I think you are on the right track with leaving her alone when feeding. I would also suggest that you make sure she is not crowding you to get her food when you go to feed her, by putting the food in her area before she arrives.

As for the blanket, I would suggest that when you get your round pen, you do a few sessions with her with plastic bags on a stick, gradually getting her used to things flapping around her legs and rear. I believe there is a video session online here that will show you that. And if you have any questions as to whether that had handled her blanketing issue, get a friend to help you desensitize her to a plastic tarp or a rain coat being rubbed and draped all over her (one person on the lead, one mans the coat). I would think that with those two items desensitized, being blanketed will go much more smoothly.

Stay safe and good luck!

Hi julie
thank you for the feedback, all sounds good to me, I had thought of the hand on the end of the stick too to desensatize her rear end.
She is fine to put the blanket on or off as long as she is being held, which is tricky to do on your own.
I will check out the video before I do any work with her.

I had a young TB that would not let me blanket him. He would pull back, turn away and really fuss. I did join up with him and did use the plastic bag on a stick that Julie recommended. After the sessions with the stick I brought the blanket to him and brought it away several times until I could flop it on and off several times per session. After 2 or 3 sessions of this we have never had a problem again! For him part of the issue was static shocks and really sensitive skin. I have used Equis Avacado Mist coat conditioner every couple of days while it is blanket season to decrease the static, and both of my horses thank me!

That is a good tip about the mist spray, static is such a pain in this dry weather.
Thank you for your input.

I care for a mare who didn't stand for me too if I put on the light winter blanket. I did plastic on the stick and used my heavy jacket to desensitize her. She was doing fine. But: putting on the blanket remained a continiously back and forth when I had no one to hold her. She always got on the regular halter as putting on the blanket was the last thing to do before I put her back into the herd. As I feed her beforehand which is not possible with the Dually (they cannot open the mouth wide enough), so wore the regular halter. Well, I too the time and put back on the Dually and kept the line loose in my hand when I had to bent and reach for the band of the blanket to connect it under her belly. When she ran forward I just kept the line in my now closed hand and she ran right into the Dually, turned her head as if she said oops what was that ? Next time she ran off a little less and now she stands for me. If you train your hands a lot with the Dually you learn how to school with a long slack in the line. I learned it during the advanced course at Flag is Up Farms. I hope the cold weather will be gone soon and the blanket can stay in the cupboard but I am grateful that because of the odd weather I could try and use what I have learned !

This mare doesn't have a problem with the blanket, she has a problem with her body being touched sometimes. I have only had her a month and it was clear she had never had a blanket on before but it was not a problem to get it on or off most of the time. For what seems like a very chilled horse she occasionally will get stroppy about being touched generally, usually this is when she is being fed, and sometimes when just going to touch her generally. I have now done some work with her and the Dually for standing still, and this is working really well.
The dually is great, as you say, you can leave a long line and she will run into it.
I have been spoilt as my other horse who I have had for a couple of years will let me blanket on and off when he is feeding and at other times in the field without a halter,
if i put one on him he will stand quiet with the rope on the floor as i worked with him in the beginning with the Dually and he is very co-oprative and trust worthy.
I am sure that with some work she will be too. Thank you I appreciate all the feedback.

I am re visiting this post after nearly a year. I have a new 8yo mare who is what you call handy with her hind legs. She is very fine to blanket without being held but when tacking up and grooming she kicks out at times and even cross kicks to the other side. She is a very fancy mover so needs hind leg protection and some days the hind wraps/boots are a chore. I just try to gently stay connected to her leg as she fusses and usually she settles, but the other day she nearly got my arm. What did you end up finding helpful with your mare?

Marie -
Not quite on the subject you've been talking about, but I've been looking around for Argentine Criollo horses in the US and haven't found any. What kind of Criollo is yours? I'm in Michigan and trying to find an Argentine stud. Thanks -- I hope you're still reading these. Did you get your mare settled down?

Monty's technique is a desensitazion with an artificial arm. The legs are touched until they don't move anymore, then the arm goes away. You must have understood the basic principle for your good timing. Handling this horse by hand seems very dangereous.