pening a pony in to get a headcollar on, pls advise...?

If you make him feel trapped, such as keeping him in a small pen, he will get scared and try to break out. You should try putting him in a secure round pen so he can run around in circles if he is scared but he is always the same distance from you if you are in the center.

When he is in his pen, just leave the halter and lead rope hanging on the fence near to where he eats so he gets used to the smell and sight of it.

Try to get him used to you just being around him and having him feel completely comfortable with that. Practice touching all over his head, neck, and face so he can get used to the feeling of being handled. But give him space to get away when he gets uncomfortable, so he is not forced to accept your touch. If you force him, he will get scared.

When he is used to being touched, try to teach him to lower his head when you put a little pressure on his poll. Gently rub his poll until he is comfortable with your touch there, and then push down softly until he lowers his head. As soon as he lowers it even a tiny bit, release the pressure and praise him. This will help him accept the pressure of the halter and will help when you eventually want to lead him. This exercise will take a lot of practice as it will be hard for him to accept the pressure at first.

Once he is comfortable with you touching him everywhere on his body and just being near him and he is no longer afraid of the halter and rope on the fence, just hold it in your hand while you go over petting him everywhere, especially his head, neck, and ears, but do not put it close to him or try to touch him with it yet. Wait until he readily accepts it just being close to him in your hands and being touched while you hold it.

When he no longer cares if you are holding it or not, hold it out for him to sniff. When he no longer shows signs of being nervous about it, hold it up near his shoulder but do not touch him with it. When he is ok with that, then gently rub it on his shoulder. If he turns and runs, put the halter down and go and pet him on his shoulder and repeat this step until he is ok with it touching his shoulder.

As he gets comfortable, move a bit closer to his head each time until he lets you rub the halter all over his face and body. Then eventually practice putting the rope over his withers and gradually move it up towards his head until he is comfortable with it. Then practice putting the halter over his nose, then take it off and back off a bit. Practice this for a while before you put it all the way on him.

Remember to take this process really slow, and don't force anything. It could be a few weeks before you get the halter on him, it just depends on how patient you are and how quickly you can build up his trust. Do not leave the halter on once you get far enough to buckle it. He may get it caught on something. At first, just leave it on long enough to buckle it before you take it off of him. Then increase the time slowly, but always take it off of him when you are done working with him.

Don't try to lead him or put pressure on the halter at first.

This is NOT how I would train a pony to accept a head collar. But in being sensitive to to your situation, where you do not have the facilities or training, this is what you can do;

Take a little pan with just less than a handful of grain out to him daily with the head collar in your hands. As the days go by pet him on his face, head and neck while he eats. As the days go by start rubbing him with the head collar. Eventually make it so he has to put his nose thru it to get to the pan, but don't put it on yet, just keep getting closer and closer to putting it on until one day it is on.

But now you have another thing to teach him...how to lead....if you could get some help from someone really experienced, it would be really great for you and your pony. I train horses and know first hand the problems a person can avoid by doing things right the first time. Some times these problems can last a life time, and in some cases result in injury or death of the person or horse.

Sorry, don't mean to be all scary, doom and gloom. It is just There is nothing better than first hand knowledge and experience given in person one on one.

I would think if you try to catch him in an area that is not really secure he may break through and even be more frightened. You might have to get someone to come over with their horse and have him follow yours into a good strong enclosure and find some ole cowboy who could rope him for you.

It is something you should get done now, so you can tie him up and really begin to gentle him. Onece you can tie him and he knows he can't get away you start to let him know he will only get hurt when he fights to get loose. Some time it can get real tramatic if he is a fighter, but it has to be done. Some are spooky fighters that may Not gentle down and If you can't do it it would be best to let him go and spend the time and money on one with a gentle nature.

Headcollar sizes variety and a cob length from one kind might in nice condition your horse, however the comparable length in yet another kind won't, so that's maximum suitable to degree his head around the nostril (the place the headcollar sits) and over his head (the place the headpiece might pass) and additionally below his jaw (throatlash section) and pass to a tack shop armed including your tape degree. in case you have a headcollar that suits him nicely, take that with you and which will shop somewhat some measuring! His bridle length provides a coarse thought too - if he wears a cob length bridle he will probable want a headcollar of the comparable length, yet as i discussed in the past sizing varies from one producer to a different.

Hi...have you contacted a trainer to come to your property and show you different trust technics? It takes lots of patience, but he will come around, we have a pony that was severly abused, he went from no touching to allowing brushing and general cares after under two weeks with a trainer that does the Monty Roberts training. Check around and see what you have in your area. Good luck and don't give up on him.

well i wud stroke the pony round its kneck and tlk to it and then show her the headcollar and slowly place it on still stroking and tlking.

if still this wild i wouldn't try to put halter on as he might get away wearing it and get hung up.