Control headcollars or any tips please for horse planting feet?

[Blizzard]

Ok one of my horses likes to plant his feet when you are bringing in/turning out if he doesnt want to go, he soon moves if someone gives him a push up the bum or taps him with a crop, but if Im alone like today, well it can be a bit tricky!

I know he just doesnt like the new gravel which is why he is doing it, it is quite rough and its making him a bit footsore, but obviously he does need to come in and go out!

So Im thinking of getting a really long schooling whip so I can be at his side and give him a tap (any suggestions of really long ones?) or maybe a control headcollar as there is no point me tugging as I cant move him!

Will a control headcollar work on a stubborn horse as I always thought they were more for bargy horses or rearers?

He is a real sweety and doesnt do anything wrong, even when he stops he looks at you as if to say, but Im such a good boy!

Ive tried being nice, telling him off, growling at him and giving him a nudge along with the lead rope!

I even tried waiting him out today, 45mins of him standing still!

 

[MagicMelon]

Ive got a fabulous halter thing - its a very thin rope halter, very simple device which simply tightens round the nose and then round the head if the horse pulls on it. I had the same problem with one of mine, although my boy would stop dead or charge off! I put this on and immediately I got his respect. We've had the odd little arguement when he began to try and get wise to it. If he stopped I would just keep facing the front (not looking at him or anything) and simply put pressure on the lead rope (and thus the halter tightened). As soon as he stepped forward the pressure went away. It literally took maybe 3 times doing this and now I can actually lead him in a normal headcollar. If he gets testing, its straight back to the halter again.

I cannot remember what make the halter thing is though.....!

 

[Chills]

MagicMelon - please PM me when you remember what make it is - sounds perfect solution for my boy when he switches his brain off !!!!

 

[hairycob]

Pickle sometimes plants herself when asked to walk through a very muddy gateway (so quite often at the moment!). I find if I make her take a few steps backwards she decides she might as well go forwards.

 

[Theresa_F]

If you can grab an old choke chain, thread it through the rings of the head collar under his jaw and then attach the ends to a head collar - basically an upside down triangle shape.

Good for bolshy boys and a couple of tugs will hopefully encourage him to keep where he should be - cheap and cheerful and I find they really work.

Some in hand training will also help - certainly did with Chancer.

Obviously a long schooling whip works - when in hand training Chancer I used to carry one to gently tap him if he planted, and if he didn't move then he received a sharper tap. Now a click of the tongue is all that is required.

 

[magicsmum]

We had this trouble with my duaghters pony last year, she would not wlak forward wehn coming in from the field. In the end the only thing to get her to move was to push her backwards, she had to walk several hundred feet backwards but after the first couple of days gave in and now walks like an angel.