scruffyponies
Well-Known Member
Normally quiet pony, but in winter he thinks he can graze as soon as untied, and resents rein being held to mount.
I have managed to date by allowing him to put his head down and eat as I get on (i.e. cheating), but if I don't he's downright dangerous; Rears, kicks out, spins. Really not funny at all. If someone tries to hold his head it's 10x worse. He really fights it.
Enough is enough, as he's already pulled my shoulder and I'm not quite nimble enough to mount a rearing horse, even if I had the patience, so something must be done.
He'll stand fine if someone is in front of him with a carrot or similar - even a hay net will do. My plan is to use this distraction to avoid the rearing and get him used to having a treat fed from on board as soon as I'm up, but right now I think his behaviour is at least partly petulence because he knows I have the treats, and he wants them NOW!
This can't be a fight, because he'll win. Can anyone improve on my crap plan?
I have managed to date by allowing him to put his head down and eat as I get on (i.e. cheating), but if I don't he's downright dangerous; Rears, kicks out, spins. Really not funny at all. If someone tries to hold his head it's 10x worse. He really fights it.
Enough is enough, as he's already pulled my shoulder and I'm not quite nimble enough to mount a rearing horse, even if I had the patience, so something must be done.
He'll stand fine if someone is in front of him with a carrot or similar - even a hay net will do. My plan is to use this distraction to avoid the rearing and get him used to having a treat fed from on board as soon as I'm up, but right now I think his behaviour is at least partly petulence because he knows I have the treats, and he wants them NOW!
This can't be a fight, because he'll win. Can anyone improve on my crap plan?