Help/advise needed please?

[Orange Peel.]

I have a 10 month old colt and the past 3-4 days he has been refusing to leave the stable block! It is beyond a joke now, it takes 5 minutes for him to walk two steps and when I want him to walk anywhere else around the yard he stops every minute and takes the mick to get going again! I'm at the point now where today my sister had to take over and put him back in his stable because he got me that worked up. I don't know what I can do to get him back to himself; Its not just leading him that he has taken to completely ignoring me with, when I shout him in the field he wont even acknowledge I'm there whereas before he would come to the gate. Its getting me down a tad as I feel I've done something wrong to make him this way? Someone said to me today he is growing up and is testing whether he has to listen to me or not is this true?

Any ideas what I can do to get round this before I give in completely?

 

[SpottyTB]

Maybe you could lead another horse - perhaps from the same field - in front of him to get him out, perhaps after a couple of times he may just go back to normal. As youngsters grow up they do test you and try you out, your friend is proberly right, my 5 year old still tests and tries the boundaries, I've learnt its just consistent handling every day that gets the rules across!

Good luck!

 

[ladyt25]

Is he just stopping and refusing to move? Mine will do this when i bring him in for a groom and attention, he doesn't seem to want to go back out!!

I use a technique a lady taught me and it works well. All you need is a schooling whip. When you want him to walk on - I would do this the moment you move away, before he's stopped. Tap him lightly on the side (where you would use your leg on a ridden horse). You can tell him to "walk on" at the same time if you so wish. When he walks forward, stop tapping. If he does not move after the light tapping then do it firmer, quick, firm taps and increase the firmness until he steps forwards and then immediately stop. If he ever at any moment looks to be scared of the whip the reassure him by stroking him with it. Also, if he continues to stop then alternate which side you tap him on.

Believe me it does work, you are NOT punishing him, it is an aid, NEVER use the whip as a reprimand or punishment. When he does as he's asked the pressure is removed, he will soon twig and you will have to use less pressure with the whip aid and eventually non at all. Remember to praise when he does walk forwards as well.