posted 01-17-2003 08:56 PM           

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I have a just got a shetland poney i rescud it. It wont let anyone touch it. It will just turn around and kick you. Can nyone help

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Posts: 119
From: NC -USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 01-20-2003 12:14 PM         

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Shetlands are little pains, ornery characters. Lots of parents thing they are cute "little horse" but in fact haven't the character of a 14.4H horse which is better for a child really. Unless you want a driver. Anyhow, undoing his behavior, which is very dangerous, I would try feeding him using a feed bucket repeatedly that way, very little feed for a Shetland as he will get way too fat. Do not feed hand treats as this may create a "nibbler" of your hand, use a feed bucket strictly. He will learn trust, and possibly then you can use side ties and brush and clean him eventually. Patience is the key along with consistency. Have one individual primarily working with him due to the element of trust. Sometimes they do this because they've been badgered by a human or other horses, or learn it from seeing other horses and being with the big guys who tormented them in field. And sometimes they do it just from having been left in the field so much that they exhibit this so they can't be caught. Good luck.

[This message has been edited by Pauline (edited 01-20-2003).]

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posted 01-24-2003 11:59 PM           

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I guess more information on this little horse would be nice. What did you rescue him from? I don't necesarily agree that Shetlands are ornery. It's really just a stereotype. Any breed has ornery and wellbehaved horses. But anyways, you need to develope a trust between this horse and yourself. That process could take a long time. The way it sounds he probably feels like you're invading his space. He doesn't want to be touched by some strange person. Try spending time around him, but not really with him. Like I once read that you could just go sit near his stall or nearby, however nearby he is comfortable with, and just read a book, do a puzzle, something quiet that won't interfere at all with him. Eventually he will accept you into his environment and allow you to become closer to him. Make sure you are the one who feeds and waters him everyday. This will also help to build the trust. If he doesn't want you near him then to a point respect his wishes, eventually with a lot of time spent nearby he will accept you.

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