[SallyintNorth]

Um...  if you didn't have your equines halter-trained, how would you manage when they need veterinary attention?  I guess you could drive them into a pen and corral them with a gate - which would add to the stress of the situation, but maybe with ponies that aren't to be 'used', it's a judgement call whether that's less stress overall than halter-training them?

I'm maybe being a bit naive, but to me it seems that it shouldn't be stressful halter-training them, even if they are older and relatively unhandled.  A few minutes a day a few times a week, softly softly with pressure and release - horses love human company, they love activity, they generally love to feel that they have a job to do.

[goosepimple]

Thanks HH and Sally replies, like the approach HH, that sounds do-able in theory. 
 
Think you're right Sally, it shouldn't be a stress. 
 
I'm going to work on this one, one pony is a bit offish and the one in charge (she's a bit bigger overall - called Amanda actually    - not my choice) and the other one Cindy, is generally more accessible and calmer, may start with her.  Both let me brush them and appreciate a good scratch on those places they can't reach.
 
I will report on progress too HH!  Thanks for this thread, given me a mission