Buckaroo Texan Blog

The following tells about a session with a yearling filly getting haltered.  Each colt can be handled differently and should be handled as the situation presents itself.  You will be able to pick up ideas on halter training your baby!

This is the 3rd day to work Sassafras with the halter!  I just got in from work and I am ready to head to the pens.   I go to the barn first and saddle Rojo, a 3 year old gelding.  I get the ranch rope, the long lead rope and halter, and bucket of brushes and a flag and head to the pens.   I tie Rojo in the round pen and head over to Sassafras’s pen.  I set the brushes, flag and halter down in our small work pen.  I open the gate and approach her in her big pen.  She comes over, a little suspicious but looking for a pet, I walk towards the little pen but she is not interested in coming today.  I try to guide her slightly with my lass rope and she turns the wrong way.  I go get just her halter, then approach her, pet her on the neck and shoulder, touch her with the halter all around so that  she remembers the sight, sound and feel.  I touch her on the face and around the nose and ears a couple of times.

She feels ready to put the halter on.   I open the halter and hold it in my left hand.  I pet her with my right hand and arm and pass my arm over her neck.  I bring my left hand up under her throatlatch so I can reach the tail of the halter in my right hand.  I then slide the noseband over her nose.  This is where we see if I was thorough with my handling of her face the last 2 days.   She lifts her head slightly I stop and give her a moment to realize the halter
is not out to GRAB her.   She relaxes and I slide it on, like we have done it dozens of times. Big Horse Try!   

 I go get the lead rope and walk towards her, pet her, attach the lead rope to the halter and pet her some more.  I rub her with the lead to refresh the feel and sight of it.  I step out to the side of her and take the slack out of the rope and ask her to follow.  After a moment of thought she takes one step to me.   I step to the other side of her and ask her to step with me, and a hind foot comes then a front foot.   I have my long lead in case I need to put it over her rump for encouragement and security.   I ask for another step and she thinks for about 10 seconds this time and then just comes to me, I give her a slight pet on forehead and keep moving to the pen and she just comes along like an old hand!  Big horse try!

 In the pen, I shut the gate, have her step around me and proceed to brush her.  She really likes this and is real let down.  I can tell she doesn’t feel 100% today, her stomach is rumbling some, the paste wormer from yesterday is probably working on her.  I will go get her a pack of essentials after our session is complete.  After some grooming I pick up my flag and she immediately gets alert.  I approach her very slowly and let her see it without much movement.  She smells it and I touch her on the right shoulder.  She moves and shuffles some.   I only block her from running off.  She decides real quick it is ok.  I rub her all over her right side with it and down her legs and across her tummy.  I change sides carefully keeping an eye on her response.  She just watches and seems ok about the change to the other side.   I hold the lead rope in my left hand and slowly approach her on the right side with the flag.  I touch her shoulder gently and she explodes straight up in the air.  She has decided it shouldn’t touch her this time, but I have to laugh at the expression on her face.  No pressure on the lead rope.  She does not try to leave just had to move her feet! I go right back to the spot and gently touch her and she is ok.  I move it gently all over her right side, cross over her back and down the left side again but don’t stay long.  I let her smell the flag again then set in down.

I lead her out some, reminding her she can move her feet and come with me.  I take the long lead rope and work on picking up her feet again.   I handle her feet a bit longer today and let her work at finding her balance and stand on three legs a bit longer.  These little hooves need a trim and maybe in a few days she will be ready for it.  A few more friendly rubs on the face, eyes, nose and ears and we lead out to her big pen.  We make several nice small circles with her head bent on the arc of the circle, stop and take out time taking the halter off and back on a few times, then I walk away and we are done.  Another nice day with some good horse trys.  We could do more, but we have lots of tomorrows and Rojo is waiting for his groundwork session before that black cloud in the south chases us back to the barn!!