Training a 6mo old philly

Question
QUESTION: We have just purchased a 6mo old philly.  This is our first horse and need advice on what to be working on and how.  I have been reading books also.  We are able to get halter and lead rope on and have been working on leading for the past 2wks.  We think she is blind in one eye. Any special considerations we need to do.  She will let us pick up her front feet.  We are actually scared about going to her backside.  Thanks


ANSWER: Hi Kalena, congrats on your first horse.  You can do a lot to prepare her for training.  However, I would not try to train her to ride yourself.  The odds of you getting hurt or hurting the horse is very high.  Young horses can get hurt all by themselves, if someone new to horses makes a mistake, the horse pays for it.  If you care about this horse, get the assistance of a trainer or long time horseman.  Any true horseman is a trainer because they think like a horse.  Actually anyone around horses are trainers.  Because horses are so in tune to their surroundings, they are always learning.  So anything you do around a horse, he learns.  This can be good or bad, if you are doing the right thing, the horse learns good and if you do the wrong thing, the horse learns bad or worse gets hurt or killed, or even worse, hurts you or someone else.  I am not trying to scare you and I love horses and think they are kindest creatures on earth.  However, they are big, flighty, scared, and reactionary animals that move very fast and with a lot of power.  Enjoy your horse but be aware that it can hurt you very bad, very quick.  OK now for the good news.

You horse is young enough that it probably does not have too many bad habits.  You did not say what you wanted to use the horse for but if you plan on riding it, you have a good two years to learn a lot about horses and give your horse some great foundation training.  Young horses are very curious.  This is good.  A lot of people stop this and think of this as disrespectful or bad.  Let your horse check out things and be curious.  Horses love to play and this is all learning to them.   

The best thing you can do is spend time with the little one.  Let it know that it can trust you and you wont hurt it.  The only time you should really correct her is if she bites or kicks at you.  Everything will come in time.  A lot of trainers will tell you to keep the horse away from you, don't let it get close, make it respect your space.  I don't do that and don't suggest others do it.  If you make your horse unhappy when you are together, they will not want to be with me.  Your horse should be happy to see you, should call to you, and should come to meet you.  If they do not you are doing something wrong.  If you only have this one horse I would suggest you get a sheep, cat, goat, or another horse.  Horses are herd animals and when they are kept isolated they develop bad habits caused by stress.  A horse can't sleep well and will not relax if alone.  They need to know there is an extra set of eyes to look out for danger so they can sleep and relax.

As for handling the horse now.  Touch her everywhere all the time.  Rub your hands down her legs, pick up her feet, rub her belly, handle her ears, eyes, mouth, tail, back legs and front legs.  This will get her used to being touched anywhere and as her training progresses this will be really helpful.  Pick her feet everyday so when the farrier comes, she will be used to having her feet handled. After she is comfortable with you doing all this with your hands, start using other things.  Use a stick, whip, rag, towel, blanket, plastic bag, paper bag, rope and anything else.  The more you do this the more she will know that no matter what you do to her, it will not hurt and she does not have to be scared.  The best thing you can do for her is to help take the fear out.  They are born with this fear for survival, by helping her deal with that better, you will help her become a great horse and make her later training easier.

Keep reading books about horses and training.  After you read enough books you will start to see some consistencies that most agree with.  Good luck and congrats, as problems arise, keep asking questing and keep helping your horse.

Have fun and be careful.  :)

Rick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick response.  We do not plan on training her to ride by ourselves.  We just want to do the ground work part etc.  My son plans on showing her in 4H eventually.  She is a very calm horse.  We have cows in the pen next to her which do not seem to bother her and our dog has actually went up to her and started barking and she didnt even flinch.  I think she will be a great horse for us as she is very good natured.  Thanks

Answer
Sounds great.  Showing her in 4H is very good, any exposure to different areas, trailering, people, cars, cows, etc are very good for her development.

A big mistake that new owners make is trying to protect their horse too much.  When a horse spooks or gets scared, a lot of people avoid those things and think they are helping the horse.  In fact if a horse spooks it has identified a training opportunity.  So if your horse acts scared of something, think and figure out a way to make her not afraid of it, but exposing her to more often with pleasurable experiences.  I do a lot of things to new horses while they are eating.  A horse won't eat if it does not feel safe.  So if they are eating they are relaxed and feel safe.  So I slowly introduce things that may scare them and soon they continue to eat and learn that no matter what I do, I don't hurt them and soon they feel safe when ever I am around.  

Have a great time growing with your little one.  

Rick