Originally Posted by
copeladix
Hi everyone.
I have a 6 mo old filly pony that we got free and we have worked with her daily the problem we have is you can't touch her ears at all she totally freaks out like she tries to bite and rears up. The same with her feet she will literally lay down if you pick up her legs. We have other horses so we know how to handle them but never have ran across this before any ideas would be most helpful. Thanks
Horses are very protective of their ears and legs. You need to work slowly to approach these areas.
For instance, you don't "pick up her legs" until she's 100% comfortable with letting you brush them, and then she will pick up a leg on her own when you cue her (but you don't try to hold it, this is just the lifting part).
For her ears, get a soft cloth and brush her face and neck with the cloth balled up in your hand like a sponge. Every day let it flap a bit more loosely until you are holding one corner of the cloth and the rest is just flapping about. As you brush her face and neck, the cloth will touch her ears a little bit. Each day brush a bit more near her ears, and then brush at the base of her ear, then back down her neck. Repeat, slowly moving further up each ear. Always stop BEFORE she gets upset. You build on this by making small progress each day, not by trying to do it all at once on a single day.
If she still gets very upset even with the slightest touch on her ears then you need to have the vet out to tranquilize her and examine her ears. She may have an infection - it may be painful when you touch her ears.