Horse pulling away in gateway when being turned out...

[Erehwemos]

This is quite possibly Ellie’s only real vice – she is often inclined to pull away from me before I have unclipped her leadrope. And when I say pull I mean PULL – she nearly dragged me flat on my face today…and I swore at her for doing so, rather loudly

She’s never been perfect in this respect, whether she is being turned out in company or on her own. She just gets excited and full of herself – which is fine – but it shouldn’t come at the expense of good manners

I have tried several things over the years to try to alleviate the problem – occasionally a treat in my hand will help keep her attention, but on days like today when her fieldmate was already in the field, she couldn’t give two hoots what I have in my hand – she just wants to be free. I’ve tried using a chiffney, or wrapping the rope over her nose in the past, but neither really help because the problem isn’t leading her out, it’s the simple act of actually letting her go. I always turn her to face me in the gateway, but this causes its own problems as when she does then jump away from me, she isn’t averse whirling and kicking out in glee

It isn’t the kind of thing I can smack her for, as any kind of physical punishment will just make her even more eager to get away from me! I have, in the past, ‘pretended’ to let her go and then given her a darn good yank just at the moment she tries to pull away, but I don’t think it helps much – in fact it probably does the opposite! My other problem is that my hands are not the strongest anyway – I broke my right hand a few years ago and have never really regained full strength back, and my left thumb has some weird deformation that means I cant grasp things as well as I should be able to – and so often when she pulls away, I’m left momentarily crippled

So, does anyone have any ideas how to help lessen this kind of behaviour? I cant get away from the fact that she is just feeling very good in herself at the moment, and I am glad that she enjoys going out so much. But it IS bad manners, and it also means that the lady who owns Ellie’s fieldmate is a bit iffy about turning her out for me (we turn each other’s horses out depending on who is latest at the yard). It also means that she has to have her headcollar left on (nearly broke both arms the day I tried to take it off in the gateway

) which, in the warm weather, I don’t like doing.

Any ideas?

 

[connie1288]

I had a horse that did this, a couple of things helped, i never shut gate behind me before letting go, sounds silly but the longer she had to wait the more she shot off, i used to walk her to the furthest point of the field so she had nowhere to run off to. We also had a rope with no clip that i just ran through the ring, so yes i was leaving headcollar on and yes she still shot off but not in any danger of loosing my fingers, a man also tried turning her out with lunge line, she was not let go until she didnt run off, but because of extra length you didnt get pulled over.
Not sure any of these will help but i sympathise with your problem.

 

[Erehwemos]

Ah - the rope without clip is an interesting idea, although I guess it would probably send the message to the horse that that kind of behaviour is acceptable

But, as you say, it would save my fingers!

Its a bugger isnt it

 

[Eira]

Sol does this but she is dangerous so probably 100 times worse than Ellie

Two things that work ;

1) Walking into the field , past the gateway and into the middle of the field then standing until she starts grazing and then letting go .

2) Slipping the leadrope through the ring so if she goes she's gone without the LR attached (not a solution though !)

ETA - Do'h !! MaryMoo has answered it

 

[connie1288]

Mine almost did for the fun off me being pulled after her, when u just carried on walking and slowly pulled rope out she sometimes didnt notice you had let go!!

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]


1) Walking into the field , past the gateway and into the middle of the field then standing until she starts grazing and then letting go .


[/ QUOTE ]

That would be good - if she DID just start grazing. But no, my horse simply HAS to gallop at full pelt to the end of the field with fieldmate, do a handbrake turn by the river, gallop all the way back in a bucking/farting fit for 30 seconds until she *might* just think about the tastiness of grass

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Mine almost did for the fun off me being pulled after her, when u just carried on walking and slowly pulled rope out she sometimes didnt notice you had let go!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's the problem - she gets so excited that it isnt even a case that she would just walk into the field - she always goes off at the gallop, with a few decent bucks added for good measure!

Mum once let her go before having gone through the gateway (in a secure field anyway, Ellie's paddock was a fenced off area within a larger field) thinking that she might just walk through of her own accord.....but not so

She whirled round and went galloping off to join the cows

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You could try using a halter. No, I don't mean one of those Parelli things, although I suppose they would do the job. We use a good old fashioned rope halter, which nips under the chin if the horse pulls away too soon. You will need to train her to lower her head so that you can remove the halter. To do this I would suggest putting her out before her companion for several days and giving her a treat after removing the halter, she should soon get the idead and later if she prefers not to have the treat, so long as she has got used to lowering her head for you this will work. If you need someone else to turn her out I would suggest that they always turn her out first then she will not be so eager to run off from the gate, it might help you to do this too. If she kicks out as she leaves you be ready to catch her with the rope end. This will not make her more eager to run but will make her more careful about how she moves off. If you do nothing to correct her bad manners she will think that this is acceptable behaviour. Consider what another horse would do if she continually 'threatened' it or was less than careful around it. Please make sure that you always wear gloves in order to avoid rope burn.

 

[Eira]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


1) Walking into the field , past the gateway and into the middle of the field then standing until she starts grazing and then letting go .


[/ QUOTE ]

That would be good - if she DID just start grazing. But no, my horse simply HAS to gallop at full pelt to the end of the field with fieldmate, do a handbrake turn by the river, gallop all the way back in a bucking/farting fit for 30 seconds until she *might* just think about the tastiness of grass

[/ QUOTE ]

Make her , lead her in a bridle and stand there . Sol won't graze - For about a month solid I used to stand in the field for 40/45 minutes to wait for her to graze .

She didnt have a choice if she'd spin she would stand there again .

Its a behaviour that only gets worse - trust me

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
You could try using a halter. No, I don't mean one of those Parelli things, although I suppose they would do the job. We use a good old fashioned rope halter, which nips under the chin if the horse pulls away too soon. You will need to train her to lower her head so that you can remove the halter. To do this I would suggest putting her out before her companion for several days and giving her a treat after removing the halter, she should soon get the idead and later if she prefers not to have the treat, so long as she has got used to lowering her head for you this will work. If you need someone else to turn her out I would suggest that they always turn her out first then she will not be so eager to run off from the gate, it might help you to do this too. If she kicks out as she leaves you be ready to catch her with the rope end. This will not make her more eager to run but will make her more careful about how she moves off. If you do nothing to correct her bad manners she will think that this is acceptable behaviour. Consider what another horse would do if she continually 'threatened' it or was less than careful around it. Please make sure that you always wear gloves in order to avoid rope burn.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you; I had wondered about one of the BeNice/Dually/Parelli etc halters, although the problem still remains with those as you still have to undo it - so maybe a normal halter might be worth a shot

The only thing is that putting her out first doesnt by any means guarantee a lesser reaction; for the last couple of years she's been kept completely on her own, and the problem was just the same then - she just loves getting out into the field! I have experimented with her going first/last/at the same time, and tbh the result is pretty much always the same

But I agree - it IS bad manners, and I dont want her to feel it is acceptable!
May well try the halter idea, thank you

And point taken about the gloves

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Polos! Or apple, carrot etc - whatever floats her boat best. Into field, turn to gate as normal, rustle polos wrapper in pocket, offer 1 polo but keep rustling! Take head collar etc off, give 2nd polo. Leave. After a few days, she should immediately look expectant as you turn to face the gate and after a bit you can probably dispense with one of the polos. This worked a treat with one of the gate-phobic neds at our yard. If Ellie's excitement is just too great even for a polo, I'd do exactly what ISHY suggests x

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Polos! Or apple, carrot etc - whatever floats her boat best. Into field, turn to gate as normal, rustle polos wrapper in pocket, offer 1 polo but keep rustling! Take head collar etc off, give 2nd polo. Leave. After a few days, she should immediately look expectant as you turn to face the gate and after a bit you can probably dispense with one of the polos. This worked a treat with one of the gate-phobic neds at our yard. If Ellie's excitement is just too great even for a polo, I'd do exactly what ISHY suggests x

[/ QUOTE ]

It sounds fab in principle! But I tried that method long ago

She LOVES Polos, and I always make sure I have at least half a pack to keep her interest, but sometimes the lure of the field is too great

She's the same in the stable - normally she will do anything for a Polo, but if another horse/tractor/suitably scary object passes by, then she just forgets all about treats and fixates on the thing in question

Argh!

ISHY's suggestion is a good one

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Could you try lunging her before she goes out, let her get abit of steam out of her system ? . Then try the "standing in the middle of the field" Each time you bring her to the field, keep coming closer to the gate .

Missy used to bolt all the time, but I have made her stand until shes actually got really bored (that could be a long time ) But have always used a sharpe "NO ! " everytime shes went to pull .

Good luck with her .

 

[Eira]

Just remember to pack a picnic

Luckily I had some lovely views to keep my occupied on the top of the Brecon Beacons in the rain

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Could you try lunging her before she goes out, let her get abit of steam out of her system ? . Then try the "standing in the middle of the field" Each time you bring her to the field, keep coming closer to the gate .

Missy used to bolt all the time, but I have made her stand until shes actually got really bored (that could be a long time ) But have always used a sharpe "NO ! " everytime shes went to pull .

Good luck with her .

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL Colleen - if only! Lunging is the other thing I cannot do with her

She had a bad experience as a baby (not with me) and as a result she panics on the lunge, to the point that she once fell over with me

Never again

I was going to try earlier on this year when I broke my toe to overcome her fear, but just before I went out and bought a cavesson and line, another horse was being lunged in the school and got away from her owner - the school is not fenced, and the mare ended up having an awful fall in the yard

So I kind of made my mind up that lunging a frightened horse in a school which is not secure is not a good idea!

TBH, I dont even think she'd be different if she were tired

Even if I've just been on a long ride, she nearly always tanks off into the field when I turn her out afterwards!

Thankies though

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Just remember to pack a picnic

Luckily I had some lovely views to keep my occupied on the top of the Brecon Beacons in the rain

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

I shall have to be content with watching ducks....

 

[f_s_]

I have a suggestion, though it might not work!!
Can you make a small corral by the gate? With electric tape and posts? Then when you turn her out give her a treat and take head collar off. Because she's in a small area she can't gallop off so keep treating her until you can open the taped fence safely and let her go through? Not ideal I know if you have a loony horse but, maybe she could get used to staying near the gate for longer it would make it easier. Sorry I'm not putting this into words very well!!!!

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Could you try lunging her before she goes out, let her get abit of steam out of her system ? . Then try the "standing in the middle of the field" Each time you bring her to the field, keep coming closer to the gate .

Missy used to bolt all the time, but I have made her stand until shes actually got really bored (that could be a long time ) But have always used a sharpe "NO ! " everytime shes went to pull .

Good luck with her .

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL Colleen - if only! Lunging is the other thing I cannot do with her

She had a bad experience as a baby (not with me) and as a result she panics on the lunge, to the point that she once fell over with me

Never again

I was going to try earlier on this year when I broke my toe to overcome her fear, but just before I went out and bought a cavesson and line, another horse was being lunged in the school and got away from her owner - the school is not fenced, and the mare ended up having an awful fall in the yard

So I kind of made my mind up that lunging a frightened horse in a school which is not secure is not a good idea!

TBH, I dont even think she'd be different if she were tired

Even if I've just been on a long ride, she nearly always tanks off into the field when I turn her out afterwards!

Thankies though

[/ QUOTE ]


hmmmmm .... Can you take her into the field on her own and walk the whole perimeter of the field , only until she has settled then you can release her .

Make her think shes only going for a walk , perhaps even ride her in the field and then take her saddle off, Start brushing her in her bridle and slowly take her bridle off .

 

[kerilli]

an old nagsman showed me the safest way to cope with horses that do this, years ago. works for me.
you need a white nylon towrope, you can buy them from most garages. they're about 10' long with a loop woven in on both ends, when you buy them they usually have sleeves of bright red plastic on too, you can bin these! you use this rope as a halter, put over neck with loop hanging down, put a 1' long middle piece of it through (in a loop, don't put the end through) and put this loop over the nose. instant quick-release halter which is part of leadrope.
i make sure i have something nice in my pocket or other hand that i get the horse interested in before taking it through the gate, i feed them a bit first before taking it through, so it's thinking "where's that other carrot" not "i'm zooming off". fumble for treat, and slip loop off nose, the rest will come away completely as horse moves off. hopefully horse will stick around for a few secs for other treat, good habit.
IF horse tries to zoom off before you've let go, it acts as a controller halter as you hang on, and usually stops them dead in their tracks and gives them some manners! i've cured quite a few like this.

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a suggestion, though it might not work!!
Can you make a small corral by the gate? With electric tape and posts? Then when you turn her out give her a treat and take head collar off. Because she's in a small area she can't gallop off so keep treating her until you can open the taped fence safely and let her go through? Not ideal I know if you have a loony horse but, maybe she could get used to staying near the gate for longer it would make it easier. Sorry I'm not putting this into words very well!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL I think I understand!

Again, it is a possibility I guess, but just a bit long winded

And it still doesnt really solve the pulling away issue - she would still jerk away, but would just grind to a halt once she encountered the tape!

She is actually being moved in a couple of weeks to a small corner of a big field, where she will stay until she and fieldmate have integrated with the other four horses. This would almost be the corral you have suggested, so will be interesting to see if her behaviour improves then!

 

[f_s_]

Thanks for being so understanding, brain not working this morning!!!!

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]



hmmmmm .... Can you take her into the field on her own and walk the whole perimeter of the field , only until she has settled then you can release her .

Make her think shes only going for a walk , perhaps even ride her in the field and then take her saddle off, Start brushing her in her bridle and slowly take her bridle off .

[/ QUOTE ]

These are all things I tried when we were at our previous place (when she was kept on her own). Her paddock was tiny then - less than a quarter of an acre - but she'd still bolt as soon as I got her through the gate. I tried riding her in the paddock, then, as you say, untacking and grooming in there too, but it was probably 50/50 on whether it actually helped at all. She's too darned clever!

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for being so understanding, brain not working this morning!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

No, thank YOU for helping me try to find a solution!

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
an old nagsman showed me the safest way to cope with horses that do this, years ago. works for me.
you need a white nylon towrope, you can buy them from most garages. they're about 10' long with a loop woven in on both ends, when you buy them they usually have sleeves of bright red plastic on too, you can bin these! you use this rope as a halter, put over neck with loop hanging down, put a 1' long middle piece of it through (in a loop, don't put the end through) and put this loop over the nose. instant quick-release halter which is part of leadrope.
i make sure i have something nice in my pocket or other hand that i get the horse interested in before taking it through the gate, i feed them a bit first before taking it through, so it's thinking "where's that other carrot" not "i'm zooming off". fumble for treat, and slip loop off nose, the rest will come away completely as horse moves off. hopefully horse will stick around for a few secs for other treat, good habit.
IF horse tries to zoom off before you've let go, it acts as a controller halter as you hang on, and usually stops them dead in their tracks and gives them some manners! i've cured quite a few like this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah ok, that sounds interesting! Might be worth a shot, I *think* I can visualise it! So does it have to be nylon, or would a long piece of normal rope do the same job? Thank you very much