then remove it. Repeat.
6. Start leading. To teach leading, I often initially use a treat to avoid yanking on the horse too much, but only if the horse is not inclined to follow me as I move away.
7. Practice leading, starting and stopping.
8. Keep practicing and repeating steps until the horse is comfortable with all parts of the process.
And now you're halter trained.
Lucy, August 2017
Lucy, August 2017
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