Horse Nightmare to Turn out!

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thehorsediva

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Hi, my new horse is generally great to handle, very quiet, apart from turning him out first thing in the morning when he is a blooming nightmare. Drags me from the stable to the field gate with his head in the air. The rest of the time he is quiet as a lamb. I know I could use a Chifney for a few days but not had any experience of using one before... He is on a months trial before I actually decide if I want to buy him so want to try and solve this issue as he is lovely the rest of the time. At 17hh this is not a small problem for me first thing in the morning!!!
 
You could try the basic natura horsemanship exercises. That way you can manoever your horse and he should listen much better. I did it with my horse when I got her as she was very bargy in the stabe first thing but now I can back ehr up with just a twitch of a finger and a cick (most days! lol)
 
Can you try and manage the turnout to avoid the problem altogether, i.e. turn him out earlier, or before all the other horses?

Alternative try a Be Nice halter or a Dually halter.

If that doesn't work for you pop the bridle on for a bit more control.

Whatever you do make sure you stay safe, i.e. hat, gloves, decent footwear, and remember it's only a tiny problem and if it's his only fault it's nothing!
 
I'd probably spend some time taking him out to the school (even to just walk into and back out), or another stable, barn, making him wait for a groom etc etc.

Basically show him that he's going where you say in the morning and not dragging you out where he wants to go.

When my youngster became a pain doing this (and going up) I trained her to drop her head to walk anywhere. The second she goes to pull I'd just pull the rope back and down enough to move it (Not to yank her with it, but to feel a slight movement) and she'd drop her head back. Head down she'd never get fired up and would ignore all the other horses and relax.

Pan
 
Gloves and hat for starters.

Then i'd highly recommend a Richard Maxwell pressure halter. You can get an exact replica off ebay (think the seller is called Naturalhorsemanship) for a fraction of the price. Doesn't come with the training DVD but i'm sure you could Google/You Tube some videos.

For a short quick fix in the mean time you can wrap the leadrope round his nose to give you a bit more control.

I would also recommend once you've taken off his headcollar to give him a small treat. That way he'll be more likely to wait calmly for the treat rather than tear off as soon as you undo the headcollar buckle.
 
forestfantasy said:
This ^
Accompanied with a stern voice :)
Click to expand...

Definitely this!! Also as you have not bought the horse yet dont go spending money on halters etc !!

Was he like this with his owners could he just be testing you out ?

Though a few NH methods would also be good combined as in if he tries to rush make him stand and back up etc ?
 
The only snag with putting a bridle on to turn out is that if the horse is likely to try and bog off when they get into the field or as soon as you get the bridle off over their ears, they risk getting the bit caught in their mouth.

My horse used to do this as another livery would come and put their horses out first so by then time I put him out, they were galloping about and he was dangerous to lead, ended up having to let go a few times to avoid being kicked and trampled. he was no problem however if he was the first out.

OP is your horse the only one to put out or are others already in the field?

I used to put the rope over his nose and back thorugh the head collar (imitating dually headcollar idea) and give him a pull if he started pratting about. I have also tried putting the rope over his nose and through his mouth (like a bit) and this fooled him enough that he would walk quieter and respect me when I pulled. This meant I could take the rope from his mouth in the field before taking off the headcollar as he would bomb off as soon as he felt free :)
 
Mine started being a pain so I made a turnout bridle out of a slip head and a snaffle, not as strong as a chiffney which can be pretty brutal if its more than what they need and less faffy than a bridle, doesn't need doing up! ;)
I would try a be nice halter aswel :)
 
I agree with others - try a bridle or a pressure halter. It sounds like he needs a bit of time spent on his basic groundwork. It's so easy for them to get pushy and bargy and before you know it you have a problem.
This is one time I personally would advocate treating your horse when you want to let him go in the paddock - get him used to you giving him a treat when he is patient in the field to stop him tearing off. If he knows he will get a reward he will soon twig that it's good to be calm and wait. There is nothing worse than your horse bombing off and all the accident risks. Good Luck :)
 
If you do buy a dually, make sure you watch the CD to get the best results. Horses need to be taught how to respect the dually in an enlosed area first but once they get the hang of it they are like pussycats. My friend had a 17.2irish mare who was a nightmare to bring in, plunging, rearing etc. After being shown by a professional how to use the halter, the mare would stand like a donkey whilst you opened the gate and would then follow like a lamb back to the stable!
 
Recently took my bargy youngster for a lesson with an Intelligent Horsemanship Associate. Best thing I've done for him, he is now much more polite, & I have been shown techniques to cope when he does barge in front of me.... one happy pony & one happier handler.
 
I agree with the others you :
Shouldn't use a chiffney on your own if you hadnt had experience
Should Take him for walks around the yard in a head collar( or bridle if need be) and then pop him back into his stable just randomly when he is in so it shows that you are in more control
Should Put a bridle on and every time you can feel him pulling ask him to stand then start when your ready ( i used this on my horse when they were like this) and do that untill he gets the message
Let us know how you get on :)
 
Not ready the other replys but why not use his normal bridle for leading to the field.
Or get a pressure halter or a dually, these will give a lot more control.
Maybe the routine, time if turning out needs adjusting, has horse got enough hay in stable, have the other already gone out?
 
A chifney will give you more control than the natural horsemanship halters. We get quite a few big bargy horses to turnout and a chifney is the only thing that gets there attention.

Also what does it matter where the other horses are? Teach him to go as you want when you want regardless of other factors that are out of your control.
 
claribella said:
You could try the basic natura horsemanship exercises. That way you can manoever your horse and he should listen much better. I did it with my horse when I got her as she was very bargy in the stabe first thing but now I can back ehr up with just a twitch of a finger and a cick (most days! lol)
Click to expand...

H
I'd be going for that too, but how about a controller headcollar.
Or just a leadrope round the nose(almost like a twitch) worked wonders for mine. Along with grueling hours of groundwork.
Speaking from experience of being dragged, everywhere! :rolleyes::D
My boy never reared- just screwed off in hand.
This works well for the rearer's...
http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/...ear/headcollars/disposable-poultice-boot.html
Have watched it being used on a couple. Also used it- not on mine though.

http://www.equestriansuppliesshop.co.uk/products/Eskadron-Controller-Headcollar.html

This idea worked better for my dragger :p
Also *check what your feeding him ;)
 
Our 17h used to do this when he was younger. It was better if my husband led him now and again - he is 6'4" so the horse didn't tower above him and that helped! I used to have a couple of knots in the leadrope so he couldn't pull away in the field. He had to learn that he had to turn around and stand before his headcollar was taken off, and a bit of leverage helped (the knots) if he tried to pull. I spent a lot of time going back and forward to the field - if he pulled me we turned round and went back. Sometimes this could take twenty trips. Doing lots of groundwork, getting him used to your voice commands, moving him around the stable from your voice, lungeing etc. That way he will respect your vocal commands when you ask him to slow down/stand etc on the way to the field. Remember that when he does respect you and do what you ask he gets a lot of praise too..

I agree with the bridle points too.
 
When I had two to turn out (about a 7 min walk each way) they'd get strong and bolshy. I don't like the idea of chifney or bridle in those circumstances as if they did get loose it'd do a lot of damage to their mouth. I use a stallion chain - threaded from the ring at the back of the headcollar, round the front of the nose, then clipped on the opposite side. The good thing is I can slip it in my pocket and put it on if they get feisty, rather than having to use it all the time.

Also agree with giving a treat before you turn loose. Mine now turn back to face gate, wait to have headcollar off, then get their treat.
 
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