So yesterday I decided to finally start training Daisy, my new two-year-old filly. Honestly, I was kinda nervous even though I’ve messed around with horses for years. Fillies? Different story. Feels like dealing with a giant, skittish toddler.
First Try: Basic Halter Introduction
Grabbed her halter and lead rope, walked into the paddock slow and easy. Daisy saw me coming and just… stood there chewing grass. Cool, right? Wrong. The second that halter touched her nose? Nope. Head flip, quick spin, trotted off to the far corner like I was tryin’ to put fire on her face. Classic filly move. Sigh.
Adjusting My Approach
Alright, plan was busted. Gotta get her comfortable with the idea of the halter first. Pulled out the big guns: molasses. Seriously, cheap sugar is magic. I smeared some on the inside of the halter and just held it near her muzzle. Her ears perked up – “Ooh, sweet stuff?”
- Day 1: Just held the sticky halter near her muzzle, let her lick it. Didn’t push. When she relaxed her neck muscles a tiny bit after licking, I instantly pulled it away. Let her win.
- Day 2: Did the same thing, but this time I gently rested the halter over her nose for literally one second while she licked. Clicked my tongue (didn’t have a clicker handy), pulled it away fast and gave her a scratched withers. Big praise.
- Day 3: Tried sliding it further up her nose. She flinched once, but came back quick for the molasses. Progress! Got the nose piece mostly on that time before pulling it off and celebrating.
Took four days of this slow dance – smear, touch, slide a little more, retreat – before she just kinda sighed and let me buckle it behind her ears. Victory lap in my head!
Leading 101 Disaster Turnaround
Haltered? Check. Now time to lead. Figured, “How hard can it be?” Hah. Asked her to step forward with a gentle tug. She planted those feet like concrete. Pulled harder? She leaned back harder. Pulled sideways? She practically sat down like a stubborn mule. My arms were burning, dust everywhere, looked ridiculous.
Stood there catching my breath, smelling horse sweat and feeling stupid. Noticed something – Daisy wasn’t scared, just confused. “What does this tugging even mean?” Duh. Had to break it down tiny.
- Started Shuffling: Instead of pulling for steps, I gently tapped her shoulder with my fingertips. Soon as she shifted weight, even if just a lean? Released pressure immediately.
- One Hoof at a Time: Focused on just getting one front foot to lift. Tap-tap shoulder… foot moves? Instant release, big “Good girl!”, belly rub.
- Added the Rope: Only after she understood the tap signal did I combine it with the slightest little tension on the lead rope. TAP shoulder + tiny rope pressure = one step? Release, praise, sugar cube. Pure relief when that lightbulb went off for her.
Whole process took nearly a week, maybe 10-15 minutes max per session. Patience is everything with the youngsters. Felt like a breakthrough moment when she finally walked quietly beside me to the paddock gate yesterday morning. Head low, loose lead rope, no fighting. Just quiet walking. Nearly cried happy dusty tears.
The key? Seriously, you gotta think in baby steps with fillies. Smaller than you think. Ain’t about muscle. It’s about them figuring out what the heck you want, one tiny puzzle piece at a time, and making the right answer feel like hitting the jackpot. Slow feels stupid slow, but then they just… get it. And that feels amazing.
