I have a new filly, she'll be 2 weeks old tomorrow. I caught her when we guessed her at about 3 or 4 hours old, and did all the stuff I'd read to do, and talked to you guys about, on imprinting. It went really well. She completely relaxed and she's done great ever since. Now at two weeks, I can touch anywhere on her body without her flinching, rustle plastic bags around her, lead her ANYWHERE, load her in the trailer, and sit my baby girl on her. All of which, she does not have problems with; however, down around her muzzle she jerks like crazy EVERY TIME. I have to really hold her down to get her halter on her, and as soon as it's up past her nose, she's completely fine. This has been a problem the whole two weeks. My dad had a suggestion, that when they're born, their first instinct is to get that bag off their nose so they can breathe, so anytime anything is down on her nose, she wants it off. It makes sense to me, but at 2 weeks? Then my other thought is that she has some sort of pain up in her nostril or something, or has had an injury, but how do they get injured that quick? I guess what I'm wondering is, is this common, or is it something I need to get checked out with the vet? Do we just need to keep handling that area more and more until she relaxes, or do we worry? Thanks in advance!!!
Hi Anj. If you think that she has a problem physically with her nose have a vet check her out. I don't think it's too uncommon for any horse without too much training to try and get away. What I would do is take the halter in hand show it to her, let her sniff it, look it over and once she thinks it's ok hide it behind your back. Once she thinks it's gone bring it back and do the same thing but bring it about a half inch closer and so on until you have it on her head. She will think it's a game. If she's penned up she will think it's a treat too to take her for a walk outside the pen once the halter is on. I hope this helps you out. Just takes a little time.
Hi Anj...Just thought you might like to hear my little filly is the same : ) But its imprving and really suddenly too - shell just surprise you one day Im sure : )
My filly I catch the same as mum, I put a rope over her shoulders so I she thinks she is caught already while I put the halter on, then she doesnt run away when I put the halter over her nose because I can hold her with the rope at her neck. I put the halter just under her nose till she is still and then quickly bump it up and over and do it up - she threw her head every time right up until today(she is three weeks exactly today) and she put her nose in it herself, she still wriggles a little as I do it up but it just shows that some things they get used to gradually if you just continue with stuff like its not a big deal. 2 wks is still young - your girl has done an awful lot already and you are doing sooo well, dont let this get to you - Im sure she will figure it out in time...
I hope this helps some, its nice when someone else can share an experience...Youve done great!Its only a minor issue : )
Thank you both! I'm going to try the game idea, because she likes games. Today, we were working on the trailer some more, and I got her to climb the haystack. She was pretty excited about that! Kim, I'm glad to hear it's getting better. MayBelle is getting a LITTLE better, it takes less time for her to relax to it now, but right off the bat she still jerks quite a bit. We'll give her another couple weeks to see. Hey! I was going to tell you too, since we're writing back and forth on so many different things, if you want to email breakawaystudio@bresnan.net or Yahoo Messenger "breakawaystudio" with some more ideas that would be fine too! I'm sure more things will come up, thanks you two for responding!
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