Barging youngster

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Sidney1

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I am hoping somone can give me some advice about my bargy 3 year old cob - specifically how best to discipline him as he has taken up trampling me on a hobby-level basis!

He is not that big - a cobby 13.2, but he's totally obsessed with food, and if he thinks there is any food around he will barge through me to get to it, resulting in some very big bruises!

I know I need to stop him from doing this, and am trying leading him with his rope across his nose, which is helping, but what is confusing me is the different advice I've been given about disciplining him when he is bargy.

I have had horses all my life, but this is the first unbacked horse I have had, so I have had a professional (recommended by quite few different people) come and help every couple of weeks. They are very effective at getting him to do what they want, but they tell me to carry a stick at all times and when he is naughty to hit him on the nose with the end of it. To me, this seems a sure fire way to end up with a head shy horse - I know I have to be firm with him, but I really don't feel comfortable hitting him around the face every time he misbehaves. Am I being pathetic, or is there another way?

Other than bargyness, he is lovely, and I don't want to set up negative habit patterns ith him, spoiling an intelligent and good natured pony through bad handling. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
 
he needs to learn manners and respect, he needs to learn that your his leader and you are the dominent 1. not sure how to do this though but i bet others will.
 
What JM07 said. 1 if barging when you are leading him, lead him in a bridle (If he is bitted) or put him on a pressure halter. 2 if he is doing it in the stable, give him a good smack across the shoulders and mean it! You will only need to do it once. Eventually just wooshing the whip or carrying it into the stable will make him back up until all you need to do is say the word "back". Both of these are what I did with my very dominant TB mare.
Hope this helps!
Izzi x
 
I am no expert, but when i was left in charge of a friends very ill mannered 13.2 pony for a week while she went on holiday, i put the record straight that i was in charge and she would bloody well do as she was told.

I have witnessed her attitude quietly for some time, and shook my head. There is no need for it she is 7 years old.

Bringing in she rushed.
I stopped, turned her round, and started again. She rushed, i turned her round and started again...... it didn't take her long before she realised this was a pointless exercise.

In stable, when you went to take her headcollar off, she would throw her head around as you went to remove it.
Undo buckle. If head moved, wait. Hold still. Try again.
Again, only took a few days for her to understand.

Feed. OMG, spinning in circles, threatening to kick if you dont "GIVE ME MY TEA".
Spin all you like witch. I will stand here all night if i have to.
As soon as she stood back a step and was still. She got her tea.
Again.... every night was a little easier.
By the end of the week she was (almost) a darling.

When her mum got home i said "***** (names have been changed to protect the innocent, lol) has something to show you.
I fetched her in, like a lamb to the slaughter. She stood like a dream while i removed her headcollar. And then did one very slow spin, stepped back and wiated for her tea.
Her owner said "How have you managed that???? beaten her????"

You are boss. What you say goes. And above all else be consistant.
 
Pressure halters are great. They were the ONLY thing that my last boy had any respect for. He was 18hh ish and knew he was powerful. If he said "we're going over there" he would stick his head up, and trot off. You had 2 choices follow or let go. Nobody wanted to do him for me as he was such a swine.
When he ended up at hospital at Liverpool. There was a sign on his door that said "CAUTION--BARGES" He dragged a vetinary nurse all over because he saw some grass!!

I triained him in the art of "you will walk nicely" such bliss..... no more being carted round
smirk.gif


Hope you get the little sod sorted
 

My mare has only once tried to barge her way out of the stable... She got a whack on the shoulder with the rope, told to stand & then have headcollar put on.

Lead in a bridle, discipline him, a smack with the rope on the shoulder & a sharp "NO!" will get through.

He needs to learn sooner rather than later because the longer it goes on the more ingrained it will become.
 
Welcome to the forum. Your youngster sounds like a typical cob - intelligent, strong and he knows he can use his strength against you. I would get a pressure halter and learn how to use it properly (Richard Maxwell does one with a DVD). Lots of people use them incorrectly, but the idea is that when the horse is with you, there is no pressure but if he barges off, the pressure halter comes into effect so basically he puts himself under pressure not you. This is why they work so well with difficult loaders. Whatever you do, you must be absolutely consistent so your cob learns what behaviour is and isn't acceptable. What else are you doing with him - at 3 he is probably bored and ready to learn.
 
Thanks everyone - definitely buying a pressure halter then!!

In reply to Jaylen - that's my interpretation too - he's pretty bright and sees my other horse (16hh 14 yr old TB X gelding) going out and having fun, and meanwhile he's bored out of his brain!

I'm lunging him off the headcollar - which he's well behaved about, though he starts to get a bit fed up after a while (who can blame him!), but haven't had him all that long, so am still getting him used to having a bit in his mouth. Was then planning on starting him long reining, and maybe leading him out on foot on short hacks with my other one (roping mum in to ride!) but obviously need to get him bridle broken and sort out the barging first!!!

Any other suggestions?
 
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