Advice for new part sharer gratefully received

[wotnot]

Hi there,
So i am trying out a part share of a cob horse, ive been to see him a couple of times and rode on road once and in a field once. I've only been having lessons as an adult since last August, but rode occassionally as a kid/teenager, and have been helping out at a yard to learn the care side as well. My plan is once he moves to a new yard with a manege soon, I will start riding him in the manege and lunge him for several weeks before heading out, and until he moves I will spend some time grooming and getting to know him on the ground. I am a novice and dont think it is sensible to be going out hacking on the roads alone until i know him a lot better. Im also going to take lessons on him, so i will have some expert help with that every week.

Anyhow, so today i went over and gave him a groom. He was clearly testing the boundaries as I was on my own, rather than with his owner, and i feel on leaving he definitely thinks he is my boss - we had 2 attempted bites in the first 5 minutes which i was having none of and said no in a firm voice. He was rather impatient being groomed moving round a lot and not really giving a monkeys if he was going to tread on me. Every time he moved from where i wanted him I asked him to move back. But I wasnt really sure what to do to stop him pushing his way about and stand still. He doesnt get a haynet when tied up, but i wondered if that might help keep him occupied as he seems to get bored. He also unpicks his tie knot with his mouth when he gets bored.

I only managed to get 1 hoof picked out, as he started to get very bargy at that point pulling his head back, and unpicking his leadrein knot a lot. When I took his headcollar off to let him back into the field, after a few seconds I realised that he was basically chasing me off as he was marching behind me, when i moved left or right he was there right behind me. It was probably about 5-10 seconds before it clicked what he was doing wasnt friendly - I then turned around looked at him and waved my arms at him and he immediately turned sideways and trotted off.

The other thing I wasnt quite so happy about when i rode him/saw him being ridden is he doesnt stand still nicely for mounting. Ive looked up some stuff about helping with that - which i wanted to do with the groundwork. Clearly thats not going to work if he thinks he is my boss.

Anyhow - any advice on how to get a big heavy cob to give me some respect for my next visit would be great.

 

[maggiestar]

He sounds a cheeky monkey! As you say, groundwork is the key because he's testing the boundaries with the new human in his life so needs to learn that you are the dominant one, not him. When you go into his stable, check your body language - stand tall, make a little eye contact with him and keep your movements purposeful. If he barges you, try moving him back to where he was again by tapping his chest. (Pushing will just make him lean against you.)
I don't know if I'm explaining myself very well but Kelly Marks has some great books with really useful groundwork exercises. Good luck and I'm sure it won't be long til you've built a good relationship with your boy

 

[oldie48]

Agree with everything Maggiestar has said and well done that you realised he was testing his boundaries. Voice is also important, don't shout or shriek at him, keep your voice calm but authoritive and if he does anything you don't like say "no" and don't move out of his space, he needs to move out of yours. Good luck, I'm sure you'll soon get him sorted!

 

[wotnot]

Thats a good idea, from what ive been reading this evening, tapping / poking with tips of finger rather than pushing is more effective. I'll have to try that out.

He backed away from me immediately i turned round and waved my arms at him when he was stalking me, so i think that was somewhat effective.

Ive a feeling he gets away with quite a bit till now, but i wouldnt be happy with that so im hoping it is possible to get him to respect me and behave himself.

 

[TrasaM]

Sounds exactly what ASBO cob used to do with me when I first started handling him. Mounted up he was fine but as I was just learning how to groom and pick feet he used to try and intimidate me by moving into my space and trying to nip and refusing to lift his feet
I just had to learn to be assertive and tell him off. Friend and I did some ground work with him and he's now quite the gentleman but still hasn't lost all his mischief ..typical example is Nuzzle your back when doing his feet.. Nuzzle nuzzle how sweet then you realise that he's sneakily feeling through your layers of clothing to find some skin to pinch

So for starters get him leading nicely without being pulled or him dragging you. If he pulls you make him circle a few times and repeat each time he tries to drag you. You need to get him to stop when you stop and walk when you walk without you putting pressure on his lead rope. Oh, make sure he walks beside you not behind you. You don't want a cob thug running you over

Teaching to back up is really useful too especially out hacking and opening gates and getting him out if your space. Each time you ask say Back so he learns the voice command and this will make it easier when getting him to back up when you are mounted.

 

[wotnot]

I did find saying 'ah ah' slowly and low when he was getting stroppy helped, and shsss-ing when he tried biting me. I have 2 house rabbits and they respond best to a quick sshh, hence trying it with the horse!

Obviously he didnt try it on as much as this with his owner there!

 

[TrasaM]

Crafty cob you'll get to grips with him don't worry. Last time ASBO tried nipping me he got a thump on to the nose with the rubber curry comb. That worked quite well

 

[joolie]

Have you tried handling him like this with his owner around? If you are feeling a bit nervous/not feeling too confident he may be picking up on this and taking the mick a bit! I'd perhaps have a chat to him/her, see what he is normally like with them or arrange next time to have them around in the background while you are grooming etc.

Other than that as people said build up on the groundwork and trust - I'm sure he will come around!

 

[missy99]

my cob had absolutely zero manners when i got her, do we had to work a lot on that. i found leaning against her when i picked out her hooves helped, and when she barged me i would just barge her back, so if she pushed my shoulder with her head i would quickly push back until her head was where she started. i dont have the nipping problem with her, but my old share horse was a nipper, so i just used to keep my elbow out and quickly bump him on the nose if he came in to bite me. im also teaching her 'back' as she used to barge right into me and come into my space if i went over to her with some food or a haynet, so if i wave my hand about a bit and say 'back', she steps back a little bit so i can get in and then doesnt intrude until i tie the hay net up.
never let him walk behind you... if he takes off or threatens you to move he will go straight into you, or atleast tread on your foot! try leading him with a whip, always stand by his shoulder and then if he tries to move behind you just give him a little tap on the bum and get him to walk on next to you.
obviously i dont know whether this stuff will work with you or not, but it worked with me, hope i can help! good luck

 

[TrasaM]

my cob had absolutely zero manners when i got her, do we had to work a lot on that. i found leaning against her when i picked out her hooves helped, and when she barged me i would just barge her back, so if she pushed my shoulder with her head i would quickly push back until her head was where she started. i dont have the nipping problem with her, but my old share horse was a nipper, so i just used to keep my elbow out and quickly bump him on the nose if he came in to bite me. im also teaching her 'back' as she used to barge right into me and come into my space if i went over to her with some food or a haynet, so if i wave my hand about a bit and say 'back', she steps back a little bit so i can get in and then doesnt intrude until i tie the hay net up.
never let him walk behind you... if he takes off or threatens you to move he will go straight into you, or atleast tread on your foot! try leading him with a whip, always stand by his shoulder and then if he tries to move behind you just give him a little tap on the bum and get him to walk on next to you.
obviously i dont know whether this stuff will work with you or not, but it worked with me, hope i can help! good luck

It would appear they are all reading from the same human management manuel

 

[Suzie G]

Some horses/ponies just like taking the mick out of new people.

We bought a pony, from a family we knew well and knew he was well behaved but he was a nightmare for us, really bargey and pulling when in hand. He had a full winter coat so no amount of prodding worked, until I gave him a full clip. He suddenly found he could feel my finger in his chest when I asked him to move back. We spent ages walking in hand and every time he pulled, we stopped and made him move back. Everytime we went in his stable we made him move back away from the door.

He is so much better now. It's just a matter of spending time with him, and him finding out that you are the boss and not him.

 

[Jnhuk]

I have someone who rides my OH's horse in the week and she is quite capable having her own horse in her teens but she has come back to riding/horses now her kids are older. However, my lad who is the more dominant one tests her! Whilst I am there, he is sweet well mannered horse as usual but one day when I was late getting away from work, he was really grumpy towards her and refused to let her pick out his feet.

Sorted now as he was just testing boundaries but it was very interesting to see the change in behaviour with the different handler

 

[wotnot]

Well i went to see him again this week for a groom and get to know session. I made a terrible rookie mistake - left treats in the grooming kit bag (totally forgot they were in there). So i had a 16h cob following me round constantly again all afternoon.

I shut the gate on him when grooming him which meant he couldnt wander round too much. He is still quite an inpatient horse tied up, always moving about, taking his rope and knot in mouth and getting free. He did not like being tied up and me not being there with him, when i dumped the grooming kit outside the field and had to go and get brushes from the bag. I obviously wont make that mistake again.

He did try nibbling me again - not a nasty bite, but still trying to use his teeth on my arm/hand. I just kept on with NO.

Todays question is how do i get a horse to leave me alone? He followed me constantly, whenever i turned he was there behind me, or at the side of me. I tried waving my arms about to make myself bigger and send him away, but he just walked round the other side of me. Even when i was mucking out the stable and sweeping the yard he was there next to me the majority of the time watching. He does live on his own at the minute, but is moving to a yard with others which is when ill start riding him myself. (it looks like there is someone there who will give me lessons on him which is brilliant and just what i need).

I also tried a bit of the 'back' work, he seems to know back, and he responded with a few steps most of the time and got a pat for that.

 

[TrasaM]

Wotnot. He sounds just like ASBO cob. When he was on his own he was a real menace. It's very unnerving having a 520kg wanting to help with poo picking and frisking around like a loon. He also liked to pick up his grooming bag and worry it like a dog or steal your gloves and refuse to let go. He likes plastic bags though as he associates them with treats.

Sounds like your's is lonely and liking your company. Think big and sounds like you're getting to grips with him.

 

[rachyblue]

The key is to be firm and consistent. When tying him up tuck the rope back through the loop, that should stop him untying himself (but make sure he is tied to a break point).
He sounds like he knows all the tricks you need to be firm at all times - and no treats until he rediscovers his manners!

Do you have a more experienced friend who can help?

 

[wotnot]

Well ive been over 4 times now, he still hasnt moved to a yard with manege, so im just grooming and being around him still, no riding. I think he is beginning to come round to me, and we had a lovely session this week. I attempted to plait his mane, first time i tried this and he fell asleep in the sunshine, resting his head on the fence post - cute! He was nice and patient for me. I have come to realise he follows anyone round the field. My husband came to meet him last week and he followed him round too. I am also not going to give him treats anymore.

We did a little bit of walking on the leadrein, stopping starting and back up, which went quite well. I cant wait till he gets moved now so i can try my lungeing skills and eventually get on him for a ride. First thing i am going to work on (ground first) is his ability to stand still for mounting, as he is a bit fidgety and both times i got on, and his owner got on he spooked a bit and walked backwards. (i shall have to ask her if he has had his back and saddle checked recently too). Hence me working on that and sticking to the menage for quite a while before i hack out on my own.