Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Halter Training

I've finally settled on a name for my filly. Her name is Oskadis, which in the Icelandic language means Wish Fairy. I will call her Oska for short. The name fits her, I think. If you have ever tried to search the Icelandic language for a feminine, pretty name, you will learn that it will take you weeks. In my opinion, it's not a romantic language.

Oska has her ups and downs. At first she was a real sweetheart and very interested in attention. Then after a while she started to walk away if you came into the pen and avoid you. Now that her Icelandic yearling friend has gone home to her family, Oska is back to being more friendly again.

When she walks away from me, I then drive her away, then retreat when she gives me signs (licking, chewing, dropping head, stopping and turning to face me). She gets love when this is done. I also do not leave the pen when she's walked away from me. I make sure that I walk away from her, when I'm done.

I'm really not 100% sure I'm doing this stuff right, but I'm trying and trying to do what is logical.

I've been working with the lead rope, rubbing it on her, flipping it over her neck, wrapping it around her nose. Then finally I put a halter on her. Here is a video of that:

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog. I haven't met many Icelandics, but she certainly is pretty!

Unknown said...

Thank you Kate, she is not necessarily my favorite color, but I'm not too into the color anyway and I know that in the long run, she will become my favorite color (I can love any horse's color).

I love her cute little face, fuzzy, crazy mane and little black hooves.

Andrea -Mustang Saga said...

I like her name. And I like her! She seems like she's going to be a wonderful horse. I hope I get to meet her one of these days.

It sounds like you're doing just fine with her. Another thing you could do, that I bet would work well with her inquisitive nature, is just sit there and ignore her, wait for her to come check you out rather than going away. One mustang trainer sets up a table and plays poker in their pen, and the people totally ignore the horse. Usually it comes up really interested and wants to check everything out.

Everyone has their own methods, and horses are all different. I have a couple videos I could send you when I send up your halter/bridle thing. Richard Shrake, resistance free training the weanling (if you have a VHS player still) and Leslie Neuman's mustang gentling DVD. I don't know if they'd be very informative, I don't remember them very well at all, but if you want them, they're yours.