how to stop 4yr old pulling back

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breezing

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A 4 yr old has come onto yard for breaking and has had little education ,it has broken 3 lead ropes and string any suggestions to stop it pulling back ? It is not frightened just very pushy ,bolshy .
 
A controller headcollar - dually or something like it ? Is it something that a chifney would help with ? Not much help I know, sorry sm x
 
breezing said:
A 4 yr old has come onto yard for breaking and has had little education ,it has broken 3 lead ropes and string any suggestions to stop it pulling back ? It is not frightened just very pushy ,bolshy .
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He sounds as if he just doesn't know any better, as you say, lack of education. Grrr, why do people leave youngsters for so long without the basics? It makes life so much easier for all concerned:mad: If more youngsters were taught to "Stand" then they wouldn't pull back when tied, the two go hand in glove.

Personally, I wouldn't tie him up for now. Go right back and treat him like you would a foal. Long rope, through a tie ring - in a stable not outside. Bring him where you want him to stand, hold the rope and get on with grooming etc. When he pulls back, let him, don't speak to him, ignore him altogether, he'll hit the back of the stable soon enough. Then just bring him forwards, tell him to stand, and start all over again.
 
Teach him to yield to pressure on his poll. Put your hand on his poll where the halter goes behind his ears...apply a steadily increasing pressure until he drops his head...as soon as he does, release the pressure immediately.

After repeating this a few times he will learn that pressure there can be released if he yields...so that once he is tied he shouldn't pull back.

In addition "Blocker" Tie rings are fab for tying horses too. Its such a fundamental part of training, teaching a horse to yield to pressure...helpful in all aspects of their development! good luck!

Claire Adamson

2* Parelli Professional
 
my farrier said they had a horse that they used to shoe that used to pull back all the time so the YO used a good quality bungie instead of a rope. cliped it onto head collar and ring. its pulled back, and pulled and pulled and pulled till the bungie was stretched to its limit. realised it wasnt getting anywhere and walked back to where it was tied and hasnt done it since, i think this is a good idea in somewhere like a stable where it cant stretch it so far that its dangerous or slip for pulling.
 
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