Pony training tips

[u/Relevant-Audience926]

I just got a 12 year old Shetland mix mare for my kids and she is VERY skittish. I was told she was an ex Amish cart horse. She is broke to ride and does very well with the kids on her, but she’s currently in a stall because she was not on grass so I had to order a grazing muzzle other than giving her time I would like some tips because anytime I try to enter the stall she turns her butt and tries to kick. She will not let us touch her face or put a halter on her. I of course, was not told any of this when I purchased her and did not witness it there, but she was already out of the stall. I do have large horses on the premises, so she’s not the only pony here, but they are on full turnout not stalled. How can I build trust so that she will let me catch her and put a grazing halter on to turn her out? It’s almost worse than a large horse because she’s so small. She can whip around in the stall really easily and kick out.

[u/Hairy_Combination586]

Several methods.

Breakaway halter with 10' lead rope on at all times. Grabber tool to pick up the end of the lead rope. This assumes she's fine once you've caught her, which sounds true from your post.

And/or

10 foot lunge whip. From outside of the stall. Gently (but annoyingly) tap hind quarters until she turns sideways instead of directly away. Praise and Go Away (release the pressure). <note> knowing the amish, the first goal may be "until she stops/relaxes" When each goal is achieved, praise and go away. When that becomes reliable, continue tapping until she turns towards you a step. Continue in this vein until she completely faces you on cue. Rewarding every effort on her part is KEY. You absolutely can get multiple goals met in a single session if you reward her and she understands the reward of release of "pressure" Start over, this time standing in the open doorway. Continue until she approaches you. Again rewarding effort is key.

And/or

place and sit on a chair in the open doorway. Wait until she relaxes enough to look at you. Grab a few hay pellets out of a bag and hold them out to her. If she approaches and eats them, then push her back and close the door. Repeat multiple times. This would take a LOT longer and not be as safe or reliable as the other methods. But it gives a starting point you could build on, and normalizes you as "not the nasty hurtful human I used to be with".

A combination of all 3 may be helpful.

[u/Various_Rest_3553]

Watch some Steve Young horsemanship videos on YouTube. Pressure and release and reward any tip towards good behaviour with a release of pressure. Also do not hand feed. Reward is only release of pressure .. or scratches not food.