07/22/2024
What is some tips I should know if I'm trying to tame a wild horse?
This is Freja, an 8โ10 month old filly I adopted from a local wild herd when she was about 5 months old. She came to me straight from the catch pen, having just been forcibly weaned from her mother (who is still running wild) at about 3 months old.
My first and most important rule when I started working with Freja was that everything would happen on her schedule, when she indicated to me through body language that she was curious and willing to interact. I would not force her. I would not scare her. I would not do anything that would cause her to question my intentions or to feel that she needed to protect herself from me. I have a list of things she needs to learn, but no pre-conceived timeline of when this should happen because I will allow her to tell me when she is ready. Because I was willing to take as long as it takes, things actually moved very quickly.
The first goal was to get her used to me moving around her. For the first few weeks she lived in a 24ft x 48ft corral with 6 ft high, 6 rail panels. She knew how to throw herself down and slide under the panels - I saw her do it when we were trying to get her in the trailer to come home - so I was VERY careful not to make her feel so pressured that she tried to run. I worked in the yard. I played with the dogs. I spent time grooming and visiting my other horse. I cannot understate the value of having that second horse. He is very friendly and people oriented, and Freja absolutely learned by watching me interact with him. He was not only not afraid of me, he looked forward to me coming out and greeted me, which reassured her that I was not a threat.
It took about a week before she stopped running away and giving me the side-eye. Once she began to face me with a curious and open expression, I began to go into her corral and do chores - cleaning her trough, mucking and raking, etc.. I still pretty much ignored her and made very sure that I kept my distance and moved around with a relaxed, non-threatening, non-predatory body posture. I never faced her full on, never stared her down, I just went about my business. I went into her pen to โworkโ 5 or 6 times a day for no more than 5 minutes at first, and gradually increasing the time I spent each time I went out there.
