Any tips on how to start off on a good note?

[SNORKEY]

Hi, im bringing my new pony home at the weekend, he's nearly two years old and very sweet and friendly.
Its been 8 years since I last got a new horse and my boy is now nearly 10, and Ive realised that I wasn't strict enough with him and he can be a bit of a handful, and he doesn't like standing to be groomed etc.

I want to make sure im strict, ie. not letting him walk all over me, but kind so we get a strong bond.

Any tips on what to do with a baby when you first move them to a new yard?

 

[ThePony]

You will get a good bond by being a clear leader. Set boundries so you can calmly and consistenly keep to them. Ie, if you ask him to back out of your space, then ensure he does. If he steps into your space again then repeat ad infinitum!! Don't ask for something and then just give up because you aren't getting it. He needs to obey a word from you. If he doesn't like something that is a reasnoble request from you then it is tough, he can learn to like it! That doesn't mean you aren't being kind or not developing a bond, it just means you aren't his doormat!

 

[I See Clover]

My mum bought a youngster around September time last year. He's about 19/20 moths old. Until recently we were on DIY livery and I was looking after him during the week as my mum works long hours. I have never had youngster before so completely novice in this respect. He started to get a bit bolshy and cheeky - I think I had been a bit soft with him.

Someone recommended a book - Train Your Young Horse With Richard Maxwell: An Effective Education From Foal to Fully Grown by Richard Maxwell. I am reading through it at the moment and finding the techniques actually work on him. I think I got it off Amazon for a tenner, so might be worth while reading!

 

[moorman]

36 years ago I was lucky enough to watch an old Cornish man perform what is now called join-up with a chestnut mare that we could not get anywhere near.
It so impressed me I went with him for a while to find out what he was doing.
Unlike Monty Roberts he didn’t know how he was achieving his results so I just had to learn by example, and it has held me in good stead from that day on.
So, to your request as to what to do with a new horse.
When teaching or demonstrating my 3 simple rules are
1) It is far better to reward an animal for doing the right thing than it is to tell them off for doing something wrong, and I do not mean giving any tip bits! I mean a stroke on the forehead is plenty to tell them they have done right.
2) set the smallest of targets and meet them… then stop, I see far too many owners believing that because they have achieved something they must go on and achieve more.
3) Before you start make sure you know what you are going to do. If you don’t know, how the hell will the horse!!