J&S
Well-Known Member
I think you were going to rough him off? Is he slightly feeling the cold now? I am not suggesting you abandon the plan, just thinking of a reason for behaviour change.
Advice - getting very excited coming in from field
- Thread starter Birker2020
- Start date
paddy555
Well-Known Member
no way would I take feed out to the field. If you start doing that he will start expecting it. However hungry or cold they are, and there are plenty of starving horses in the world but probably not HHO ones, I would expect a horse to have the manners to back off the field gate, let me in to put the halter on and then to move quietly round the gate whilst I closed it and to be beside or behind me as we walk to it's stable. Actually I expect them to do that with just a rope around their neck unless they were on a public road.
To my mind no other behaviour is acceptable. It is too dangerous and I could get hurt then they really would starve.
I think the YO is correct. He is a big horse and needs to remember his manners.
I would correct by waiting till the week end when you have more time, training him as Red suggests several times during the day so that he learns his job is simply to stand quietly 2 yards away from you and move one step at a time when he is asked. Then bring him in from the field and accept it will probably take a while if he can't be bothered to respect you.
I'm sure I may be the only one but pandering to a horse who cannot be arsed to respect you enough to walk quietly into his stable without a bucket of feed in the field is crazy to me.
To my mind no other behaviour is acceptable. It is too dangerous and I could get hurt then they really would starve.
I think the YO is correct. He is a big horse and needs to remember his manners.
I would correct by waiting till the week end when you have more time, training him as Red suggests several times during the day so that he learns his job is simply to stand quietly 2 yards away from you and move one step at a time when he is asked. Then bring him in from the field and accept it will probably take a while if he can't be bothered to respect you.
I'm sure I may be the only one but pandering to a horse who cannot be arsed to respect you enough to walk quietly into his stable without a bucket of feed in the field is crazy to me.
Lady Jane
Well-Known Member
Chifney/bridle/rope round nose/control head collar - whatever you have that works best for you and your horse. I used all of those, I find they get clever with rope around the nose and manage to flick it off somehow. Chifney is my go to
Michen
Well-Known Member
Unpc.... lol. I regularly utilise an actual chain over Boggle' nose if I get the idea he might be rude. Just putting it on is 99% of the time enough to keep him in check.
And I wouldn't hesitate to give a sharp pull on it if I needed either.
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't feed in the field - just setting yourself up for a routine change permanently. He's fed adequately so no need to change what you are doing. Only thing I might do (if you think he could handle it physically) is knock the evening feed on the head for a week or so until you get a handle on the behaviour.
Do you put him out in the morning or is it yard staff? if staff I'd make sure they aren't letting him graze on the way out. Like children the rules need to be the same across the board.
I'd take your bridle or chain headcollar which ever you feel has most affect. And a crop with a nice thick solid handle.
Keep him against the fence so he can't spin his bum out and use the crop handle and right rein to keep his head away from you. Everytime he plays up, stop, get in front of him and push him back a few steps. When he's quiet then let him walk forward. If he tries to push past the crop - give him a clonk on the nose (with the handle). He'll get the idea pretty quickly. Think of the crop as an extension of your arm, like you would a showing cane if you were showing in hand. It might take some time and patience, but you will get there.
Make sure you have your hat and gloves on.
Do you put him out in the morning or is it yard staff? if staff I'd make sure they aren't letting him graze on the way out. Like children the rules need to be the same across the board.
I'd take your bridle or chain headcollar which ever you feel has most affect. And a crop with a nice thick solid handle.
Keep him against the fence so he can't spin his bum out and use the crop handle and right rein to keep his head away from you. Everytime he plays up, stop, get in front of him and push him back a few steps. When he's quiet then let him walk forward. If he tries to push past the crop - give him a clonk on the nose (with the handle). He'll get the idea pretty quickly. Think of the crop as an extension of your arm, like you would a showing cane if you were showing in hand. It might take some time and patience, but you will get there.
Make sure you have your hat and gloves on.
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
No not roughing off until next year now.
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
Update: put the controller head collar on him last night and also got went to get him in at 4pm when I got to the yard.
He went to go up in the air as we went through the gate so I yanked on the rope. He tried to shoot forwards but the chain definitely helped in controlling him. I was strict with him and he didn't escalate earlier, i think he was a bit shocked to be honest!
I also put him on the walker for 30 mins so he didn't get fed immediately to take away the expectation that coming in is reward time.
I'll see how he gets on tonight.
Tomorrow I'm turning him out with a head torch in the morning but I'm certain he will behave, its just the coming in he objects too.
Going to see if I can maintain good behaviour and do this everyday.
Thanks for the tips.
He went to go up in the air as we went through the gate so I yanked on the rope. He tried to shoot forwards but the chain definitely helped in controlling him. I was strict with him and he didn't escalate earlier, i think he was a bit shocked to be honest!
I also put him on the walker for 30 mins so he didn't get fed immediately to take away the expectation that coming in is reward time.
I'll see how he gets on tonight.
Tomorrow I'm turning him out with a head torch in the morning but I'm certain he will behave, its just the coming in he objects too.
Going to see if I can maintain good behaviour and do this everyday.
Thanks for the tips.
NinjaPony
Well-Known Member
I put my normally angelic Connemara in a rope halter because a combination of a new friend, new routine (out overnight) and retirement had resulted in an excess of silly behaviour walking back to his stable. Nothing dangerous but not acceptable either. Rope halter solved the problem very quickly, and he soon realised that , so just the act of having it on was enough for him to walk meekly in. After a few weeks, I was able to go back to a head collar.
My Welsh is silly coming in at the moment because of the dark cold weather, but in fairness to him, he snorts and jogs by my side on a loose rope so I’m just ignoring him and carrying on.
My Welsh is silly coming in at the moment because of the dark cold weather, but in fairness to him, he snorts and jogs by my side on a loose rope so I’m just ignoring him and carrying on.
Winters100
Well-Known Member
To be honest that was what my YO said as well, he certainly knows better, which is why I'm glad that I have been growling and saying NO in a very strict voice.
I just was a bit nervous advertising that fact, because I thought I might get abuse for it!
It sounds like you are doing the right thing. I agree with others that he is probably hungry, but equally he need a reminder that, hungry or not, this behaviour is not acceptable. I suspect having the bridle on will be enough to remind him of his manners. Good luck.
ecb89
Well-Known Member
My ID can be a bit of a thug if bought in after his best mate, even if other horses are still in the field. I will wrap the lead rope round his nose, he will still be a bit prancey but won’t actually go anywhere
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
This tbh! I was thinking it but probably wouldn’t have written it ?
Mine would be a prat if he got away with it. He had a few good bollockings at first and now walks in quietly behind my other 3. I have to bring 4 together and couldn’t cope with one messing round.
There’s also a lot to be said for a chifney in these situations.