Difficulties leading to the field to turn ou

[Cryptonomicon]

Hi everyone,

We have recently bought a 15 yr old mare who is a school mistress type as our first horse. Everything is going well except she can be very strong when leading to turn out - wanting to eat grass, being strong, jogging etc. she’s usually well mannered on the ground, fine in the stable, tacking up, leading generally - it’s just when turning out (it’s a 5 minute walk from the hard to her field where her friends are usually waiting for her).

Does anyone have any tips on how we can improve this?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Lead her in a bridle and lunge line

 

[Clodagh]

Is she stabled with friends?
Give her a small token feed before turnout if she might be hungry.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would lead her in a bridle or a rope halter. I wouldn't use a lungeline, you don't want her to get too far away from you. I would however carry a schooling whip horizontally in front of her where she can see it, it will act as a physical barrier and you can tap her chest with it if necessary.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Two techniques I’ve used are the carrot, a literal carrot, let them have a nibble of the end then make them wait for the rest, they get it at the gate if they behave, worked on a sharp sports horse.

My two fat natives I use their grazing muzzles to lead them as we have to walk through long tasty grass to get to their field. I had an arthritis flare last summer and I didn’t have the strength to pull on their ropes but now they just walk nicely next to me and don’t both trying to snatch food.

 

[Equi]

What I tend to do (and only do it if she’s not the type to explode) is walk ridiculously slow. If she’s pulling you’re slowing, stopping even. If she’s pulling and you’re then speeding up to match, she thinks that’s ok. It works really well on my lad and sort of resets his head to “oh hang on you’re here”

I have also used treats. One at the top of the yard, one at the half way mark, one a bit from the gate, one before the gate, one at the gate etc. it works when he is being lead by someone else best because I can’t expect another person to take 20mins to walk a 3 min walk lol

 

[Cryptonomicon]

Yes, she is stables with her friends it’s just that they get turned out at different times depending on what the livery owner is doing that day.

Hard to lead her in a bridle as she wears a head collar and fly mask in the field.

 

[Cryptonomicon]

Sorry, missed the later replies. I could try the treat thing - though is it bad long term to rely on food bribery? Grazing muzzle is interesting idea.

 

[Clodagh]

Sorry, missed the later replies. I could try the treat thing - though is it bad long term to rely on food bribery? Grazing muzzle is interesting idea.

If food bribery works then use it.
I had a friend who was dead against it and would rather drag and fight a pony into a trailer (for instance) rather than hold a scoop of nuts and the pony walk in happily.

 

[Cryptonomicon]

I’ll give it a go!

 

[Burnttoast]

It sounds like stop and go aren't well installed so when there's heightened stimulus like getting to go out (how much time does she spend out?) her ground training goes out of her head a bit. Better long term to install those properly. You want her walking with you on a looped line, stopping when you stop, backing up when you back, walking faster (not breaking into trot) or slower when you do. Trotting and halting when you run and stop, all without touching the rope, or without a rope. You can install that first in the school or similar safe place, using food rewards as it sounds like she's quite food motivated. Then build up to training this in more stimulating situations. In the meantime, a sliphead and bit over your headcollar will keep you safe when turning out.

 

[Cryptonomicon]

That is Burntoast. That’s really helpful. I have been watching some videos on basic groundwork so will build those exercises into our routine.

 

[Equi]

Sorry, missed the later replies. I could try the treat thing - though is it bad long term to rely on food bribery? Grazing muzzle is interesting idea.

Whatever works use it.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Sorry, missed the later replies. I could try the treat thing - though is it bad long term to rely on food bribery? Grazing muzzle is interesting idea.

Myself and my farrier were talking about food bribery. He said he couldn't understand that people knew their horse would stand nicely with a haynet or whatever but for some reason were reluctant to give a haynet or food whilst the farrier was there?! He said there is absolutely no harm in creating a nice relaxed environment which is great all round!! So if a bit of bribery works, go for it!

 

[paddy555]

I'm really surprised that people would suggest food/treats for a 15yo mare who cannot be arsed to walk nicely for 5 mins to the field.
I would put a bridle or whatever control I needed on her head, schooling whip in front of her, gloves on me and we would walk at a funeral pace with lots of stops and backs until we got there. When we arrived we would turn round and come back to the yard and repeat until she was walking on a loose rope on a headcollar controlled by the schooling whip in front and the voice. (Close the whip across her for stop and open it to the side for go)

If you look at the TRT method then I think you can still trial it for free. The early or first videos are of the horse walking on a headcollar and standing still away from the handler in it's own space. That is probably not easy to describe for you but I think if you have a look you will see it may help. I think there is one video in his series (the paid for part) which is leading a headstrong/pulling horse to a field exactly the same as yours. His solution is to start with his first video (free) of the horse standing in it's own space and walking a metre behind you. The horse learns to walk in this position and to stop a metre away from you when you stop.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Myself and my farrier were talking about food bribery. He said he couldn't understand that people knew their horse would stand nicely with a haynet or whatever but for some reason were reluctant to give a haynet or food whilst the farrier was there?! He said there is absolutely no harm in creating a nice relaxed environment which is great all round!! So if a bit of bribery works, go for it!

Exactly!

 

[Wizpop]

Exactly!

Also, look at the treat as a reward rather than bribery!

 

[Parrotperson]

Yes, she is stables with her friends it’s just that they get turned out at different times depending on what the livery owner is doing that day.

Hard to lead her in a bridle as she wears a head collar and fly mask in the field.

Get a cheap second hand bridle. Doesn’t need a nose band and a bit and fit it over the head collar. It’ll make life much easier but always wear gloves!

 

[NinjaPony]

Mine started doing this when he retired, switched to a rope halter and it stopped pretty quickly. I used to back up when he got ahead of me, stand, and then walk on. Took a few goes but he soon got the idea. Treats are fine when used appropriately, I solved the problem of him leaping off as soon as the head collar was removed by giving him a small treat facing me once the head collar was off, he would wait for the treat and then explode once I was out the way.

 

[Lady Jane]

Get a cheap second hand bridle. Doesn’t need a nose band and a bit and fit it over the head collar. It’ll make life much easier but always wear gloves!

@Parrotperson You beat me too it! Or use a chiffney if that fails

 

[Bobthecob15]

Try a pressure/control headcollar, they give you far more control than a regular one. I had a mare that did this when she was young, except she did it leaving the field, we’d get half way back to the yard then she would turn around and head back to the herd! I got a pressure halter and she stopped it after a few attempts, she also grew out of it I think!

 

[Landcruiser]

Rope halter, correctly fitted, and 15 ft rope. Use the rope end as a "tail" to make her keep her distance. If she tries to graze, send her round in tight circles before carrying on, or carry something like a carrier bag or flag on a stick which you can "snap" down next to her head as an instant discouragement for grazing. Wear grippy gloves (I like the grippy gardening gloves for all ground handling) and a hat. And never, ever let her go in the field if she's not standing relaxed, ie she's pulling away from you or leaping around.
Watch Steve Young videos on You Tube - there are LOADS and lots covering this exact issue. Be warned, he does repeat himself and rambles on a bit, but he's also very good, especially at spotting the exact issue and explaining what he's doing.