He doesn't do it to you in the field as that's where he wants to be. He sounds like he's doing it when you take him away from his comfort zone. This is very typical of youngsters to do that, they try to let you know they're not happy with this arrangement. Sadly they have to learn that what you says goes and that the world won't end because you're making him go or do something he doesn't want to at that moment in time. This is different from the nipping in play that some youngsters do. What he does with his friends in the field is play, what he's doing with you when you take him out isn't play, although it can develop into it. What I would do is keep your sessions where he's taken away from where he wants to be, short. Do what you have to do, demand good behaviour when doing this and pick him up on bad behaviour every time. Lengthen the time he spends out and about and he'll get into the routine eventually. Don't treat him like a baby, as I said on another thread that only leads to problems. Give praise when he's good and reprimand when he's bad. Lead him at your shoulder and walk with confidence, teach stopping and walk-on. I don't care to smack youngsters (although I will if they get way above themselves), I tend to have the left hand with the excess rope and I'll raise that in front of their faces to steady them down a bit if they get too ambitious with their walking speed. I will flick them with the lead to get them to take notice. Basically don't fall into the trap that he's a youngster and therefore needs an easier time of it, he doesn't, he needs to learn that what you say goes.
Yes you can, but obviously not by brute force.
Yanking is always to be avoided if at all possible. I notice John O'Leary is not averse to yanking e.g. at 3:36 in the video (when the horse was standing quietly! Note "licking and chewing" afterwards).
It's interesting, but is just one way to do it - not the only way. I don't agree with the idea of being more frightening to the horse than the thing they are scared of. That seems a recipe for getting the horse more agitated and does not represent "good leadership" imo. In the video, O'Leary does best with this horse when he is calm and reassuring and not yanking.
Well, I agree with a lot of the points - but some, such as "Cotton lead ropes cause ignorant horses" and "Webbing Halters cause ignorant horses" are clearly nonsense. Maybe he's been brainwashed.
I wouldn't bother watching the video to be honest, that guy is full of nonsense (and perhaps some good stuff hidden amongst it if you can be bothered trailing through it all)
I mean
http://www.horseproblems.com.au/horse_problems_warning_page.htm
