I finally brought my new girl home. She's 10 months old a little Paint and seems to be very smart. Now I will give you a bit of background before my question. She is from Moutain Spring Farm in Springville AL. These people breed for quality horses with good confo and good work ethics. When you go to their place to see their horses, all are in pastures (except mares who are about to foal, they are in the foaling barn). Diane (owner) takes you out to the pasture to see the horses you are interested in and you are able to see how they act around horses of all ages. These babies (usually under 2) are not handled at all, not even halterbroke, they get their shots and bloodwork/worming done a few days before you pick them up. Needless to say, they are pretty shy when you first bring them home. Phoebe wouldn't even come up to eat unless we got out of the quarrantine pen. Now she comes up, nickers for me and will eat out of the bucket or out of my hand while I hold it. Originally she had a nylon halter on, but I was afraid she would get it caught on the fence and break her neck, it took a week and a half, but with the help of the nh trainer, I was able to replace it with a "breakable" and old leather halter.
I have started leading her a bit everyday, just getting her comfortable with me moving around her, I can brush everywhere but her belly (has some nasty baby hair there that is matted). I have started messing with her feet and ears and quietly started brushing out her mane and tail. I have banged trash cans (metal) and that didn't even pahse her, walked her over tarps, rubbed tarps over her body. Plastic bags don't bother her either, even when rubbed on her head. Trailering, well I haven't even started that (we got her in with food, took about 5 mins and she hopped in) and won't until I get her properly halter broke.
My question is this: What else do I need to do to ensure that when I take that halter off I can put it back on. The NH trainer said when I get her out of the Q pen, to keep her in her paddock for a few days and practice walking up with a bit of food and calmly put the halter on then take it off and repeat until she stands quietly. I can already switch out the halter for the rope halter, but I have to do it quickly or she gets scared. My trainer will be out for 2 weeks so I could use some helpful hints. She is very sweet and pretty calm, you just have to approach her quietly and she will let you do about anything. I just don't want to put her in the pasture and not be able to catch her again, lol. FYI, we are not allowed to leave halters on period, I had to get permission to leave the halter on her in the qpen, till she gets use to having one on. Any ideas?