Working With A Filly

[JumpingHeart]

There is this filly at the farm that i have been training basics. She is about 6-7 months old and hasn't had any handling previously -sad i know- and she's been going really well. I'v gotten her to lead well, groom with curry comb and brushes, alonf with picking out her front feet pretty well. All of this I have done in her field. I know repetition is all good but i want to teach her some new things. Any suggestions?

[Tangle]

It's good that you're working with her and it sounds like she's doing really well :)

Given she's still a baby, I'd lean towards doing too little rather than too much. I haven't spent a lot of time with youngstock, but from what I've seen it's far easier to do damage by asking too much than by leaving them to be horses. In doing what you've done you've given her a really good start on positive interaction with humans, so it's finding ways to build on that without asking too much.

Can you touch her everywhere? Under her belly, round her dock, her ears, inside her nose and mouth? If not, work on moving into the sensitive areas until she'll let you groom every last inch of her. Work on getting her to pick up her hind feet as well as the fronts. Once she's happy having them held up, play "farriers" from time to time - hold them up for longer, stretch them out in front and knock them with the hoof pick or a brush to get her used to things the farrier will need to do. You could also introduce her to more things around and about - take her for short walks so she starts to learn the world isn't a scary place. Keep what you do fairly short and sweet so she sees people as something fun, rather than something that gets boring.

What I'd stay well away from (I know you haven't suggested this is what you want to do, so forgive me if you know this already :o) is any "real" schooling. I might take her in the school for a walk around in hand as part of her "exploring" time, but that would be about it. Lunging in particular is very hard on young joints so I'd leave that for another few years.

Generally, though, I'd say you've made a really good start and it sounds like your instincts are guiding you well - she's a lucky girl to have you around :)

[JumpingHeart]

thanks for the suggestions and compliments. She has let me touch her everywhere except her forelock and her ears. Thanks gain for the advice.

[Zer0]

Though she's a baby and has only learned so little, take that to your advantage! :D The younger they are, the less fearful they are.

Try to get her used to the saddle and pad. You don't have to put the saddle on her but try putting the pad on her and rubbing it on her. You can also desensitize her to fly spray, water, plastic bags, etc. Use your imagination...if there's something in the future that every horse needs to face, then do the baby version of it :)

[Skyhuntress]

Here are the things I expect my youngsters to be able to do by the time they are a year old

-walk and trot in hand
-back away from pressure on either the halter or the chest
-be groomed and have their feet handled and cared for
-be ok with water (le sigh. my 2 year old is still not great)
-trailer well
-be ok with the vet
-handle fly spray and other spray things
-sometimes I'll get them with a bridle, but depends on the youngster
-be ok with polos and things wrapped on their legs
-have a passing acquaintance with blankets/saddle pads
-desensitize them. my babies are ok with tarps, dogs, umbrellas, bright shiny things.

But remember, they ARE babies, and I try not to work with them for more then 15-20 minutes at a time, because they really do lose focus

[Wally]

AS long as they are not scared of your touch anywhere on their body, they can pick up feet long enough for a trim, and can lead and back up, that's all they need to do.

I often only re-inforce training in the autumn with our babies, the rest of the time I leave them out being babies. They should learn to be horses first and foremost. Overdo it when they are babies and they can become pushy and bad mannered.

All I tend to do is go into the field and sit with them, as they come up to me I just touch them all over and let them be a bit afraid at first.

[lor]

I agree with Wally, just the basics as she suggested. It could be detrimental to do too much when they are so young, and when you think you'll still call her a a younster in another 4, 5 years time, you will realize how very young she is now! Also, if you do those few basic things, without pushing her she will trust you so other things, done carefully wont be a prob:)

[JumpingHeart]

But remember, they ARE babies, and I try not to work with them for more then 15-20 minutes at a time, because they really do lose focus

Don't I know it lol, she sometimes can only go 5 minutes without wanting to wander off. Thanks for the tips everyone they should really help in the future.