How do I stop my horse trying to squash me!

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Bruised

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I've been working my youngster in hand. She's fine leading in hand and will turn left with me quite happily. However, when I try to turn right - so she's turning away from me - she just won't do it and will try and turn round to me. She seems to want to hug onto me and so turns onto me. She's far from small and I feel I'm just being squashed. Pushing her round physically is no easy task and she can just use her weight against me. What can I do?
 
I'm sure I will get shouted at for this but hey ho

Pull the leadrope up and use it to gently push her head round to the right, then as soon as her head is round walk, this usually makes the difficult aarab on our yard turn
 
I had this too when first had mare who is 16.1hh and I am only 5ft so know your problem! If she was anywhere new or nervous she would squash me in stable.

I used groundwork to teach her manners and to respect my space and also at all times in stable, mounting, leading etc. If she lost attention from me I wiggled bumped leadrope til she focused back on me. If she stepped into my space I made her step back everytime with a firm "no", even if she went to move one hoof she had to step back until stood still. It took alot of time and patience and being consistent but it worked a treat. I also make her back up on entering the stable or when asked and she does this with a gesture now or at most a touch on chest.
 
Thanks for that. My main problem is that she's OK in the stable but when I go into the field to practice she's fine to start and then when she thinks she's done enough - after a whole 5mins - she just tries to whip round towards me when I ask her to go right. I pulled the lead rope up quite high last night (makes me feel bad) and pushed her head over with my upper arm. It worked but I can't do that when I long rein. Do you think she'll get the message and start behaving so that when she's long reined everything will be easy peasy? Or am I just going to end up like a pea on the end of a kite string?
 
With my youngster, I took a schooling whip/stick with me and used to point it at his shoulder when asking to turn right, so almost guided him around. I also allowed him to allow the stick to touch his shoulder so he learn't to move away from it.

I also used my left hand to raise it and almost point to the right if I wasn't carriyng my stick. It does work if you perservere
 
Mean't to say when you start your long reining, see if someone can be at the front also to guide her intially whilst you at the back.

I would look to work on your turning in hand first before moving onto long lines.

Good luck keep us posted :)
 
I think all babies are meant to make you feel incompetant. We had the other issue, when I tried to turn her left (i.e. on to me) she'd end up stood on top of me unless I leapt out the way quickly.

Solved it by jabbing her in the shoulder at the appropriate time!
 
Just a quick update - I had a bit more success yesterday after your helpful suggestions. However, twice the little minx whipped round when I tried to move her to the right away from me, and went from a standstill to gallop back to the gate. For a split second I tried to hand on but decided I didn't want a large rear end or back legs in my face so let go. I've been working her just in a dually as I don't want to jerk her mouth but now I think she's just taking the mick. So should I put a bit in even to do work in hand? I feel mean but really can't have her taking advantage so easily.
 
This is where NH is a good thing, ground manners :) I taught my horse very, very quickly to respect my space using similar methods to Richard Maxwell. There is a good video on Horse Hero of Richard Maxwell sorting out a horse who would tank and not respect the handler's space, I suggest you take a look. You do have to pay for access, but Horse Hero is good anyway and full of great tuition vids :D
 
I had a five year old who used to squash me against the stable wall. One day following a visit from the vets I had a very interesting conversation with the vet who suggested sticking a bic biro lid into his ribs when he did it. I did as the vet suggested, the horse must have jumped about three foot into the air, but I can guarantee you he never did it again. As horses are 'into pressure' no amount of shoving and pushing them will help you so a short sharp approach just once is usually the answer.
 
I hardly dare say it. i solved the same problem with a couple of techniques picked up from a (borrowed) parelli video. i kno they're not exclusive to parelli, but that's where I saw them.

1 teaching the horse to back away and then stand still and wait by tapping it gently between the legs with a lunge whip.
2 waving my arms and shouting loudly if the horse came in my space. ie tried to trample me.
 
How old is your girlie? Have you tried to lead her from both sides which I always do with my young horses. Just so they are not always expecting you to be at their left shoulder. And I have always used a long lead rope or indeed a lunge line so if they go to get away from you, you have a bit more control and can wind them back in.

My only concern with leading young horses in a bit is that the mouth is so sensitive, you don't want to run the risk of bruising her inadvertently. I haven't used a dually so sorry cannot comment, but I do lots of groundwork with a Richard Maxwell rope halter just getting them used to the pressure and moving away etc. And boy has the groundwork helped me. (see some of my previous Posts) I have a 17.1hh 4yo whose favourite trick was to rear, strike and squash me and anyone in his way. Although didn't do it everytime I led him out. I had to ensure I put the work in as I don't want to be able to tickle a 17.1hh young competition horses stomach when he is flashing his undercarriage at me

Even if you only do 10 minutes a day a couple of times a week, it will help.
And you will have bad days, but stay focussed and there's always tomorrow

:)
 
Thanks Nelson11. She's only just 3 so I'm very reluctant to use a bit. Yes, I can lead her on both sides and she's fine if we're just going out to the field or coming in. It's when I try and do some work. For instance, yesterday we'd done about 5mins when I then led her down the field for the second time and asked her to turn right. She promptly whipped round to my left, put the accelerator on and bolted back to the gate. I calmly walked back up and got her and tried again. She did it once fine but then when I tried again she promptly did the same thing. I used a long lead rope but she's a big girl and is much stronger than me. I think she knows that as she's a big girl she can do what she likes if she feels like it. I've only had her for a couple of months and I fear her previous owners let her get away with rather a lot. I'd like to nip it in the bud before she gets to used to getting her own way.
 
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