Handling youngsters - help!!

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missyme10

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Hey all,

I have a 2 yr 5 month dutch warmblood who I bought the day she turned 2.
She was practically wild the day I bought her, even a head collar was an ordeal, as was leading, rugs an absolute no no as hadn't ever seen one in her life, born out at grass and lived out at grass for her first 2 years.

We've had some tricky times, after the ordeal of loading at the breeders and getting her home, it took me weeks to get to know her just petting her in the field etc.
Then came the leading, it got better in time, would circle me, get upset, try take off etc - this all before I'd even get to the gate to get out of the field!! But we got to the stage where I could get her in and back out ok.

2 months ago I moved stables, and have pretty much let her settle into her new herd, it started off badly with her jumping out of her paddock after being attacked by 3 mares, she was then moved in with my gelding and and a friends cob and my other youngster. They are now a well established herd and happy together.

Bringing her in now is a nightmare. Today she dragged me all over, its like she suddenly knows her strength and size (currently 15.2hh) and my lad got a bit silly in the field at her leaving so she flipped out resulting in her breaking free and bolting but thankfully stopping short of going into the barn where there are kids!!

Once in the barn she was reasonably ok as one of her field pals was close by, but she nearly broke my wrist trying to pick up her back foot, the movement was so fast it flipped my wrist back.

I borrowed a be nice head collar to put her back out and she tried the same but soon became better, I found it stops her taking off or flying off to the right, but doesn't seem to help with her barging me to the left into electric fences!

She's basically bad manered and bargy and getting bigger by the day!

It really rattled me today, and left me quite shook up which doesn't help confidence wise with what I feel is a bit of a battle ahead.

I have had her in the school once which resulted in me being flattened, she flipped out and cracked my head with hers sending me hurtling to the floor and desperately scrambling away to avoid her trampling me.

I now wear a hat at all times of handling her, and steel toe cap boots to try and protect myself.

Ideas?????? What is my best way forward here, she's a gem when loose in the field, very affectionate.
 
There will be others that are better placed to give handling advice but a little word on the steel toe caps: do make sure if you need them that they are proper equestrian ones as the ordinary sorts are only tested on a hard surface so can be quite dangerous in a field type environment where the cap presses into the ground (and your toes!)

Good luck!
 
Tickles said:
There will be others that are better placed to give handling advice but a little word on the steel toe caps: do make sure if you need them that they are proper equestrian ones as the ordinary sorts are only tested on a hard surface so can be quite dangerous in a field type environment where the cap presses into the ground (and your toes!)

Good luck!
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Yikes I dont like the sound of that!! They definitely aren't equestrian ones, they are standard rigger boots from work, I've been stood on plenty of times in them and they have protected my feet well, but are now knackered and I'm due a new pair so will look for ones designed for horses - thanks x
 
Don't despair I am sure we have all been there at one time or the other, I know I have!

Take it literally one step at a time. If she is walking nicely then tell her so, if she starts the slightest thing then stop and back her up a couple of steps and ask her to stand still. When she is still then fuss her for being good and go a few more steps. Keep her head at your shoulder, don't let her lag behind and don't let her push ahead, watch her expression and you will quickly see the signs and be able to nip any trouble in the bud.

Oh, and get a 12' rope or lunge line to walk her, it gives you that little bit extra if she decides to misbehave!

Take her in the school and do some work leading her around and through things. Keep it all very calm and teach her that when you are working her attention needs to be on you and not on her field mate or the cat across three fields away!

Putting her out, if she rushes then turn round and put her back in her stable and start all over again, she will soon learn it's quicker if she behaves. Be lavish with the praise and learn to growl at her when she is naughty.

And wear gloves as well!! Nothing is worse than rope burns.
 
Missyme10, I am just along the road from you and would be happy to help you with safe handling techniques if you contact me. I've PMd you my contact details.
 
Dually halter and a 12ft line worked wonders with my boy. He could be a little so and so at times - now he is a dream on the ground and so responsive to vocal commands. It really was a case of practice, practice, practice - but I also found having someone watching me and critiqing what I was doing, helped me to make sure I got it right - and didn't simply lose my temper.

Hard hat and steelies is good practice - would recommend gloves as well - from experience - if they take off, you have more grip and less rope burn!
 
missyme10 said:
Yikes I dont like the sound of that!! They definitely aren't equestrian ones, they are standard rigger boots from work, I've been stood on plenty of times in them and they have protected my feet well, but are now knackered and I'm due a new pair so will look for ones designed for horses - thanks x
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the boots you need are the Equitector ones, they have steel toe caps all around your toes, not just at the top like virtually all the others. If the steel is just on the top, youre better off without them as your toes can be decapitated if they tread on you on a soft eg manege surface. At least with nothing you only risk bruised or broken toes, not none at all.

Not all the equitector ones have the special toe but some of them do. They are also very very comfy and quite ladylike shape, so much nicer than rigger boots and they make you more nimble and your feet a smaller target too!

BTW can recommend Aengus Og (previous post) who is nearby you, went to a 'horses on the smallholding day' recently where he was intro-ing ponies to pulling weights and harness, and was very happy with what I saw of his methods and kindness and patience. Im not connected to him or Equitector, just my experience of both :-))
 
Your current predicament sounds very familiar... I was in a similar one about a year and a half ago and it's not nice.

I managed to work through it with sheer determination and he help of a dually halter.

I tried a be nice but he reacted badly to it. He's a lot more respectful of the Dually.

I also carry a schooling whip with me which helps me keep him out of my space.

I think taking her in the scool and doing some work with her would be a good idea. Do a little bit of lunging with her but also work on getting her to move away from you. forwards, back, sideways. Repeat, every day.
 
Having been in a similar situation, I would be using ground work to establish the basic rules to stop the barging etc.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice :)

Well a couple of days of using the be nice head collar and a no nonsense attitude and wow what a difference, dont get me wrong, she's still and tantruming teenager, but I wasn't worried for my safety today, the new head collar is giving me enough control to actually feel in some control.

I was wondering, do they get used to such head collars and start to resist them?

I know a couple of you suggested a Dually, which will be what I opt for if she starts taking the pee out of the be nice head collar.

I haven't got to the school yet, just in and out to the barn, but its a step forward :)
School next, and after her decking me the last time I was in there, can't say I'm overly looking forward to it. But all it will take is one go in there and decent behaviour for me to not worry about it x
 
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