concerned

Question
Well Big Red is now mine.  She follows me on the trails everywhere I walk and eats very gently out of my hand.  Should I hand feed her?  She is standing closer to me and more relaxed now.  I can still just barely touch her and she backs off but she comes right back if I step back.  Is there a trick to petting her?  Should I try to pet her nose or the side of her neck?  I found out she is a 9 year old quarterhorse brood mare.  She had at one time been halter broken but we don't know if she was ever ridin.  I have heard you cant ride brood mares is this true?  She has only had one foal.  Is she too"old" to break?  

Answer
Hi Nancy!

I smiled when I read your e-mail  :-)  I am very pleased to hear you have welcomed Big Red into your life!

Yes, you can hand feed her and let her begin to trust you.  She will let you touch her more and more as time goes on.  There is no trick to it, just the passing of time and the gaining of trust.  She will let you know her feelings on the subject quite clearly.  At this stage, it is best to let her set the pace.

Pet her on the side of the neck with one hand while she is eating out of the other hand.  She obviously wants you to be her human but, she is a flight animal with no real trust of you right now.

She should have a halter on 24/7 and be able to be led on a lead rope.  If she is not wearing a halter now, buy her a good leather one or a nylon one with a leather break-away crown piece.  Make sure it is fully adjustable so you can fit it properly to her.  Keep feeding her and slowly introduce the halter to her and one day you will be able to slip it on.  Just leave it on her then.

Then, work your way up to clipping on the lead rope and leading her around her paddock.  If she resists, DO NOT pull.  Walk towards her as she backs up and tell her it's OK.  Keep trying until she follows willingly.  A bucket of grain or treats will help to entice her!

After she is broke to follow, just drape the rope over her neck and begin the process of grooming her.  DO NOT tie her to anything yet, that is for much later when she really trusts you.  If she walks away when you are brushing her, gently put her back where she started and say "HO!" and try again.  Always be kind but, firm.  Being too nice will only lead to her taking advantage of you. Since you are starting from the beginning, do it right always and she will know her boundaries.

All of this will take as long as it takes.  In the horse world we have a saying "Think Fast ~ Move Slow"

You must always be smarter than her and outwit her into doing what you want.  Force will not work and you will always lose.

As for breaking her to ride...No, she is not too old and it makes no difference that she was a brood mare.  People just don't ride brood mares because they are always pregnant or not good riding horses for one reason or another.

Get her broke to the halter and leadline so she can be safely seen by the vet and blacksmith.  Then, if they clear her to be broke, feel free to search out a professional trainer with experience in babies and have them out to evaluate her.  They can give you exercises to work on with her and build up both of your confidence levels.

Yes, you will make mistakes.  But, horses seem to know when it is unintentional and will forgive.  Especially if they have bonded to you.

Watch her reactions to what you are doing with her.  Read everything you can.  Take riding lessons yourself to prepare for her.  Always wear a helmet!  Love her like only you can.  She will notice and be faithful to you in a way you never dreamed was possible!

You have done a good thing and you will be rewarded!!

Solange