Bargy horse!

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jess2353

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at title really, i have a 4yo who just needs to stop throwing his weight about and lead nicely without coming into my space.
Even when I constantly correct him his always looking for his next opportunity to push his luck.

Sooooooo I'm looking into getting a be nice halter something like monty Roberts uses or rope halter, something with poll action to get his attention but nothing too harsh either.


Recommendations please :)
 
I'd be interested in suggestions too - got a very bargy 4 year old who will go up if we try and restrain her. Any advice gratefully received
 
The Richard Maxwell training halter is v good, also allows you to work towards a regular rope halter :)

ETA is also comes with a DVD which gives you some great tips.
 
When I first got my mare she was very bargy getting back to the field. I was a little scared back then and brought in some backup - my OH - he's 6'1" and a big guy - more importantly really quite fearless. He just had a few big scenes with her, sent her very firmly backwards, not scared to give her a slap with the lead rope and back her up quite a long way. It looked a real sight, but gosh it worked. he walked with her slower and slower the closer she got to the field and didn't let her get away with even a step too fast never mind in front of him. So my analysis is that just a rope halter any a very very firm hand. Gadgets are no substitution :D
 
Swilliam... My old horse used to go up with the pressure aswel. It just took time to teach her the pressure release, they soon come to realise the more they mess about the more pressure the halter applys.

Simbacat...
my new boy is getting Bargy I've only had him a matter of weeks so pretty sure his just testing me atm to see what he can get away with. But gonna keep at it as no way he'll be getting away with it :p
I just not sure what kind of halter to use, I have a rope halter but wander if they are a little too harsh :/ I know the monty Roberts one doesn't apply so much poll pressure.
I just can't decide what one to get :/
 
Because we were sending her back using voice, looking big, swinging the end of the rope, and yes actually slapping with the rope, there was no pressure from the head collar itself, so that's not harsh. I think we have parelli ones as they have a nice leather bit and pretty colours :D.
 
I have a Dually headcollar which is fab as you can lunge or even ride using it, but equally useful is a cheap and cheerful rope halter for pressure and release. I wouldn't be without one for each of my 2 youngsters. Remember a pressure headcollar or halter are only as harsh as the handler - just the same as a snaffle bit imo ;)

This is the type of rope halter I use. Just never tie up with one of these. They are thin enough to sit under the bridle for a youngster, which means you can correct using the halter rather than the bridle too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ZILCO-Kno...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item35c11f5d4c
 
the dually is the monty Roberts one isent it ? been looking at those if so and they seem to have a good effect :)
I've used the rope one you put on the link, not on my new boy though, his generally easy to handle so I think just a week of using something like this might just be enough to make him think twice. his quite bad at tying up aswel, can you leave the dually head to tie up with aslong as its attached to a quite release ?
 
jess2353 said:
the dually is the monty Roberts one isent it ? been looking at those if so and they seem to have a good effect :)
I've used the rope one you put on the link, not on my new boy though, his generally easy to handle so I think just a week of using something like this might just be enough to make him think twice. his quite bad at tying up aswel, can you leave the dually head to tie up with aslong as its attached to a quite release ?
Click to expand...

Yes the Dually is Monty Roberts and really good. You can also use it as a normal headcolar as it has a conventional ring as well as the side one.

I wouldn't tie up on the pressure rings on the Dually. Also a warning the rings are easily caught on hooks etc so please supervise if tying up with one. I had an incident with one over a stable door :(
 
Simbacat said:
When I first got my mare she was very bargy getting back to the field. I was a little scared back then and brought in some backup - my OH - he's 6'1" and a big guy - more importantly really quite fearless. He just had a few big scenes with her, sent her very firmly backwards, not scared to give her a slap with the lead rope and back her up quite a long way. It looked a real sight, but gosh it worked. he walked with her slower and slower the closer she got to the field and didn't let her get away with even a step too fast never mind in front of him. So my analysis is that just a rope halter any a very very firm hand. Gadgets are no substitution :D
Click to expand...

Yep ditto this! 4yo is very bargy/no idea about personal space. we use a rope halter with a long rope attached, whenever he came too close, backed up straight away, or shake the rope, while making yourself look big etc. barely any pressure put on the halter. we back him up a lot, put him back in the position we want him until he stands for 15 secs (ie about 20 years in baby pony time!)

i'm still quite rubbish at this so def keeping an eye on this thread for more tips! my friend usually handles him (i'm just crash test rider!), and she's a lot louder/more confident with him on the ground. lots of growling and walking backwards. shaking the rope works amazingly - he stops instantly.

good luck!
 
I use a Dually having had some instruction / help from an IHRA. i ALWAYS use a long line with my youngster and nearly always wear a hat and gloves - this gives me the extra bit of confidence to do my body language rather than cringe if he gets a bit bargy! Also I try never to march straight to or from the field or stable - either stop, start, back up a few paces and / or go in a different direction for a bit. Good luck!
 
Rope halter sorted my bargy 5 year old. She knew with the headcollar she could win against me, but when she tried to pull backwards with the halter, she soon had a shock ;) and hasn't done it ever since. It's great as it works like a normal headcollar, but when horse messes around/goes against the pressure points (so tries to barge or drag) it then works it's magic ;).
 
Simbacat said:
So my analysis is that just a rope halter any a very very firm hand. Gadgets are no substitution :D
Click to expand...

Disagree. A firm hand is often what some of these horses DON'T need. The bargy one I had (big Welsh D) would get even worse if I even remotely tapped him with a whip or a rope etc. Often some horses I think are more nervous/anxious than naughty which is what mine was. I simply used a rope halter to handle him so my instruction was clear but I just did loads of groundwork, I never gave him an inch but never in a nasty way. So if he even moved my way when I was grooming him or something, I'd push him immediately back over. When I opened the stable door, I'd make him stand, I'd push him backwards 3 steps if he stepped forward when I didnt ask. That sort of thing.
 
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