Pictures Advice for a pushy yearling please !!

[E_B]

I bought a yearling filly about 1-2 months ago and she's recently been getting more pushy and rude. Started when she was put in with different horses a couple weeks back, they're younger and she's definitely happier with them but she's started coming up to me with her ears pinned and barging into me sometimes. I make her move away when she does either of these but she doesn't understand pressure and release very well so I'm trying to work on that mainly at the moment. There's definitely a lack of respect so wondering how to build that up? Other than this she's an absolute angel, follows me around like a dog, stops when I stop, not bothered by anything in the slightest but I do worry she's just a bit too confident Thanks for any advice anyone has to provide!

Pic attached of the little devil herself below

 

[Patterdale]

I teach personal space to pushy youngsters with a crackly crisp multipack bag tied to a stick. Just to wave and crackle between you to let them know they can’t get in your space. Same tool is great for teaching back up, move over etc.

 

[dorsetladette]

I've had a natural horsemanship guy out to my youngster. It's a very different way of working but definitely got Reggie thinking about where his feet need to not be going.

 

[4Hoofed]

Is she only out with other youngsters? If she’s the “grown up” she may be getting a bit big for her boots, or taking on a bit much responsibility in her little baby herd. A firm but fair older horse will do a lot of the work on manners for you!

 

[SEL]

Mime managed to get to 700kg of 5yo before she learnt any manners (she was awful - long back story). That winter she got turned out with a load of polo pony mares who took all of 10 minutes to teach her manners.

I was working very hard with her but those older mares did a lot of work for me and in a language she understood!

 

[4Hoofed]

Mime managed to get to 700kg of 5yo before she learnt any manners (she was awful - long back story). That winter she got turned out with a load of polo pony mares who took all of 10 minutes to teach her manners.

I was working very hard with her but those older mares did a lot of work for me and in a language she understood!

I rate older horses so much for this! They are a lot firmer then us in most instances as well and in my experience a moody mare will explain the rules once and won’t need to again

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

This may be controversial, but if you are already sending her away when she is doing that behavior and its continuing, I'd say you just need to be 'louder' and/or more consistent. She clearly isn't receiving the message you are sending.

Perhaps one on one in the arena with her, just walking around on a headcollar, making sure she stops when you stop and she isn't walking in your space. Even standing still, if she moves one hoof then send her back, be pernickety and be consistent - then once it's achieved and understood more in that quieter setting, it should hopefully translate to the field or when there is more going on around her.

By louder I mean, throw your arms in the air, jump on the spot if you have to and growl, not to use any aid or touch her physically.

 

[SEL]

I rate older horses so much for this! They are a lot firmer then us in most instances as well and in my experience a moody mare will explain the rules once and won’t need to again

I was trying not to look for the first hour but she was absolutely put in her place.

I also do (even now) very much what @AShetlandBitMeOnce says above. I ask politely and if my space is still invaded or there's other anti social behaviour then I'm big, loud and dominant. Well taught by the criollo mare who was aghhhhhh for 30 secs, got the space she'd politely requested and been ignored, then straight back to eating.

 

[meleeka]

I find a firm command works, whether that be "no" or "back". If a pony came forcefully at me with ears flat, I'd be moving forcefully back towards them with a stern voice, then flappy arms if no response. It does sound like she's forgotten her manners around you.

Eta - just noticed this thread is a few weeks old. I hope she's improving!