Highly reactive filly - training question

[xrdh]

I have a pony filly that I've started ground work on, in preparation for driving. She is smart and willing and has done surprisingly well, except she is overly reactive to SOME things. She was sold to me as a 9 month old because the owner said that she was too reactive to be a therapy pony. Normally, she will spook at something new but then recover quickly and carry on. The other day we tried something new and she absolutely freaked out and bolted, bucked, reared, screamed, etc. I can see now that she isn't the best candidate for a driving pony, but is it possible that she will outgrow her reactive nature as she matures? She's 18 months old now and I've been ground driving her (working up to pulling a small tire, travois, etc) in just a side pull for 4 months. Please only opine if you've had experience starting yearlings.

 

[Minimor]

Please message me with her breeding.

Sometimes maturity does bring more calmness/acceptance. However, some lines are known to be always unpredictable. They might be good for weeks and then the next day something that ordinarily doesn't bother them completely freaks them out. There is at least one bloodline i wont touch for that reason.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

No. Not suitable. Cut your losses. Enjoy her as a companion or move her along to a pet home and find another driving candidate.

 

[xrdh]

Thanks, you two. That's what I'm thinking, too. She was sold to me as a Section A Welsh, "purebred, but not registered". I had her DNA tested and Welsh was only the third breed listed by prevalance. She's very sweet and doesn't have a mean bone in her body, but will I ever be able to trust her..........? I already had to retire one mini this year because he bolted (again) in a blind panic. He was unstoppable and just about scared the pee out of me.

 

[jventresca]

Driving is more dangerous than non-driving people realize. You know from your experience with your mini bolting. A driving animal's most important quality is it's mind.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[MajorClementine]

I've been working with my gelding Major in ground driving. I was hoping to turn him into a driving horse. I bought him years ago just because I liked him and wanted a companion for Clementine. Anyway... he's very reactive as well. Clementine will spook at something but recover quickly and move on. She only takes a few spooked steps and has never bolted or bucked. Major is different. He bolts and is then worked up and it takes him a bit to calm down. I've decided that I will use him to pull logs and tires in the pasture but I don't think I'll ever feel safe hitching him to a cart and taking him out. Like stated above, some have a mind for it and some don't.

 

[jeanniecogan]

don't take a chance. i had a gelding i bought just because of hi calm temperment, turned him and charlie into a team . one day he just took off running. i finally ran him into the barn wall. he was just dragging charlie along, poor charlie . this happened again at a friend's house, i got dumped out of the wagon and poor charlie was again dragged all ove the place. destroyed harness , wagon and i got pretty banged up and a broken wrist.

i was so afraid charlie was ruined. when i healed we went out and sure enough he tried to spin and take off, he did not run, just got scared. i talked and talked to him, finally got him calm enough to get out of cart and went to his head and petted and talked to him. got back in the cart and he was ok after that. it happened one more time and now he is old faithful again.

the runaway pony went away........ don't take a chance

 

[xrdh]

Thanks for sharing your experience with me, Jeannie. I was hoping that one of my minis that bolted could be used as part of a team. I've never heard of one horse dragging the other. Usually the experienced hrose calms and controls the frightened one. He must have been a real nut case. Interesting that he was a calm horse - before he wasn't. Mine ae both pretty reactive, in general.

I'm pretty much resigned to having two new pasture ornaments (they're both VERY cute), because I can't bare the thought of selling them and having them passed around until they end up at the auction. I've heard of those "buy back" agreements failing too many times, too. They'd be happier if they had a job and a purpose for living, but....oh well.

By the way - did your nut case have funny swirls on his face? This filly that freaked out unexpectedly has lots of swirls, all over her head. The other mini that bolts has a Z pattern. Not good signs, if you believe in that theory.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Face swirls--I enjoy the TTouch books. There must be something to that.

Do your girls have large eyes or small eyes? I think horses with large eyes are better. All of my bolters had rather small eyes.

 

[jeanniecogan]

going to try tandem with charlie and daisy mae. not too soon though, think i will be busy for a while.

 

[xrdh]

This filly that freaked has large round eyes, almost like a llama. I'm sure she can see 360 degrees without turning her head. A friend came over and said she looked like a Barbie doll horse.

 

[secuono]

My Corolla Horse did not mellow out until he was about 8 years old, then everything started to fall into place for him. My youngest mini is similar to him, so she gets to just laze around as long as it takes for her to figure out life.

So, it could be that she is not mature enough between the ears or it is a genetic timebomb type of issue like Minimor said.

Minimor, can you PM me which bloodline to avoid? I'm not currently looking to add to my herd, but for future reference. =)