[Pony-n-trap]

I added to my herd 3 weeks ago.  I brought 2 unhandled 2 and a half year old cobs back up to Scotland with me.  I had been down to drop off tack and clobber of a Cleveland bay I had returned to her old owner.

The cobs are lovely, sweet but......really quite unhandled.  I can now get headcollars on them, one of them leads ok, the other had never been on the end of a leadrope.  They now tie up ok and allow me to give them a light brushing (they live out), but, they have NEVER had their legs touched not to mention their feet picked out.

One cob is getting slightly better, I can pick his feet up but havent actually managed to pick them out yet. The other, I have decided to go down the route of brushing or stroking his legs first as he obviously thinks I am a predator, but he strikes and kicks and jumps around, am thinking I need to add knee pads to my hard hat for protective clothing.

Any way, any advice?  Shall I just keep on with the daily leading into the coral, tie up, light brushing and stroking of legs?  Unfortunately I dont have access to stabling so am a bit short of enclosed space!

[lazybee]

I would carry on with the handling. I think horses generally like to please. The back legs are obviously the most dangerous. Years ago our old farrier showed us how to lift the back leg with a lead rope. he just gently held the ends in his hand and slid the loop down the leg he then pulled slowly and up came the leg. This way you have a bit more control and you are further away from the danger area. It may take a while to get to this stage though. The only problem is: if a horse really wants to kick you he will. I don't go in for the Parelli stuff but someone gave us one of those long heavy lead ropes, with that you can stand at the head. Out of harms way and gently swish it around the legs and bum until they get used to it. It's better than getting a hoofing in the knee. My knee took nearly a year to back to normal when it happened to me. Good luck I hope you stick with it.

[Pony-n-trap]

Thanks Lazybee, as I was reading your reply I was thinking 'oh yeah, why didnt I remember that?'  shall dig out my longest leadrope tomorrow and start!! 

[jinglejoys]

Agree with the rope trick its how I start handling a new mule.Also reckommend the glove stick idea (Putting a stuffed glove over the handle of a walking stick so you can work to putting your "hand" down and round the leg.
   Better off without the claustraphobic effect of a stable and don't forget to allow the drift so he can move his feet and not feel done to!

[daniellestocks]

Agree with the rope trick its how I start handling a new mule.Also reckommend the glove stick idea (Putting a stuffed glove over the handle of a walking stick so you can work to putting your "hand" down and round the leg.
   Better off without the claustraphobic effect of a stable and don't forget to allow the drift so he can move his feet and not feel done to!

same sort of thing as above but i just used a small soft sweeping brush

[egglady]

in my experience, a horse wont lift his/her leg until they trust their handler.  Sounds like you are going in the right direction and i agree with what others have said.  take it gently and you'll get there with them.  i do a lot of natural horsemanship stuff with my guys and it really does pay dividends i believe.  why not look on youtube for videos and see what tips you can pick up from there?

[bevsmith]

Plenty of brushing without trying to pick feet up and then when they are acceptable with that we just lift the foot a couple of inches to start with so they don,t feel threatened or unbalanced, and u will find generally they soon get the message.

[Pony-n-trap]

Plenty of brushing without trying to pick feet up and then when they are acceptable with that we just lift the foot a couple of inches to start with so they don,t feel threatened or unbalanced, and u will find generally they soon get the message.

THats where I'm up to!  Have been taking it really slow and letting them build their trust in me, coming to me in field, following me around so when I brought em in one at a time at the weekend, the difference was amazing, long way to go but I'll get there! 

Blowing a gale here today so wouldnt be fair to try anything with them with branches crashing to and fro, so they are getting a day off, have still done my impression of the pied piper though!

[Pony-n-trap]

Making slow progress!    Due to horrendous weather I hadnt been able to get them out of the field for 2 weeks, have now rubber matted my field gateway with ex playground mats so can get them out and on some form of hardstanding.

During the 2 weeks 'off' I have done lots of cuddles and strokes and approaches in the field, on Sunday, I managed to pick up all of Jacobs feet, didnt pick them out just picked them up and held them and managed to pick up Williams front feet, something I hadnt been able to do before and stroke his back legs down to his feet without him kicking out.

So, they must be learning to trust me! Onwards and Upwards!