How do I train my horse to lead?

[mrsjcmking]

I have a rescue colt, and he's fantastic

He's just got used to the headcollar, and he'll let me groom him in his stable (he wouldn't let me touch him a week ago)

He's a big softy however if the lead rope is attached to his halter he spooks and rears. I don't know much about his past but i'm going to guess that he was mistreated in some way with a rope.

He is a very loving horse (now that he's realised i'm not as scary as I look) but I want to get him on the rope and tied up as his feet are very overgrown and want to get this sorted as soon as I can.

Thanks

 

[bugbee717]

When you groom him have the lead rope with you, in your hand all the time so he can hear the noise it makes, then if you can pop it on his headcollar, but dont try leading him. just stand and groom him then if you can slowly move him around with it. Hold it but very loose as you move from one side to the other. He should start to move with you.
What breed is he ?
good luck

 

[intouch]

"Snake phobia" is not uncommon in horses, he may not have been abused with a rope, he just thinks it is going to kill him. If you can see it from his point of view and introduce it gradually so he can understand that it is not life threatening, you will make, in my experience, slow progress!
One horse we had like this took months to accept a lunge line, but got there in the end - never totally believed that it was safe, but agreed to work with it.

 

[Echo Bravo]

I'd rub it up and down neck when grooming him and just lay over neck for a few seconds and make a fuss of him(slice of carrot). Let him nibble at it while you stand next to him and make a nice fuss of him. If he back off let him be and try again later and then buy a bumbag,fill with sliced carrots or apples and slowly once he's happy to have leadrope on his headcollar, start with a few steps and slowly go from there, as for having his feet trimmed, I would hold him and have front feet done first and see how he goes from there. But my advice is take him slowly and at the end you will end up with a happy pony, who will take things in his stride