Hi! What would you do with him?

[patchesping]

Hi.
I'm new so hi everyone!! This is a great site and I can't wait to chat with you all. Can any of you help me with this problem?I am starting work at a yard this week where there is a Shire horse. He lives out in the fieled all year round. He is 7 but has never been properly broken, he has been ridden bareback at walk and trot but thats about it. He also doesn't like traffic. His owner doesn't know much about horses and as I have worked with Shires before she has said that I can try and bring him on a bit. I would really love to help with him as he is a lovely horse but I haven't had much experience with training horses.
He loves to be with people but his owner has no time for him so I have started to spend time with him as he only sees people when they give him his feed. Another problem is that he is very attached to the other pony his owner has and the stay in the same field. But if the pony is taken out he just paces up and down, he wants to be with him all the time.
What should I do to get him going? I will be making sure that I visit him everyday and spend time with him. I was thinking of just starting with leading him around the arena, just to break up his day a bit as he just stands in the field all day. It would be a change for him to actually get out of the field as he hasn't been out of it since he came to the yard over a week ago.
what would you do with him?
Thanks

[squid_is_ace]

hi patchesping!!!!!!!

i had the same problem!! i brock in my friends shetland when she was 8!!

she did'nt like traffic but what we did is take her up to a car and let her look at it and turn it on and make her walk passed it ( hint:::: get someone to hold one side and you on the other!!

if u want more info just pm me!!!!!!

oh yeah!! WELCOME TO NEWRIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[floppy]

take things slowly, introduce the horse gradually to traffic, once he doesnt spook at a parked car then turn the engine on and once he doesnt spook at that you could find a safe place to stand back from a road and just keep him calm as cars drive passed.

oh there is so much you can do..make sur eeverything you do is fun and dont push the horse into too much at one time..take things slowly.

some good things that people will always suggest is things like parelli, tteam etc. Those will help in building general comuncation between you and the horse from the ground. and it will also help in bravening up your horse to spooky objects and generally have some fun. Dont forget to communciate the horse from the ground and to control him is very important when it coems to riding the horse. He wont really know what all the legs aids and stuff are so your voice is the only thing to communciate with him so he understands and soon he will learn that the voice aids go with the strange leg aids you give him.

as for his friend... you coudl always try and mother and foal thing. When you sepearte them both for a short time...and gradually lengthening the time they are separeted.

[Whisky]

Hi, Welcome to Newrider!
I think the first thing you need to do with this shire before you think about bringing him on or introducing him to traffic or anything like that is to lesson is bond with the pony he lives with, and put his trust in you instead.
I would start just by leading him around the field with the pony in it to start so that he learns you are in charge when he's on the lead rein. then once he understands this try separating them for 10 or so minutes, and you take the ponies place and be his "Company". If he hasnt been out of the field for a while it mite be worth getting someone to take the pony away rather than you moving him.
Gradually increase the time they are apart but when the ponys not there groom him, feed him, or just talk to him so that he concentrates on what he's doing not where his friends gone. Once he's happy with this take him out of the field on his own. If he's strong to lead try him in a be nice halter so you have more control as i am assuming he's never worn a bridle?
After he is happy to leave his friend and concentrate on you, you should be able to bring him on without a prob!
Just remember it's all based on trust!;)
Hope this helps, sorry it's rather longwinded!!