Tips for getting 11 m

[Starlight4Leah]

I have an 11 month AQHA foal/filly that I adopted when she was three weeks old. She was a nurse mare foal, so I gave her formula, which in return made her think of me as a mother figure. We went through a bumpy path together with her trying to kill me, and she is definitely way way better now. She still has some behavioral issues that we are working on. Those issues are:

1.) Any tips to get her to stand and pick up her hooves? Ever since she was little she has been difficult with her hooves, she will stand perfectly when I hold her, but if I tie her and try to do them myself, she freaks out and pulls back, so I have someone else hold her and she won't stand still for anyone else, so any tips?

2.) She is a kicker, she hasn't tried to kick me in over three months, she lets me pull on her tail, shove her around ( though when she is in a mood and I shove her butt she will try to bite.) etc, but as soon as my mom, sister, dad, etc even touch her butt, she kicks out at them. Even when there not even looking at her and walk past she will turn her butt to them. Any tips here? I do have a friend that trains mustangs, that helps me when she can, but she is also 40 minutes away, and I want to try and nip this in the bud now. Any thoughts?

Now she is a big beefy girl and has lots of power, she could drag me around the pasture at 3 months old. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Baymule]

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/

Scroll down to Horse Problems Q & A

This site is fantastic.

 

[Starlight4Leah]

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/

Scroll down to Horse Problems Q & A

This site is fantastic.

Thank you so so much!

 

[Poka_Doodle]

I was going to say with 1 that if you twist her chestnut or squeeze the vein that it might work.

 

[Starlight4Leah]

I was going to say with 1 that if you twist her chestnut or squeeze the vein that it might work.

Yes, I have heard of that and tried it, but it makes her very unhappy very quickly (that's a mare for you). The problem is that she only stands for me, so when I have someone try to hold her she won't behave, but if I hold her she stands just fine. She absolutely HATES to be tied when working with her feet (she is the same way with bathing she would rather have no lead on and just have someone hold her halter) she pulls back and freaks out, so I try to ground tie her to do them or hold her myself which can be hard at times.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Oh.

 

[Starlight4Leah]

Oh.

Yes, she can be an extremely stubborn horse. I know she is more attached to me though because she was a nurse mare foal that I had to give formula to so in her eyes I am her mom. I will have to try it on her again, as she has calmed down a bit since I tried.

 

[Ferguson K]

Tie her and walk away. When she stops throwing a fit, approach her. If she starts acting out again walk away. Use an inner tube if she sets back. Do this until she's calm being tied EVERY TIME.

Next, what is your goal? To pick up her feet? To have her handled by another person? To be brushed? To behave? No horse likes having their feet picked up. Throws them off balance and they don't like that. Younger horses have harder times. Without a mother to show her,and without daily interaction, the sessions you're providing are probably letting her win. Do not let her win. If you only have 30 minutes a day to work her, then end on a good note every day. She picks up a foot ATALL you put her up. No feet picking, no wrestling for the next one. If it's up put her away. Eventually she will learn the faster she does this, the faster she is done. Repeat with the second leg, third, and fourth.

@Baymule @minihorses

 

[Mini Horses]

AS FOALS...mine are taught to stand tied, lift feet, etc. Same principal, when you stop fighting you get a reward, which is often just being able to be walked and released. Sounds like she may have been allowed "her way" as a foal -- cute & nursing, it happens. She needs to learn to stand tied.

Ferguson is right. If one foot lifted, atta girl!! Once she accepts that set it down in just a few seconds. You may only get one foot, next time two, etc. Once she will allow up with tie, advance to a longer hold, brush it out, next time more. It will take patience. Always reward with a "good girl" & pat.

Mine learned real fast the difference in my voice, a stern "AAAHHHT" meant mom was not happy. Now, when you are training a young stallion -- who already had impeccable ground & halter manners before -- to sweet talk & breed a mare, you
better have some good cues already learned!! They want to please. You may not have been a stern enough mom at 3 mos. Happens.

Plus horses do learn rather quickly and that's why they know they can challenge and win if no correction. The kicking would concern me....a lot.