Horse pulling away to lead

[Mai Anna]

I really need some advice. My horse (15hh Trotter x cob) has developed a habit of pulling away when being led. I have had her since she was 4, now 11 and never had this before. For some background, I moved her to a new yard around 5 months ago where I introduced shared turnout with a friends horse (my mare has always been fine out alone, but I thought it was nice for her to have a friend in the field to groom and play with) Fast forward a few months, I have gone from having a horse who would walk in and out of the field like an angel, to a horse that won’t walk 5 metres.

The first time it happened, I blamed myself for letting her get too in-front of me and running off, as she had only been at this yard a few weeks at this point and wasn’t fully settled. However, it then became a streak of every time I tried to bring her in without the other horse coming to, she would turn and bolt back to the field / the good grass outside field. She has always been grass orientated but never just ran off for it. I know at this point I should have separated them to different fields, but I really loved her having a friend and wanted to make it work so badly, a mistake I know.

Fast forward to now, she is on a bridle coming in and out, which worked for about a month but now she’s taken to doing it in the bridle too. It’s not even just when taking her away from the other horse, it’s happening just walking her to and from the field in the mornings and evenings. It is not always me handling her, which is the hard part, when she goes my instinct reaction is to go and get her and not let her win the battle, but I believe others leave her to it on the grass until she’s ready to be led again (understandably no one wants to get hurt by her) but in her head she thinks she’s winning by pulling away and getting lush grass for it.

To describe what she does better, she will let you catch her with no trouble at all, in-fact she will come to you. She will then walk a few steps and then she’s gone like lightening and she’s way too strong to hold. When you then try and go back to retrieve her, she will let you catch her fine and then go again once you walk. Not all the time, but sometimes when she goes she will kick out whilst she does so, she has nearly gotten me twice. Today I practised simply putting a head-collar on in the field, walking her round the paddock (other horse still in there) stopping every few strides, backing up etc, just trying to get her to respect me. She did for about 15 minutes before absolutely ripping the rope away and going.

The horse she is with is moving yards in 2 weeks, so she will then be alone again (other horses in view but not in same field) But I’m worried this is so engraved in her head now, that the other horse going wont make a difference. Equally it does mean she will no longer have a companion to run back to.

Has anyone else ever had a horse that does this? If so, how did you overcome it? Does anyone think it will help when the other horse goes? I’m worried to try things like a chiffney, because if she got away I worry about her standing on the rope and hurting herself.

I thought about things like putting molasses on the bit so she’s got something that tastes nice in her mouth, but am I then just bribing her with no long term solution for the behaviour? I feel so lost as she is incredible to ride, won’t put a foot wrong under saddle, but not being able to get her from A to B on the ground safely is causing so much stress.

Please help!

 

[SpeedyPony]

When you lead in a bridle, do you use the reins or a leadrope? The best way I've found to stop a horse pulling away is to hold tight to the rein nearest you, leave the other one go and thus pull their head round. That makes it much harder for them to simply lock their neck and pull the rope/reins out of your hand. Once you can get them to circle round you, you can get control back. This method probably works best if you have a bit that won't get pulled through the mouth easily (d-ring, hanging cheek etc).

 

[Lucky788]

I’d find a intelligent horsemanship trainer and with their guidance try a dually, it was an absolute game changer for my bargy cob who couldn’t even be led in a chifney
But you need to know how to use and they’ll show you

 

[Mai Anna]

When you lead in a bridle, do you use the reins or a leadrope? The best way I've found to stop a horse pulling away is to hold tight to the rein nearest you, leave the other one go and thus pull their head round. That makes it much harder for them to simply lock their neck and pull the rope/reins out of your hand. Once you can get them to circle round you, you can get control back. This method probably works best if you have a bit that won't get pulled through the mouth easily (d-ring, hanging cheek etc).

Just a leadrope. In fairness, she doesn’t actually try to go anywhere when she’s fully tacked up walking to the school so reins could be an idea. She is a quick learner and once she knows she can’t get away with something, she’ll stop trying, sadly this habit has just gone on for a lot longer than I’d like! Thanks for the idea I’ll give it a try x

 

[Mai Anna]

I’d find a intelligent horsemanship trainer and with their guidance try a dually, it was an absolute game changer for my bargy cob who couldn’t even be led in a chifney
But you need to know how to use and they’ll show you

I have got a monty robert head collar but I’ve never used it, I bought it but then opted for a bridle so when that stopped working I just assumed a dually wouldn’t either but anything worth a go at this point!

 

[Babypony]

Have you tried a rope halter? If she pulls back that will put more pressure on her to yield than a headcollar or bridle.

 

[cosmic389]

My young cob recently learnt to do this, and he's getting so strong now once he's locked his neck there's no chance I can hold him back. It happened initially when he would drag me off to the patch of green grass by the laneway from the paddock to the tie-ups. And I would let go of the rope if I can't get him back as I don't want to be kicked (he never did though). So after that happened a few times, he tries it whenever he sensed he could.

I use a rope halter with a long (12-14ft lead), usually I lead him with maybe a metre of slack in the rope. He generally responds to pressure well and also my energy (forward, back up, yield hind quarters etc.) - only when his focus is on me of course. If his mind is elsewhere (grass patch, some other horse, food) then all that goes out the window. If I predict something might grab his attention, I shorten the rope and also have the end of the rope (or a flag on a stick) in my other hand ready to use as a backup to yield his hind end around me if he doesn't respond to pressure on the halter. He yields his hind, then his head and neck will bend toward me and I repeat this until I have his focus again.

I think to have the horse mentally be with you is important when leading, and I work on this every day when I lead him, sometimes just to test to see if he is with me. If he mentally disassociates, trying to control his body is much much harder.

My advice is work on this in an enclosed space where she feels content, is she focused on you, and how easy is it to get her focus back. Then move to a place with more distractions. The body follows where the mind is.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My go to in this situation would be a headcollar with rings at the side rather than squares so that a chain will run freely through them. Clip to the offside ring and then run through the near side ring under the jaw. Lead rope clipped to the chain and if they go to run pull back hard. I had one that learned to turn his head away from me on the lunge if going to the right and he would then just take off. Chain sorted him without injuring him. He just learned to respect it. I always used it on my stallions as well.

 

[Hallo2012]

either a chain over nose with a lunge line clipped on or a very thin knotted rope halter and lunge line.

hat and gloves

let her run a few steps and then pull her up hard.

 

[Alibear]

Teach your horse to lead, sessions in the school/area to stat with so the whole field and grass thing is irrelevant. Work until the horse moves when you move, stops when you stop and leads on a slack rope. Then you'll have much more control in built that you can then start to work on the field track with.

 

[Lucky788]

I have got a monty robert head collar but I’ve never used it, I bought it but then opted for a bridle so when that stopped working I just assumed a dually wouldn’t either but anything worth a go at this point!

You need to know how to use it to make it effective, so id recommend getting someone out

My cob had learnt to drop his should and run off to wherever he fancied going

A few sessions and lots of ground work he’s super easy to lead

Id tried everything suggested upthread with no success

 

[Landcruiser]

It's really tough when they have learned that they are stronger than us. I'd never lead a horse like that without a hat, grippy gloves (grippy gardening gloves are cheap and perfect) and a long rope (12-15ft) and rope halter.
Steve Young has lots of free video content of him working with horses like this - even he, as an experienced pro trainer, has lost hold of such horses, or recently was barged and knocked down by one. It's not for the faint hearted. You have a serious problem OP, and unless you are very confident and consistent (which sounds impossible in your situation, with others handling the mare) I would invest in a pro trainer to come and work with you.