Three year old peruvian pasos

Question
I just got two horses that are three years old and have never been worked with or even haltered.  I had no problem getting the colt haltered but the filly won't even let me touch her yet.  What would be the best approach with her?

Answer
Hi Cyndi, congrats on your new horses.  Not sure if you have other horses or have ever owned horses, but watching these two progress will really be rewarding.  Horses that have not been handled can be dangerous.  Not because they are mean, but because they are flight animals and run when scared.  Since they have been obviously neglected, they are scared of humans.  So your goal will be to remove that fear.  Don't do this by sneaking around or trying to be not do anything to scare them.  Do this by advance and retreat.  Horses learn when you stop doing something to them.  So if you stop when they are running, rearing, kicking, or some other bad behavior, you teach them to do that and you will quit.  Your goal is to stop or retreat when they are doing what you want them to do.  The colt may still be a stud.  If it is has not been gelded, you want to do that as soon as possibly or you will end up with another baby.  Gelding the colt will keep him so he will not get stud or aggressive behavior.  Since he lets you halter him, the vet should can geld him for you.  Your mare may already be pregnant, which means she will need some extra food and grain to help with the baby.  

Ok, back to touching this filly.  Horse do three things really well, they are run, eat and poop.  They love treats, carrots work really well to help train and get your horse to respond to you.  Sweet feed, which you can get at any western feed store, will also help to befriend your new guys.  Use the same bowl and feed them a cup a grain two or three times a day.  In about two days they will want to see you coming with the feed bowl.  You may have to do this when they are not together so they don't argue over the food.  If the colt lets you halter him, walk him out of pen and grain him outside and go back and feed the mare while the colt is outside.  This will get you to a good starting point.  There are lots of good web sites for new horses owners, read as much as you can to start thinking like a horse.  This is key to understanding and having a good relationship with them.  We have to think like a horse and not expect the horse to think like us.  We are predator type animal and they are prey, they live in fear of being hurt or captured.  There primary defense is their speed to run.  Controlling that is not easy and it can not be done with strength, it must be done by thinking and understanding.

Feeding them grain (sweet feed), giving them carrots will get them to like you and not fear you. Start there and then keep reading and learn about the horse.  

Good luck, let me know if you have any more questions.

Rick