Advice on leading the big bolshy horse please

H

ha903070

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 December 2008
Messages
333
Visit site
Hi all

I'm new to the forum so hello to everyone, I am currently losing the battle with one of my mares.
She is a 17hh heavyweight 5 yr old - she's living out 24 hrs still at the moment although is due to come in overnight in the next week or so - she has in recent weeks, become a nightmare to lead from the ground. She has got into the habit of setting her (huge and very muscular) neck to one side, pushing me away with her shoulder and then running off (I lose her everytime as I cannot hold against her strength). I tried one day last weekend to keep hold and as a result she carried on pulling and kicked me in the back to get me out of the way. (a very large swollen bruise and back was my result, and of course she got away from me and ran round like an idiot for 5 minutes).

I think the idea is that she wants to be with her friends in the field rather than with me - but this seems to be a new thing. She did jump the fence after kicking me and ran round with them.

Then again today I tried to get her to the field to put her out but I cannot hold her, lost her and ended up herding her into the field to avoid any fight (and getting kicked again).

I admit after last week I now have a fear of being kicked and perhaps let go of her more easily today, but I clearly need to get to grips with her or this will quickly turn into a nightmare when I am turning her out every morning in winter.

Any advice/suggestions etc please - my sisters boyfriend can hold her, my sister can just hold her, I can't. Thank you.
 
Agree with Scotsmare helped with mine or otherwise try a chiffney or bridle. Hopefully she will soon realise that she can not get away from you anymore.
 
I have a bolshy little warmblood, he completely ignores a chiffney, has no effect whatsoever. I must say that I swear by the monty roberts control headcollars. Other grotty ned (in my sig) used to refuse to come in from the field but the monty sorted him out.
 
monty roberts 'dually' headcollar is both kind and effective and very well made, its worth the £££.

Also the trick I learned is to keep their head bent in the right direction, its hopeless once they have that bent away as there is no way to compete with their strength. As a result I dont have any probs with my bolshy boy anymore and can just use a normal headcollar.
 
I didn't get on with the Monty Roberts Dually but the Richard Maxwell halter worked wonders with my bolshy big ID/TB, he turned from a thug into a little lamb to handle!
 
have you got a body protector, if so try wearing it when you go to fetch her in, this is safe but will also give you more confidence with the kicking issue.
 
We have halters at work they are fab and you can hold anything with them, and i mean we haa very bolshy 18.2 that wud just lock its neck and bugger off and you had no way of holding it but we got some of these and he has got no chance of getting away from us now.
Its like a leather headcollar, but just a head piece and half a nose band and then u have a chain on the end of a lead rope that attatches underneath the nose band and then if they pull the chain tightens around there nose and puts pressure on them, and if they try to do one you can pull the chain and it tightens sharply.
Trust me they defo work, sorry about the explaination i waffled on a bit .
 
I actually get on well with a chifney. I just have a 'sliphead' off a double bridle attached to it & I put it on with the headcollar & clip my head-collar rope through the headcollar ring as well as the chifney ring.

My event horse is crafty & had learnt how to get away with me just as your mare does, turn head round & then go & all the strength in the world wouldnt hold him altho he is nice enough to do without the departing kick. I find I can hold the lead rein in my left hand & keep my right hand against his neck therefore bending the neck with shoulder away & the head towards me. Even if he tries to whoosh off (imaginery monsters lurking behind!) I can turn him round me. As soon as he realises its not that easy he doesnt bother with trying to bugger off.

I find chifney's cheap, easy & effective.
 
Get some form of control halter, be it a dually or stallion nose chain. I would be tempted to bring a whip when leading her in from the field. My mare used to be very dominant and would come in sideways, go out sideways etc. It sounds like you need to go back to basics with groundwork and get some respect back. She is too big to be farting about with you and you have already been injured!
Firstly in the school try a number of exercises, in the controller headcollar. Leading her and making her stop when you stop trotting her then stopping, walking then stopping, get her to respect your space. If she doesn't stop when you stop, move her backwards. If she invades your space move her backwards. Make eyecontact and make youself bigger than her, stamp you feet and make noise. When she backs off, praise her and when she does it right (stopping when you stop etc) praise her, maybe with food if she is motivated by tasty treats?
Hopefully that will get a bit more respect on the ground. Now when leading her, have her on the controller headcoller and a lunge line. When you feel her starting to try and go back to the field, woosh the whip behind her, or even just tickle her side, keep her head facing you, once they have turned it is near on impossible to keep hold! If you don't feel confident enough to bring a whip have you tried treats? Let her know you have them, a nice rustley packet or polos or herbie treats, and make her focus on that. When you get to the stable or wherever you tie her up, give her a treat. Don't give her a treat before that though because I have known horses to get the treat and then pull away - cheeky beggers!
grin.gif

I hope this makes sense and helps you
smile.gif

Izzi
grin.gif
 
I swear by my Stephens Controller headcollar. Expensive yes! (I paid £130 on eBay for my brand new one, unless you can get one second hand) - But superb. I broke my ankle in April, still limping and am now ill and weak as well. But with the Stephens I can control the most bolshy and strong animals - and with the minimum of fuss. And because it does not use the horse's mouth, is excellent for youngsters too. I've used a Chiffney on some of the older horses at times, but TBH dont find it brilliant for catching and bringing in. It's a well behaved horse which stands to have the thing fitted when loose in it's field and prone to being a pratt which is why you're trying to fit the darned thing in the first place!
grin.gif


I've tried both the nose chain and a Dually on my filly and she simply pushes through them and barges off regardless. Even my 18 stone rugby-playing husband cannot hold her in a Dually when leading in from the paddock (as he found out, whilst minding her whilst I was in my cast!). By the time I got back on my feet (or foot!) 3 months later she'd become a totall horror to lead and was being left out full time as no one (not even YO) would handle her.

I've heard a lot of good about the Dually, but mine totally ignores its pressure and any discomfort. With the Stephen's, just one tweek on the rein that first time, and she behaved. Full stop. It's certainly nipped a potential problem in the bud for this particular horse. I hate to think what a monster she would have become, had I not invested in the Stephens when I did. Right after getting back on my feet I was able to bring my filly in wearing the Stephens and without risking life and limb.

I'd definitely try the other avenues suggested, but be reassured that there is something totally effective should you need to resort to it. Sounds like your mare is a pretty determined lady - and you could get hurt unless you get her under control. Best of luck finding something that works for you
smile.gif
 
As Damnation says, whatever type of control halter you decide on, hold her on a lunge line. Then if she does take off you've got longer to get back in control than with a normal short lead rope. Brace yourself and a sharp tug on the lunge line, when attached to a control halter, should make her think twice. But she does need to be taught to respect the control halter first by back/forward lessons in the school.

You do need to get on top of this before it escalates.
 
Trial and error I think, but I love my Dually, my very strong pony (!) had a habit of pulling away from me. A chinfney was no good either, so I invested in the MR Dually, and he is like a lamb to lead, never ever pulls now!
I do exercises all the time with it, when leading from the filed, change directions and stop; back him up if he's in your space, then carry on. I load with it too.
good luck!
 
I'd say go with a chifney and also try a little bribery and corruption, take a bucket of feed/polos/a treat... Take her mind off disappearing into the distance!!
 
Theresa_F on here taught me about using a choke chain on a headcollar - one sharp tug and they learn. She had a very big warmblood mare and T_F is teeny so she couldnt let that sort of behaviour carry on!

Horses (no matter what size) are stronger and heavier than us - we have no chance if they dont respect the handler.
 
I would also suggest carrying a schooling whip, held lightly across the horses chest, 'drummed' a little to keep her attention, if she starts to barge hold the stick across and infront of her nose, it works with some. The good old elbos in the shoulder is quite effective, when used with a good old fasjioned rope halter, as used on the heavies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top