Tips on Haltering a Stubborn Yearling Horse for the First Time

Ideally, a foal is haltered shortly after he is born or when he's weaned. If circumstances prevent that, however, a handler's biggest asset is patience. Like everything else humans do with domesticated horses, haltering is antithetical to a horse's natural instincts. A young horse does not resist haltering because he is incorrigible; he is resisting because innately that is how he is programmed to react.

  1. Isolate

    • Get the horse into a confined space.

      Place the yearling in a confined space as free from distractions as possible. There are to be no other people in the area so the yearling is able to focus on the handler. A stall is best, but a small round pen or other holding pen is acceptable. Try leading an alpha horse that the yearling is known to follow, immediately turning the alpha horse loose once the yearling is confined. The yearling now needs to view the handler as the alpha.

    Desensitize

    • Desensitize the yearling to touch by touching him all over. If this has already been done, concentrate on his head and ears. Gently exert gentle pressure on his poll, between his ears. As soon as he lowers his head in response to this pressure, remove the hands. Teaching him to drop his head helps in all aspects of training, including haltering. Also put pressure on his nose, again releasing as soon as he lowers it.

    Desensitize With Halter

    • Repeat the desensitization exercise with the halter by rubbing it all over the yearling's body and head, focusing more on the head and ears. Be sure to do each side of her body and head, since a horse's brain learns on each side independently. Apply pressure to the poll and nose with the halter, so the yearling becomes familiar with the combination of pressure and the feel of the halter. Immediately release pressure as the horse relaxes and "gives" to it.

    Getting the Halter On

    • A young horse soon becomes accustomed to wearing a halter.

      When the yearling is at the point of halter desensitization where he is relaxed the entire time he's being rubbed with it, gently place the halter over his nose and quickly fasten the buckle at the neck. He is not likely to move while the halter is being put on. Once he realizes it is staying on, however, watch to make sure he does not get it hung up on something. Remove the halter after a few hours, but immediately put it back on. Repeat this for several days. Do not leave a halter on any horse unattended, unless it features a safety release feature in the event the horse catches it on something.