Advice on leading a difficult Thoroughbred,

[amybyersx]

Some of you may have already read my previous question 'Caring for a difficult thoroughbred in winter'

Well this is about the same horse. If you're not familair, my 17h thoroughbred is very difficult to handle. He is big, bolshy and does have strops and rears. He is scared of the dark and is very spooky, which makes leading him around in winter difficult,
I'm looking for some advice on how to deal with him and ways to handle him better, i've tried dually headcollars, longer ropes, chiffney bits to stop the rearing, simply walking with carrots so i just need advice on the best way to handle him. Thanks.

 

[be positive]

I have just read your other thread and see that you are moving to a better yard where the YO will bring in, as a YO who has had similar horses to deal with and is on the yard most of the time I would be bringing him in before he gets stressed and usually find that solves any leading issues, I had one that on wet days would go out run around then demand to come back in so in he came, on nice days he stayed out longer, as long as he came in before he got too het up he was fine, another was not so bad but would sometimes lose the plot so again he came in before it escalated, yes it is pandering to them but for their safety it makes sense and in time they learn they will not be left for hours getting more and more upset.
If the new YO is happy to bring him in whenever he starts to look like he needs to then the leading will probably be easy, you need to discuss with her as to what she wants to do, if she is experienced she will use common sense and do whatever is required to remain in control, I tend to just wrap the rope around their nose and be very firm, my yard is secure so if they are really difficult I will let them go knowing they cannot get anywhere, if that happened or they were acting up too much I would normally take them in the school for a few minutes groundwork to reinstall a few manners which I know my liveries will be more than happy for me to do, sometimes they behave better for a person they don't know.

 

[monkeymad]

Glad you have found a yard where you can get some help. I agree with be positive, that getting him in before he gets stressed would be the key. If he came in at lunchtime, he would get the morning out and hopefully not be overly stressed/dangerous. If you turn him out in a headcollar, perhaps the YO would be able to bring him in with a stallion chain (over nose if necessary). I used to have some very bolshy warmbloods (they had just been imported and had never had turnout prior to coming to the UK) to turn out and bring in, and I found a chiffney the safest until they became used to their new lifestyle. Best of luck at the new yard.