Getting a horse to stand.

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SonnysHumanSlave

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Can anyone recommend ways to get an annoying 4year old to stand when tied on the yard.

He does not pull back or break the string. He just swings his bum left and right then left then right. Constantly. Its more annoying then damaging. Plus he does it when you are trying to put his boots on, so more annoying.

I thought when i got him he was just unsettled, but 6months down the line, hes still doing it. If I stand at his head he stops, but any other time its left right left right... If someone is stood there he quite often bumps you as well.

Not really sure what to do.
 
I <3 My Teddi said:
Can anyone recommend ways to get an annoying 4year old to stand when tied on the yard.

He does not pull back or break the string. He just swings his bum left and right then left then right. Constantly. Its more annoying then damaging. Plus he does it when you are trying to put his boots on, so more annoying.

I thought when i got him he was just unsettled, but 6months down the line, hes still doing it. If I stand at his head he stops, but any other time its left right left right... If someone is stood there he quite often bumps you as well.

Not really sure what to do.
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no clue I'm afraid, but very keen to see if people have ideas as mine does this (until I started him on a calmer)
 
Why do you think he does it? Anxiety or attention seeking?
One of mine "fidgits" constantly - drives me round the bend but I know its anxiety - he has a haynet, which is enough to take his mind off it. I know its a cheat but I would rather know he was relaxed than Mr Stressy pants!
 
Ah - different ball game then! Only thing I can suggest is completely ignoring it (don't even tell him off), and it will take ages! It's like a child having a tantrum, any attention even negative is a win to them. I stand mine on a rubber mat so I can't hear him moving about.......helps my sanity!! :-) good luck!
 
Haynet for distraction, or a toy, whichever he prefers. I tend to do stuff they want to stand still for, eg their itchy spot, whilst asking them to stand. (I trill, like a rolling r sound, but just using whatever voice command you do anyway). Because they're all ready standing its an easy way to teach them. Then slowly build up, so at first I might just ask them to stay still for 10secs while I groom a small patch, always rewarding with 'good girl/boy' & a pat, then letting them move about again. Then slowly build up to how long I ask them to remain still. Daughters pony is 5 but after 30 mins of say clipping, good groom etc needs a few minutes fidget still, so we just leave her to it then carry on. She still fidgets when tied up (just never still in general) but has learnt to stand still when someone's doing something with her. Which tbh I'm not fussed about, she doesn't paw or leap about, so fine by me if she does it in her own time.
 
its very hard to ignore, Ive tried tying him at an area on the yard where there is no concrete to see if he stops as the noise has gone and that didnt work. Tried ignorning it as well.... last 6 months Ive been ignoring it, and it doesnt work.

Thanks Littlelegs, I will give that a try and see if it works. :)
 
Sounds like he needa few manners.

When you are putting his boots on make him stand. Have someone hold him to make it harder for him to swing his bum around. He needs to learn that when you are faffing with him, you want to faff!

When he does move, move him back to where he started and say the word STAND. He cannot just invade your space by swinging his bum around. When he stands still reward him with a little mint or something, or even just a good boy.

I find doing groundwork exercies to teach them about your personal space works. Making them stop when you do when you are walking, making them walk backwards, moving over in the stable when you ask, not snatching at the haynet before you have tied it up (now THAT is a maor pet hate of mine, I don't want to break a finger!). If they move around when you are grooming them, move tham back to where they were and tell them to stand.

It is alot of perseverence but I find little things like that just instils a few manners and a bit of respect for when you are faffing around with them.
 
Mine used to do that in the stable pinning me against the wall. She was being fidgety/stressy rather than nasty. I found a hoof pick and held it so that when she next tried it she bumped herself against it, I didn't say anything, She jumped away and looked at me and has never tried it again. I think she was just being bossy, trying to control me by making it uncomfortable for me to groom her in the stable - but she backs down really easily so it never built into a big issue.
 
If you have the facilities, tie him up at 8am, with a haynet and leave him to it. Offer him a drink at lunchtime. He will be stood still by teatime.

No one else will agree with me, but that is how heavy horsemen teach their horses to stand up and it works. Obviously you need to use a leather headcollar. Don't faff round him he needs to learn to stand up, shut up and be sensible.

Remember if he goes onto to be a hunter or competition horse he will be expected stand on the lorry or at the side of the lorry for hours.

It sounds harsh but in the long term it will do him a favour.
 
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