So, back in 2011 we took in some ponies that had been abandoned nearby and fostered them for the local SPCA. We got them back to good health, and two of them were adopted not too long after. After a while, we decided we'd just adopt the other two, and we've had them ever since.

Unfortunately, life kind of got in the way, so it wasn't until I came back from college last month that I really got to start working with them. My dad has tamed the younger pony, though he's still a pain about being haltered, but the older would never let anyone near him except to quickly grab a treat and run away. Anyway, long story short I've been working with him a little every day, and three days ago he finally let me touch him (though I haven't been that successful since.)

We don't know what the ponies went through before we got them, but we know they weren't taken care of. Perhaps not abused, but definitely neglected. So, we can't really base how we work with them on their past. Still, we've made tremendous progress in just the short amount of time I've been working with him. I'm excited. :D

Do you have any experience with taming horses / ponies? Tips, stories? I haven't been really active here for a while, so... hi. xD

Oh, and here's a photo of Dennis and Tres from yesterday, courtesy of my boyfriend who stole my camera and caught their attention with it. Dennis is the larger pony, and he's the one I've been working with. ^^

Kind of!

2 Decembers ago, I got Brooks, and he was 2 when I got him and he was not halter broke and didn't know what treats were. He was a rescue, the couple I got him from were on a jab and they saw him starving, and so they stopped by and asked if they could take him (the guy said yes) and so they picked him up and fattened him up. But they didn't know much about horses.

So, I've been working with him since then and he is now spoiled and he's halter broke, he can lunge, and i've been on him 2x. Unfortunately, due to my health, I'm having to give him up.

But I found that it worked best just to treat him like a regular horse, go slow, and spend a lot of time with him. My advice is to be safe, but not to baby them. They need to know that they can trust you, but that you are in charge and they need to listen to you. I'd have more specific advice if you were trying to teach them something specific, but I think just working at it is the best you can do for anything.

Have you tried just sitting in the paddock/pasture with him? Maybe for an hour or longer? I've never tamed a horse before but I know that if you just sit in his paddock with him (don't try to touch or anything and it's okay if he ignores you) and just read, it will help him get used to you and your company. I see it as forming a little bond, so he knows you're not a threat. 

Also, my aunt, who has tamed/broken her own horses and other's horses, showed me one time with a young stallion that no one could catch, that if you just lunge him around a round pen or something and tire him out a bit, he won't be so prone to run away (because he's tired). And then maybe you could feed him a treat and try and pet is neck? 

So like I said, I've never personally tamed a neglected horse but that's what I would think of doing. You also might want look into some natural horsemanship videos, books, trainers, etc. I did that with my horse when I first bought him (he was very feisty and ill-mannered) and he turned into such a gentle, trusting horse.

@Sam - That's good advice. ^^ As he's too small for any of us to ride, we don't plan to do much with him, but we'd all feel better if we could depend on catching him if he needed medical attention or something. We've dealt with it in the past, but it's a struggle. He's getting better, though, slowly. ^^

@Sassafras - I'm out there for about an hour every day when we go to feed, and the time spent with him has really helped. Though as soon as he loses interest he goes out to graze, and with a ten acre pasture it can be hard to keep near him. xD Plus another pony, two horses, and dogs all wanting attention, too. He's very curious, though, so it doesn't take much to get his attention back. ^^

The round pen will definitely be a good tool once we get it cleaned up. It mostly just needs mowed, but I don't weigh enough to keep the mower going, so I have to wait on someone who can to do it. xD But he doesn't run any more, just keeps just out of reach until he's decided it's okay.

We went to a demonstration a couple of years ago with a guy who tamed a horse within about thirty minutes. I try to use what I remember to help, but looking up more is definitely a good idea.

Thanks for the advice. :3