Any tips on leading strong horse?

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welshied

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I have had my horse for 5 years now picture this he is 15hh strong coloured coblet with a chest about 3ft wide lol I got him from a dealer when he was and she got him from travellers and he has always had an issue with being strong, bargy and bolchy.

He baisically when leading mainly during winter when turning out in a morning after he tanks off i think it is because he gets frustrated being stabled all night (i can't find anywhere where he can be turned out 24/7)

The problem he has is when he runs off he just turns his shoulder and goes and you get no warning whatsoever and have no chance of stopping him i have had bug men try and he just tows them about and usually if you are still on the end of the rope he will run you into the nearest object.

He did get sent off and rebroken into headcollar etc and he improved by about 85% as he used to be a nightmare but after being stabled for about 3 months during winter he start running off near enough every day.

It also means that he can't be lunged or long reined etc

I have tried everything dually halter, pressure halter etc etc

Anyone got any tips?
 
I got an eskadron chain headcollar for mine and it works a treat I have to say - wish they'd made them years ago!

Alternatively you can buy a 'stallion' chain that you can just use with your ordinary headcollar. They work in a similar way to a dog 'choke' chain except the pressure is on the nose and it's safer than just wrapping the leadrope round the nose as this can slip down if you're not careful and you can damage the lower, softer part of the nose.
 
I used a halter for mine who was very bargy when being turned out in the mornings and would slip the rope through his mouth and thread it through his headcollar he walked like a angel in that. Worth a go if you havent already tried is alot quicker in mornings than having to put bridle on just to turn out.
 
chiffney - works better than a bridle imo.

or rope around nose - very effective on the right horse! to stop it from slipping down put rope through nose bit of headcollar once.
 
Chifney!!! only comes in to use if needed when tries to pee off. Worked for mine for leading and loading, now no longer need it!
 
Maybe you need to be a lot firmer when using the chain? My horse has been a sod for the 12 or 13 years I have had him but he got worse at college as he soon worked out people coulnd't hold him. They resorted to two stallion chains and it took two people to bring him in and out of the field.

I think you have to be on the ball constantly and know what signs to watch for before he's going to 'go'! Mine just gets a look about him and a stern word and tug on the chain prevents him going. Plus, always keep by/infront on their shoulder so they can't use that power. Once you are behind the shoulder and they get their head down, even with chains etc they can still b*gger off!

If all else fails you may have to resort to a bridle but that is a pain!
 
This may sound like pain in the bum messing around with all this tackle but he's got to learn that he can no longer do it.

Stick a bridle on, stick a roller on, thead a long lunge/side rein through the bit and then clip the end of it to one of the rings down the side of the roller, so it comes from the roller, then through the bit, this acts as a hand break, then lead with your lead rope lead as normal, either by the head coller, as soon has the little buggar tanks, leaving you no option but to let go or get dragged, pull on the lunge line! that will stop him in his tracks! or at least give you back the control.
 
I have tried him in a bridle which did work for a while but he just seems to find away around it and it just ends up pulling his mouth to pieces
 
Ground work exercises. You're never going to outpull the monkey especially if he has learnt to be adept at shouldering you into things.

You say he improved 85% when re-broken to halter etc. Thats because they would have done lots of groundwork exercises with him. If you do them too you can achieve a 99% improvement. You need to keep them up every week though. Its very tempting when you haven't got a problem to just not bother anymore so build them in as part of your weekly exercise regime. I've found these sorts of horses need regular reminding about respecting spaces.

Also my cobbie mare used to get bargy when she had too much energy. It never manifested itself in ridden behaviours, but definately in unwanted in hand behaviours. You might want to think about your exercise/feed regime too as you say it gets worse in winter when he's stabled.

smile.gif
 
I had a cob to look after who did this, got a friend to show me some groundwork exercises and problem solved. Not into natural stuff usually but this taught him the respect needed for me to handle him safely. He had the tendancy to bolt whilst ridden if he got scared but once he trusted me on the ground he was fine ridden.
 
I would try the chiffney and ensure he gets the feel of it if he tries any funny business! They are just too big to be throwing their weight around. It isnt cruel as unless he's evasive it doesnt do anything
 
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