Helpp! leadrope problems

[Chelsea&merlin]

Hi, basially i have just got a new pony. He is an 18 year old welshy type, old riding school pony. However as soon as i put his headcollar and lead rope on and open the stable door, he bolts off to anywhere he feels like. I dont want him to trip on his leadrope so i keep hold and just get dragged where ever he feels, no matter what we try, he just dosent stop! He is my first ever riding sort of pony, as ive upgraded from an 11.2/3 welshy, who was so easy to handle. If anyone has any tips it will be extreamly helpfull!thankyou
Chelsea x

 

[Wiz201]

I would try leading in a bridle; he doesn't sound like he's got a lot of ground manners and he may have old riding school habits. Does he try and drag you everywhere or is it just out the stable door?

 

[*hic*]

Stable chain across the door - and let him run into it a few times, and as Wiz201 said lead him in a bridle. Also, when you put his headcollar on in his stable make him walk back and forwards a few times, telling him very clearly "Walk on" "Halt" "Back up" so that he gets used to the idea that you are boss in a space where he can't really do anything except obey.

 

[Chelsea&merlin]

we havent turned him out with the other pony yet as i only got him on wednesday, therefore havent tried taking him anywhere else yet. I tried the bridle yesterday but he still tried and managed to do it x

 

[Theocat]

Get a rope or a chain over his nose, and get a stronger adult to lead him out - you need to fix this, but in the meantime it's potentially dangerous so get help with handling until you have.

Do some groundwork with him, so he starts to respect you. He moves when and how you ask, and not otherwise. Once he can do this in the school and the box, start introducing it elsewhere - I rarely lead mine anywhere without throwing in a few halts, at least, to keep his attention on me. Lots of praise when he does it right.

Once he's listening, do lots of leading including lots and lots of in and out of his box, halts, backing up, etc.

Does he do this to any pattern? Is it only in the mornings (turning out) or every time? Has he perhaps had a fright coming out of his box at some point? Does he do it if, for example, you have him tied up outside his box and then untie him and lead him off?

ETA - have you asked the old owners? Is this something he has always done or has it only started with the yard move?

 

[Theocat]

Another question, sorry! Does he try to barge out of the box at other times, or is it only,when you have out on the head collar and try to lead him out?

 

[Pinkvboots]

We used to have a mare at work that barged out of the stable door, the only thing that stopped her was to put a chiffney or bridle on over the door before you opened it, if you didnt do this as soon as the bolt was opened she would just barge the door and run out.

 

[Palindrome]

when he pulls don't pull back steadily but tug until he gives to pressure. It is much easier for a horse to lean on a steady pull than it is to ignore/resist tugging. Also if he doesn't know yet, worth teaching him to back up (my signal is to give little taps on the chest with a whip) so you can back him up as you go in the stable. Sounds like he might be a sort to like 24/7 turnout too.

 

[Chelsea&merlin]

Another question, sorry! Does he try to barge out of the box at other times, or is it only,when you have out on the head collar and try to lead him out?

Hi, im currently at the gard now, and as i opend the door he totally barged me out thw way and jumped the fence into the field and went crazy in the field. I got him off a dealer , therefore dont know as much background on him as i should, apart from he is from a riding school x

 

[oofadoofa]

I had a pony that used to do exactly the same as this when I was a child, he was also from a riding school! I used to climb over the stable door and put a head collar on him and tie him up before I opened the door! In the end we just put a chain across the doorway and left it done up so he couldn't come out when I opened the door. You have to make sure it is fairly tight though as my clever pony used to try and duck underneath!

 

[JillA]

It might be a really good idea to invest in a visit from an IH Recommended Associate http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/specialist-horse-training.html Most aren't hugely expensive and they will be able to see from his body language and attitude to you what is going one. On an internet forum it is really difficult to advise because there might be an issue you don't think important enough to include.

 

[frostyfingers]

As well as taking on board all the other advice make sure you wear gloves too - rope burns are incredibly painful.

 

[Theocat]

And a hat! OP, get an adult to start helping you ASAP - if you can't control this it will get worse, and it's already dangerous. You need to find a long term solution via training, but in the short term you need to minimise the risk to yourself and others. So sorry it isn't straightforward for you, hopefully you can get it under control quickly

 

[lizness]

We had a couple of riding school horses that did this when I worked at one. Horses were not stabled but sometimes got into the habit of tanking off. Made sure they were always led i a bridle/chiffney or if with staff with a rope over their nose. Soon got the idea they couldn't get away. Rude, bargy horses are dangerous and need to be handled with care. A chain is a good idea on the door and insisting the horse always moves back when you go into the stable, nipping the thick muscle at the side of the windpipe seems to work well although how ethical people see this but would rather do this than get mowed down! . I would ensure you wear decent boots, maybe steel toe caps, hat and some gloves.
Don't let it worry you too much in the long run though, from the ones I have known like this it doesn't usually tranfer to ridden work.

 

[Cragrat]

We had a 14.2 welsh that did this when got him. I could barely hold him, my 14 y/o son didn't stand a chance. It was as others have said, dangerous. We used a chiffney, with one rope on the chiffney and a second on the headcollar. We only used the chiffney rope if he went for it, and he quickly ( as in after just a couple of attempts) learnt to behave himself. Much safer. We kept putting the chiffney on, even though we didn't use it, for a few weeks until we were sure he had learnt.

 

[JillA]

I really don't think it is a good idea to suggest a chifney to someone who is clearly a novice owner - it is too open to abuse. Get some GOOD knowledgeable help, maybe a dually or a control halter, complete with instructions on how to use it

 

[twiggy2]

I cannot believe everyone suggesting a chifney, can no-one think outside the box? OP you need to get some sensible professional help to you learn how to deal with handling this pony, in the meantime take all the risk and confrontation out of the situation, you need to create 'pauses' in everything you do with the pony-these allow you to be in control and give you some thinking time and the pony some time to understand what is being communicated to him.

get someone to put a chain or bar across the ponies door and also a tie ring up next to the door at ear height to the pony-the chain should be on the inside of the door and ALWAYS be up when the pony is in the stable, put the head collar on the pony with the stable door still shut, tie the pony up short enough that he cannot lower his head to his chest (they are very strong in that position),with pony tied up and the chain across open the door and go in close the door behind you, give pony a treat/pat-creating a 'pause' count to 2 and give him a second treat. gradually lengthen the time before you give a second treat, also once he waits for the door to open without rushing then you can open the door and ask for one step back before giving the treat, again over time workup to untying him and giving a second treat, then untie him turn him in a circle before the second treat, undo the chain give another treat, ask for a step back=another treat a step forward another treat then out of the door another treat. Every treat creates a pause and thought from you and the pony.

You sound like a novice and the advice I am giving is non confrontational,requires consistancy/calm and thought (from you and the pony) it will take time and he may resort back when excited or stressed (it could be the stress of a move causing this behaviour) so always keep reminding yourself to go back to doing this. use a bridle with a snaffle if you feel it may help or invest in learning how a pressure halter works. A chiffney can cause serious damage to your ponies mouth if used harshly in a moment of panic or if he trod on the rope after getting away from you with it on.

Please please please wear a hat and gloves, also a slightly longer leadrope with a knot in the end is often helpful.

OP just a thought but if pony is getting any fed the stop feeding him until you have had some help in and get him in work and out in the field