much-jittering
Well-Known Member
Suggestions much welcome, though you will have to do a bit of reading as am doing a lot of them already lol and it's about moving it forward from here. Hence picking the collective HHO brains.
Recently acquired a rising 5 yo at work. First time he got turned out having been in for a few days for jabs etc that had previously been neglected he got away from my YM, who can hold anything. Assumed it was first day turnout excitement, I had some trouble with him next time round but he didn't get away - and then he was fine for weeks.
Then one week was bringing him in, after he'd moved into the herd and it becomes quite a long walk to the yard, he did what he'd done to YM the first time - just marches off dead straight away from you, then trots/canters and you run out of lead rope and have to let go. Won't turn when you pull etc. It's ludicrously embarassing as we're all used to handling nutters, youngstock, stallions etc and never letting go, and this horse it's literally like running away in slow motion *blush* But he gets away!
After that I started bringing him in in a rope halter (not an NH style pressure halter, an old school rope halter like you would show an M&M in) - first time I did it he tried to do his barge off twice, rope halters action meant I could spin him round back to me and he's then been very good for a couple of weeks. Tried it on again once in the rope halter, and again spun him and he then walked in perfectly.
He goes back out to the field in a bridle, most of ours do fairly often as just whip their saddles off and then chuck them out. He doesn't pull on the way back to the field, if anything he's a plod that needs chivvying on.
Yesterday however he came in and ended up not being ridden following a change of plan. So just untied him (obviously he has a normal headcollar put on to tie up) and led him out with another horse. Walked straight towards an open gate into a grassy field and he did his thing and trotted off for a graze. Let me catch him straight away, tried to spin away from me and go back so stuck rope round his nose and took him back to his own paddock fine. Obviously that was just temptation of a field of grass with the gate open - BUT I'd been walking horses past it all morning without giving it a thought.
Problem is ultimately his job in life (being used for tuition), he one day needs to be handlable by everybody, including the youngsters who'd been leading other horses past this open gate all morning! If he's doing that job correctly, they should be able to lead him in a normal headcollar rather than inexperienced hands using 'specialist' equipment, but currently he has no respect for that and knows that he can get away in one (he's a very quick learner). All the being able to control him in the rope halter or a bridle doesn't really solve that problem. I am reulctant to use a head collar with a long line because I genuinely think he'd keep barging off in his dead straight line till you'd run out and then you'd have a flying line too! I've had to let go of a horse that's being an idiot once the past few years handling plenty, and I've lost him twice in a month *doh*
He's out 24/7 and doesn't come in daily, when he does come in it's for work and not feed or anything - but if he doesn't want to work why does he run towards the yard and plod away from it?!
Perfect under saddle!
He is our bargain basement buy of the century, so absolutely expect there to be some things to iron out - but not sure what to do next! There are gaps in his education, and clearly also some bad experiences, but this seems illogical.
help!
Recently acquired a rising 5 yo at work. First time he got turned out having been in for a few days for jabs etc that had previously been neglected he got away from my YM, who can hold anything. Assumed it was first day turnout excitement, I had some trouble with him next time round but he didn't get away - and then he was fine for weeks.
Then one week was bringing him in, after he'd moved into the herd and it becomes quite a long walk to the yard, he did what he'd done to YM the first time - just marches off dead straight away from you, then trots/canters and you run out of lead rope and have to let go. Won't turn when you pull etc. It's ludicrously embarassing as we're all used to handling nutters, youngstock, stallions etc and never letting go, and this horse it's literally like running away in slow motion *blush* But he gets away!
After that I started bringing him in in a rope halter (not an NH style pressure halter, an old school rope halter like you would show an M&M in) - first time I did it he tried to do his barge off twice, rope halters action meant I could spin him round back to me and he's then been very good for a couple of weeks. Tried it on again once in the rope halter, and again spun him and he then walked in perfectly.
He goes back out to the field in a bridle, most of ours do fairly often as just whip their saddles off and then chuck them out. He doesn't pull on the way back to the field, if anything he's a plod that needs chivvying on.
Yesterday however he came in and ended up not being ridden following a change of plan. So just untied him (obviously he has a normal headcollar put on to tie up) and led him out with another horse. Walked straight towards an open gate into a grassy field and he did his thing and trotted off for a graze. Let me catch him straight away, tried to spin away from me and go back so stuck rope round his nose and took him back to his own paddock fine. Obviously that was just temptation of a field of grass with the gate open - BUT I'd been walking horses past it all morning without giving it a thought.
Problem is ultimately his job in life (being used for tuition), he one day needs to be handlable by everybody, including the youngsters who'd been leading other horses past this open gate all morning! If he's doing that job correctly, they should be able to lead him in a normal headcollar rather than inexperienced hands using 'specialist' equipment, but currently he has no respect for that and knows that he can get away in one (he's a very quick learner). All the being able to control him in the rope halter or a bridle doesn't really solve that problem. I am reulctant to use a head collar with a long line because I genuinely think he'd keep barging off in his dead straight line till you'd run out and then you'd have a flying line too! I've had to let go of a horse that's being an idiot once the past few years handling plenty, and I've lost him twice in a month *doh*
He's out 24/7 and doesn't come in daily, when he does come in it's for work and not feed or anything - but if he doesn't want to work why does he run towards the yard and plod away from it?!
Perfect under saddle!
He is our bargain basement buy of the century, so absolutely expect there to be some things to iron out - but not sure what to do next! There are gaps in his education, and clearly also some bad experiences, but this seems illogical.
help!
