At 21:40:49 on 21.01.11, zoe small wrote:
hi jo b i had the same problem with a section a who had been ill treated and was terrified of humans , you couldnt get with in 50 foot of her , it may sound strange but we got her into a stable and kept her in there for 3 months ,we went in for hours a day and if she ate her feed with us in there we clicked and left the stable for 10 mins , after a week we started her with treats (carrots , apple and parsnip)from our hand , when she took it we clicked and then moved away , she is now a fab childs pony and she went from unhandlable to a ridden pony who meets you at the gate in 18 months ,if you have a stable i would give it a go

At 21:36:09 on 24.01.11, jo b wrote:
hi zoe thanx 4 your reply. that sounds like a good idea, but the stables r all full over the winter! there will b space over the summer thou so will have a chat with the sanctuary owner and see what she thinks. the little pony at the centre will let u get right up close but just wont let u touch her, she stands still and just turns her head away if u offer her food or if its some thing she really likes she stamps her front foot but still wont take it. she will take hay if u hold alot so she can pinch some from the end. its like she's put a wall up and just looks at you like she's saying i dont mind you being around but NO you r not touching me. was wonder if i could teach her 2 touch a target on the floor then work towards holding the target just 2 get a bit of a connection with her? have clicker trained dogs but never horses.