Horse won't stop eating!!!

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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I have a horse who's stomach rules his life (to be fair he's just like me) that is fine but he is a nightmare to get on and lead anywhere as he will drag you around to get the grass/hedges/weeds. It is now at the stage where i'm saying no to him constantly which does work some of the time (him having a bridle on doesn't make any difference) he is 16.3hh shire x and at the end of the day is alot stronger than me! He does also try to do it whilst you're riding him but I can control him alot more when I'm on!!

Ideas on a postcard pls xx
 
you cant argue with a horse that size, it's pointless! I would suggest walking him out in hand with a bridle and a schooling whip and everytime she tries to cart you off just give her a flick on the side behind you to remind her you are in charge! Might be worth starting off with ground work lessons in the school if you have access to one so she's not temped to cart you off whilst you re-establish the basics!
 
If he's anything like my girl a little 'flick' won't make the slightest difference!
Sorry - no advice but when their belly rules their brain it takes quite a bit to get their attention back.
 
I know this may sound odd but when mine does that I sort of shove my body into him and that seems to work, knocks him off balance a bit and his head comes up easily. Push him rather than pull. NH people may say it probably actually re-establishes me as his leader.
 
It's all in the body language.
We bought a ShirexClyde from a RS years ago. Sister's novice rugby player (very large) OH used to lead her in at tea-time. She was absolutely fine coming across the fields, until she saw the stable. Then she would drag him across the yard and slam him into the door frame as she went in. Shutting the door made no difference, she just slammed him into the door instead. Sister (5'6"/9 stone) swapped horses with him, the SxC didn't even try to drag her across the yard.
They know when they can get away with it. We use old-fashioned rope halters, if that's any help.

ETA, you are quite right, the heavy horses do seem to be ruled by their stomachs.
 
Mines the same he's a greedy Cob, I have one arm longer than the other with him dragging me :-) If I grab the headclollar when I feel him start to pull I yank down on it and say no and that stops him.
 
Make use of backing up.

Whenever he carts you off to the nearest bit of grass, as soon as you have managed to stop him make him back up a couple of steps, if you can stop him and back him up before he gets to the grass then that is even better.

I'm discovering that backing up works wonders on all sorts of occasions, and is great for reminding your horse that you are actually in charge and not them.
 
Pearlsasinger - I agree with the body language, as although he takes the mick with me, he is dreadful with anyone who's novicy!
 
Watching this thread with interest...my pony's life is also rulled by his stomach (haflinger x anglo arab), he is quite strong when wanting to eat and I sometime struggle pushing/pulling him from the grass. Will try the backing up thing!

(He also break through the fencing when he feels the electric being low to go in the field next to his where the grass is greener...and longer...which is more preoccupating...and I don't starve him!)
 
Mines exactly the same,, i agree with shoving your body into them is a good wake-up call and 'saying' no never works, SCREAM no, shocks the hell out of my mare ive been doing it for the last week and she hasn't pulled once for 2 days:D
 
Our two started doing this when they were on limited turnout, I'm 8st and our grandson is 11, we had our 15 3hh and 17 1hh grazing the verges and had no control what so ever, they would just drag us back to the grass.
A dually halter cured them and reminded them that they did have manners, we did a lot of backing up and stopping but no grazing, voila, two well mannered horses again
 
Thanks for everyone's replies, big help and given me a couple more ideas. Think the backing up may be the way forward xx
 
I use to have trouble with NAS pulling me all over the place. It isn't fun ESP with bad back... Initially I used a carrot stick this was purely as a guide e.g extension of my arm. He has quite a fast walk and I would often bed up behind his shoulder and then he would walk across me...

If he was really bad I would back him up.

As I,ve got fitter I can now pre-empt him trying to get his head down to the grass. I say a sharp no with a quick snatch of the head collar. The other thing I started doing was the hand nearest his head I would hold the rein with my fist on top. This defo gave me extra strength to keep hold of him when he puts his head away from me. It is also helpful when he is being flighty and coming across me.

Most will say this next part is crazy, but I sure it has made a difference, if he,s good and we walk to the field with no trying to eat grass he gets a mint when I release him and a pat of course. His field is a good 8min walk through gangways of lush grass...
 
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