Horse difficult to lead between other paddocks

sharky

sharky

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I've had my (13yr old 17.1h WBxTB) horse a year now and since i've had him he's always been difficult and strong to lead between other paddocks.

At the yard we have a runway which links the top fields with the bottom fields and seperates 1 large field on the left and 2 smaller ones on the right. (post and rail fencing either side)

He can be quiet and easy to lead up to to runway but as soon as he is lead down the runway he gets really stong and tries to rush to the end, getting bargey, no personal space etc.

He is really on edge and when we get to the end of the runway he calms down instantly.

It is always bad if there are horses in the paddocks either side and much worse if the horses come over to the fences by the runway.

(he's obviously had a bad experience at some time before i had him)

I have tried a Dually halter, stopping him when he gets strong and disciplining him but 2 steps further on he gets strong and silly again.

Its not too bad for me as i'm 6ft and 16st but the YO and grooms are much smaller and therefore he only gets turned out at the top fields to save their arms.

We need to start turning him out at the bottom paddocks (better grazing) so some tips on how to stop the fight and keep him calm would be really great.

pls help
 
Have you spent time circling him and turning him back so he knows it will just take longer if he's pratting about, and only continuing to lead to the field when he's walking nicely and if he's not turn back again? Whenever I reach a spot my horse plays up in I purposely do some schooling there regaining control, maybe do this so he realises not everytime he goes there is to be turned out. obviously it's a process and will take time, Goodluck x
 
Lead in a bridle - its technically the correct way to deal with horses. I have a similar horse and im tiny sized, but have no problems if I just use an old bridle I leave outside jmhis stable for that purpose.
 
YO wants to lead him in chifney. (he doesn't rear or anything)
I just want to get his manners better so we don't have to.

Yep, when he's strong with me he gets told... circled, made to stand, elbow in his chest etc etc.

however the YO (he's on livery) doesn't have time for the schooling side as she has 12 to turn out in the morning and bring in.

I've just ordered the Kelly Marks perfect partners book for tips

He's especially bolshy after he's been hunting the day before (unsurprisingly)
 
I agree with focusing on manners. Move feet where you want him to go it burns adrenaline! Wouldn't make him stand still, keep walking back and then turning forward towards field when quiet etc etc repeat dont hold 'tight' anticipating pulling, loosen immediately when not pulling! Back up regain control. Really hard to explain in text. X
 
I would put him on a calmer.

Then have a turno9ut bridle to lead him out
or head collar round the nose or something from this website
stop that horse.com
 
Thanks for the ideas guys and its all stuff i would do if i was the one turning him out/ bringing him in.

But YO and grooms do it, so their solution is to bridle/chifney him (and complain to me that he's strong and bolshy) where as i want to get the manners better so they shouldn't have to.

Maybe i need to get up early and turn him out myself for a few weeks and school his manners at the same time.

Or am i just deluding myself and frankly that's just his character?
 
I can see where YO is coming from when I was working with liveries if we had a difficult bolshy horse to deal with easy option out is to chiffney (quicker than putting a bridle on) but its not the best way in the long run.. I would exhaust all of the other options available before bridling/chiffney if you have te time.. It will benefit him in the long run :) good luck
 
amymay said:
Well, there is always that..................
Click to expand...

404116_3325480_i.jpg


:p;)
 
Provided YO and grooms understand the chifney, I would allow them to do that but at the same time, you focus on groundwork and building up manners. Can you "practise" this walk in the evenings/weekends and put into practise all of the tips you have been given above?

Can he be turned out first before the other horses are out in the fields along the walkway?
 
Not really practical to turn out 1st as there are a couple of DIY'ers who turn out even earlier then ours. Also they get lead out in pairs.

I think a couple of weeks of me turning him out (if practical) is the way forward and making the runway boring for him.

don't like bolshy horses and embarrased that my horse is one of them !!!
 
Oh absolutely you need to put in the work yourself as I'm afraid to say he has been 'taught' to pull to the field as he has gotten away with it so far but good behaviours can be taught in its place with consistency and boundaries.
 
There's nothing wrong with using a chiffney correctly imo. Is he any better to lead out with another horse? My friends huge TB was like this, I found he was fine if you ignored him and just walked on looking forwards and on a loose rope.
 
I've seen a photo of your horse and he is magnificent, huge & strong. I would use a Be Nice halter with a long rope (12'). If used correctly i.e. putting on pressure and releasing the moment he thinks forward / sanely, then he will learn very quickly what you want. Despite what others think, it's a lot kinder than a chifney as it puts on poll & cheek bone pressure not jabbing at the poor animal's mouth. I prepare to be shot down in flames but I use one in cases like this to keep me safe.
 
Firstly i'd do some handling away from where the problem is - to make sure you have control and hes understanding you. Use a rope halter (normal rope halter - the type the parelli and western people use) with a long rope (10-12ft).

Make sure hes listening to you when you lead him. Make sure he doesnt come into your space - or get in front of you. Have imaginary lines that he cannot cross and make sure you are consistent about it. If he gets into your space (which is way before hes barging you!) then stop him and back him up. Dont hold the leadrope tight when leading - you want him to learn where you want him and if you hang on all the time then he wont know the difference. Do stops, starts, changes of direction. You may only manage a few steps before needing to correct him, but if you are consistent then after 1 session he will already be way better. Be firm.

Then progress to doing the same when turning out. Correcting him once hes barging is too late. You need to do it as soon as hes creeping into your space.

The problem with having other people handle them is that they undo your work if they dont handle them the same as you. Yes you can use a chiffney but to me this is what people do because they cant be bothered to teach their horse basic manners.
 
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