When we got Blue he was terrified of almost everything so when we measured him for a rug even the tape measure was freaking him out!
So when the rug came, trying to put it on straight away was never going to work.
I took advice from a very experienced lady who had been training Harley to Harness/Carriage Drive, Nicola Parkin and she suggested tiny steps and starting with something like a tea towel folded, then opening up and so on until a rug could be put over him.
Training Session 1
I took the advice and started with a tea towel similar to the colour of his new rug.
I showed it to him and let him smell it and put it on the ground and walk past it with him a couple of times, then I went to touch his shoulder with it, he flinched away at first so I took the pressure off and put it away, gave him lots of praise by scratching his withers (Blue loves this), then tried again and he let me stroke his shoulder with it, I did it a few more times just stroking his shoulder and moving to his back when he let me touch his back with it I tried leaving it there. When he let me leave it there I walked him around with it and then took it off.
Training Session 2
I did exactly the same with the tea towel as day 1 he was a little tense so I did it slowly repeating the same steps as day 1 until I could open it out and leave it on his back.
Training Session 3
I rolled his new rug up as small as I could and showed it to him, he wasn’t keen, I put it on the floor and we walked past it a few times.
I picked it up and showed it to him again and like with the towel, gently touched his shoulder with it, he let me so I took it away (took the pressure off) and praised him. Then Touched his shoulder and back with it (still rolled up at this stage).
Training Session 4
This time I folded the rug into quarters this was more worrying for Blue as it was a windy day and it made a rustling noise! He backed away and so just like session 1 with the tea towel we took it really slowly as I didn’t want him scared of it and having to start again so I put it on the floor we walked past it, stroked his shoulder and then put it away after lots of praise.
Training Session 5
As session 4 I followed the same steps it wasn’t as windy and Blue was very calm. I managed to open up the rug to full size and place it on his back. I gave him lots of praise and rather than push it to quickly by fastening it up (Blue is very sensitive about being touched below the shoulder and back, see my blog about feet and farrier) I took it back off and told him what clever amazing boy he is.
Session 6
I managed to slowly introduce the rug as above and pull his tail over the strap, the challenge then was the belly straps / surcingles he doesn’t like his belly being touched yet and so although I tried to reach under he was very jumpy (I wore my hat always wear head protection when training) so I tied them in a bow for safety on one side and stayed close for an hour doing my jobs, then I went back in and used the walking stick I use when I’m training him to pick his feet up to stroke him all over with and then reach under to get the straps and fasten them! Hey presto he now has his first coat on in time for the freezing weather.
Other horse trainers or owners may think this was done over too many sessions, but I would rather give him time and patience so now it’s done it’s not scary and I feel proud we went at his own pace so as not to scare him of rugs all together.