Magnolia's First Head Collar
MAGNOLIA was born on boxing day!
After 2 months her lovely owner was keen for me to introduce this little sweetheart to experiencing wearing a head collar.
To start with I got her used to feeling a strip of woollen lightweight, stretchy fabric which had a lovely feel to it. I got Magnolia used to it firstly by scruching it up in my hand and giving her scratches all over with it and then after letting her explore it she accepted it being dangled over her neck. Once she got used to this I was then able to let her experience it on her head, just holding it in place to begin with, putting in on and off several times and then I was able to tuck the end in to let her experience it for longer.
From here I was then able to place a head collar over this, not done up, just held in place, to practice going through the motions and then I would take off the fabric underneath. Working incrementally like this over several sessions really gave Magnolia time to explore, understand and be a part of the process. No force is ever needed if you work with an understanding of the horse's psychology and in such a way as to never raise their adrenaline, but always staying on the positive side of curiosity.
";No force is ever needed if you work with an understanding of the horse's psychology and in such a way as to keep their adrenaline as low as possible. Always stay on the positive side of curiosity."
I introduced Magnolia to the concept of pressure and release by using the stretchy, wollen fabric strip firstly around her neck which you can watch in the video.
And here is a little video clip of Magnolia, firstly letting off steam and showing off her new found moves to me when I arrive! and then after her hooley she willingly and calmly shows how she's happy to accept her first head collar. It's so useful to do this early on in their development just incase you need to catch them for anything urgent.