Advice needed for groundwork exercises for strong to lead horse

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billylula

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Hello and thanks in advance. I have an 18 year old overheight (15.1) New Forest. He's a lovely pony and he's been a great pony club/competition pony for my kids over the years. Kids have now left home and I was hoping to ride him myself, but unfortunately he's had two bouts of lameness over the last 6 months - hock arthritis which is too advanced to be medicated and requires bute, which we were getting to grips with, then he managed to badly overreach in the field (the bute I think was making him feel very well!). So he's been on box rest for 7 weeks (vets advice). Obviously box rest is the worst thing for his hock arthritis, so I thought I'd start working him in hand. Due to the mud, vet and farrier said road work would be best. But - he's absolutely nuts on the lead rope. He's strong, rude, no manners, walks in front and the most annoying thing is he goes sideways across me which means I stop. I can lead him, but its a nightmare.

So my question is - how can I begin to break this habit? I have the time to start to work properly with him teaching him to walk nicely but I'm a bit worried that he's too old to learn. He's very well mannered on the ground other than this, stands nicely for the farrier, is polite in his stable.

I have nowhere to lunge atm as fields are too wet and also not sure that is something I should be doing with his arthritis quite yet.

Vet doesn't want him turned out in a large paddock in case overreach injury opens.

Where should I start??
 
Unpopular opinion alert - Honestly considering his movement is limited and you can't risk chasing him out of your space (and I find with New Forests and other determined natives you do have to be strong in setting your boundaries) and the situation where he is on box rest and may not be in a learning state of mind, I would be putting him in a bridle/chifney even and just making it as safe as you can for the time being. Wanting to do groundwork is absolutely right, but I think here you'd be setting yourself up for failure/possible reinjury.
 
Thanks. I'm definitely going to try a bridle, not sure why I didn't think if that. I hate chifneys so that will be a last resort but I'll keep it in mind.
 
billylula said:
Thanks. I'm definitely going to try a bridle, not sure why I didn't think if that. I hate chifneys so that will be a last resort but I'll keep it in mind.
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I completely agree re: Chifneys, but if its that or his hocks seizing up or hurting you, I'd choose the lesser of the two evils. Good luck!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I was just going to say, if you are taking him on the road, you definitely need a bridle on him for safety. You might find that he doesn't respond the same inhand to his usual bit. It could be worth trying a straight/mullen-mouthed bit, rather than a jointed
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Absolutely, and since you already know he’s an ignorant pig in hand - might be insurance liability query if there’s a third party incident and you knowingly had insufficient control.
Straight bar bit, rope /chain through to the opposite side, you need some leverage if he’s likely to be piggy, and certainly in event of emergencies. (Would he drive forward on long reins, so you can keep him straight with two? If unsure, keep charge by leading at the front)
billylula said:
Yes I was thinking of this. Hat, gloves, whip and bridle!
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and fluorescent! Think how fit you’ll get, though….
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I was just going to say, if you are taking him on the road, you definitely need a bridle on him for safety. You might find that he doesn't respond the same inhand to his usual bit. It could be worth trying a straight/mullen-mouthed bit, rather than a jointed
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I was going to suggest a stallion bit and schooling whip - not to hit/hurt the horse - but no learning can take place if both horse and handler aren't safe
 
Lemeiux chain headcollar?

Where do you have to lead him to? If any distance a roller and side reins can help stop him using his head and neck as a lever against you. Not recommended long term, but needs must.
 
Back that horse up in a headcollar! Ground work exercises 5 minutes a few times a week can make a difference. Its humbling and how they interact in field, dominant horse will move others away from their space. Goes through all areas, ie going into stable, make them back out of your space. There's this book called 101 horsemanship exercises fantastic book!
 
He’s absolutely not too old to learn. In the short term, I think a bridle is an absolute must and I agree with most of the above. However, longer-term you need to sort this behaviour.

My recommendations for post-recovery work:

Train a stand cue that doesn’t involve physical pressure, so that he has nothing to pull against (using +R if possible with a rubbish “treat” like grass nuts or chop).

But don’t keep him standing for too long, either back up or move off within 2 seconds if on the roads. This is just in the initial stages, over time, they’ll get the idea.

If he feels as though he’s about to pull, ask him to do a small circle.

I’d recommend asking him to back up every time he takes an unwarranted step forwards when stood still, and ask him to stand and back up if he’s thinking about racing ahead (using the shiny new stand cue).

If you must pull, use short, sharp tugs as this prevents neck setting and tank mode (probably applicable currently).

It worked for my tanky cob (Erin), who was a serious pain in the behind to lead out on roads initially. She’s 14 by the way, and has now learned to be sensible, and she’s generally pretty well behaved leading out now.
 
Check out Steve Youngs' videos. You might have to go back to basics. The first groundwork exercises he does with any horse is to establish the 'your space/my space' boundaries and the leading rules. He's very good, worth a watch.
 
I'd take a different tact.

Can you turn him out in a large pen with overreach boots on?

I have had horses who have usually been saintly to handle become akin to flying a kite when they have been on box rest. I don't blame them honestly!
 
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