So, I’ve posted in another topic about my miniature horse ‘Bean’. I hope I’ve posted this in the right place. I got him two weeks ago, and at that time he was pretty much a blank slate. I’m his third owner, but he hasn’t had much done with him. Typically seems to be a pretty mellow guy. He’s 15 months old. I helped ‘start’ my last horse who came to me ‘green broke’ without many manners, but he was about 13 then. That was three years ago. I learned along with my trainer, we used several different ‘methods’ of training, but all natural horsemanship. This is my first horse to ‘start’ on my own, and I find myself doubting my thinking sometimes, but end up getting the right response, so I guess I’m doing it right.
Bean was gelded last Tuesday, we’re on day four. He’s been a bit stiff the last few days, but swelling is not an issue, and he did have a slight temp yesterday that was resolved with Bute. Ok. After just getting to know each other for the first few days, I started working on him with the ‘respect’ issue. He tended to ignore me, or walk off when I would go in his pen to halter him. I would move his feet until he would stop and face me. Got to the point after just a day or so, that when I would go in, he would either come to me, or face me, and let me halter him.
We’ve been having to do the exercise thing due to the gelding. He leads ok, but needs work. Trying to get this horse to trot is impossible, so we’ve been working with him, me leading, and my daughter behind him with the stick. (She understands pressure and release). So today, he led up pretty well, kept slack in the lead rope, and I didn’t have to drag him to get him to walk faster. I’ve seen improvement each day. So, I’m thinking good! We’re making progress!
This evening I went out to his pen, he pinned his ears when I walked up, won’t come close to me. Even when I threw his feed this evening, he wouldn’t come near it until I walked away. I went into his pen to pick up a bowl, and he left.
This bothered me for a bit, and of course the ‘mommy’ side of me says, he hates me all the sudden. But then I got to thinking about it, and thought, that with my older horses, if they dared to run from me, they would go to work until they decided it was easier to let me get them. I don’t have to chase my other horses.
So, long question short: Is this avoidance behavior all the sudden fear of me for some reason, or is he being disrespectful? Doesn’t feel good? I’ve pretty much let him be since his gelding, but have had to get him out everyday to walk, which I know is not fun for him. I do stop by the pens several times a day to visit, so it’s not always ‘going to work’. I know I have the skills to do this, just haven’t ever worked with a young horse and am not sure that my thinking on this is correct.
Don’t know much about how much difference there is in training minis as opposed to Ponies and full sized horses but guessing not much.
I think it’s asking a lot for any sized yearling equine to accept a brand new home, new surroundings, new routine, new people. and surgery with uncomfortable recovery time in just 2 weeks. It no wonder he doesn’t want to hang around you.
Not meaning to offend the previous owners but many minis slide by the manners lessons on the cuteness factor and never get any proper handling. And, nothing personal on you, but you state you have no experience with any yearlings, let alone one that has apparently had little or no proper handling. He may be cute and tiny
but that’s no reason to just run feral as a decorative accessory. Similar to smaller sized Ponies, no adult ever handles them regularly or at all, no wonder they have that Pony reputation…they never get taught.
He probably doesn’t know as much as you think he does and he has found the last week in your care a most unpleasant experience. Lower your expectations and just get to be friends with him, he needs to learn to trust you, he doesn’t right now. Takes time and consistency, there’s lots of material out there on starting young horses and halter breaking. Fortunately they are food motivated, if he learns to associate you with food? You are his BFF…just stick to personally feeding his hay daily and stand near as he dines, don’t throw it and leave.
NO Treats. Every Mini that’s ended up at a friends “rescue” barn has been a pushy snapping turtle…Not their fault, it’s how they were taught appropriate behavior. Or not taught because they are so darn cute-but they have teeth and can knock you over trying to find treats in your pocket and drag you all over creation like a Great Dane dragging a small child…
Do have friends with Minis at home, who are taught limits and expected to stay with them so I know its possible and bad handling, not genetics…
You are kind of overwhelming this youngster.
Have your trainer come to your place and help you.
You might think you have the skills, but you might lack the knowledge to apply them. What worked for you older green horse might not be suitable for the green youngster. We all have to learn.
Don’t anthropomorphize this situation. It’s not about you.
I’m not a fan of the « roundpen respect » training technique aka « making horse run like a crazy until it listen ». I don’t see what’s more natural in that technique than any proven more classical training.
IMMHO, it fries more horses than anything else.
Never done that and my mare faces me when I open her stall, is easy to handle, and (usually) come to me when I whistle because I trained her that way.
Sounds like you are doing fine but do remember that this mini is not even 2 years old yet. They will have the attention span of a toddler … which is not much. Go ahead and work with him every day but I’d keep it 20 minutes or less.
Don’t worry about how he is feeling. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Respect is respect, period. While I may pick my battles if the horse is having a bad day (because they do), they should still always respect me.
Just find a way to always end your session on a positive note, even if you may not have accomplished your goal that day. Not every day is going to be perfect. It’s normal for them to “regress”. Just stay with it.
