Barging Pony

grandmaweloveyou

grandmaweloveyou

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2007
Messages
2,004
Location
Sussex
Visit site
Hi - Can anyone give me advice please on my barging pony, this has started recently and he is just too strong for me (but behaves impeccably once I am on him!). I have looped the leadrope over his noseband of his headcollar but he still nearly took me into a ditch this morning - I was not impressed having dragged myself up at am to move him into the nice paddock! He doesnt stand still when I am grooming now either - he used to be soo patient! HELP.
 
i bought a controller headcollar for my mare when she started doin this. even now i still lead her in the controller but have found she will still behave as if i have controller on even if she has normal headcollar on! as for the standin still when bein groomed..............i've not had problem with this but girl at yard did and she just ties a haynet up and that keeps her horse entertained, especially if has few carrots hidden in it or has a little molasses drizzled on it!...
 
I have a full size control headcollar, it was used on my hubbies old tb, he was such a handful. Would send you it but would be way too big.

What i need now is something that will give a shock to encourage my lot to actually walk at a nice pace, instead of it being such a chore to put one foot infront of the other lol
 
brackens is full size!!!..........i dont know maybe try leadin down in bridle??......i couldnt do this as she dont like things in her mouth! or at a push try a chifney for a few days then put headcollar back if starts again put chifney/bridle back on...
 
He's having a laugh!!

Re leading him. Put his bridle on him over your headcollar (Saves you spending more money) try leading off of the headcollar and when he starts being rude you can bring the bridle in to play.

If that doesn't work then you really need some help.

Re moving around whilst being groomed. It could be at this time of year flies irritating him. You could be brushing him too hard. It could be something very daft BUT don't let him take the mickey. You need to regain some kind of control. If you are unsure of how then you really should get someone more experienced to work through it with you. There is nothing more miserable than having a naughty person "in hand".

Best of luck hun
smile.gif
 
I can send you the headcollar if you want it as it way to big for my lot!

If you want you can PM me your address and i can get it sent to you
 
think i missed the boat on the controller headcollar being offered here! thanks everyone. i went down more positive this morning and more relaxed and i did the leadrope over the headcollar bit and he was better this morning and we rode and he was great. i know that one swallow doesnt make a summer but at least im not at the stage of giving up that i was at yesterday. if there is still a spare controller headcollar going spare (for some contribution or at least let me pay the postage)then do shout. hope youre all enjoying hickstead.
 
I might have one if you haven't been offered one? Let me know and I'll have a look...

Right not sure I can explain this well but here goes:

Imagine you're on your horse's left. Hold leadrope close under his chin and stand close. If he pulls try turning his head towards you meaning your elbow digs into him ever so slightly. I used to have to do this with an uber-strong cob I used to loan. Also, if you're just leading in a headcollar don't be afraid to give it a damn good tug and say "OI...listen to me NOW!!!" It probably won't work if you're pulling back against him though, better to pull out to the side to get some bend in his neck. Obviously you don't want to hurt him, just remind him who's in charge. Sometime these cobby little monkeys just take the pee a bit, and you have to be very firm and remind them you are in charge, because at the end of the day they're incredibly strong and your safety is paramount. Don't forget when he is walking along nicely to praise him.

As for when he doesn't stand still tied up, if he moves into your space at all just move him back.

Hope that all makes sense (and I don't sound like an evil horse owner!!)
 
when he barges if you can make him step back, push him hard in the chest not roughly but like you mean business and say NO, BACK!
i do this to my pony if shes dragging me around and it just reminds her not to be so rude. mind she she is only small so if yours is big making him step back might not be that easy!!
 
Hi,

My daughters fairly hefty gelding used to just put his head down to eat when he was being led and would not move until he wanted to.

Not everyone agrees with my methods but this is what I do and it works for me. I use a dog choke chain clipped from one side ring, under his chin (because we wanted his head up) through the opposite side ring onto the lead rope. He put his head down just once, got a reminder that it was not polite at all, and is as good as gold now. As long as the chain is on that is, he is not a daft pony, he knows.

For a bargy pony, and I used to have an arab who got a little too enthusiastic and liked to charge ahead and walk infront of me, I put the chain over his nose (as I didn't want his head going up) and, again, as long as the chain was on, I never had to use it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top