Finding his courage

Little colt made some real progress today.

If I went into the same pen as him yesterday he would balk and run into the other pen to be as far away from me as possible.

I spent about an hour this afternoon sitting in there, just reading my book and ignoring him.  He eventually approached and peeked at me around the upright, then gradually worked up the courage to come into the same pen as me and have a proper look.

But, he was still frightened of me once I got up and walked around.  He approached me happily when I held out hay from between the rails, so I stood behind the upright in the gateway and did the same thing.  Pretty shortly we got to the point where I was able to stand in the middle of his pen and he approached and ate hay out of my hand.  Considering that there was a huge pile of hay in the far corner that he could have had for free, I thought that was pretty cool!  He's showing a real curiosity and interest in me, not just wanting the food.
Before I left I was standing there with him and he was sniffing my hand. I bent down and blew gently out my mouth and he immediately put his nose to my face and we exchanged breaths for a while.  He had a good sniff of my face and hair and then I left. 

Really happy with our progress today!  Still don't think he's a fan of the chaff mix I gave him, but I sprinkled it all over his hay before I left so hopefully he'll get some in his mouth and decide it's not so bad.  I am hopeful that we may be able to go out into the paddock tomorrow.