Ideas for a very pushy gelding needed!

[icklechlo]

My friend has a gorgeous 4yo nf, the only issue is that he is so pushy/boulshy!

He has no respect for anything, if you want to get another horse out of the field you have to take a whip with you, and even then he pretty much takes no notice! He got into the feed shed and pretty much demolished it, so he has now been put in a field by himself.

He was backed and hacked out last year, and lunges (with a bit of encouragement to begin with, but then settles well.

He has pretty much been left for the winter as there is no school, but was hacking nicely then, although lacks forwardness/impulsion, and point blank doesn't go out by himself/in front.

Any ideas? I have tried join up with him, which worked (ish) but there isn't really an area good enough to do it with him!

 

[dunthing]

I don't really have any advice except to say that the pony should probably be doing more than he is. I have a highland who was 14.3 as a four year old and discipline was my main aim with him. Knowing that highlands have a reputation for being pushy and also that he was going to be a big boy, He's 15.1 now, I made sure that he was never in my space. He was not allowed to walk in front of me or barge. He is now 18 years old and anyone can handle him. The farrier does his feet without him being tied up and he is just 100% trustworthy because he knows his boundaries. Good luck with the Newfie. I have never found a newfie that I got on with yet. We've had three and they have all been very bolshie and pushy. Sorry if that offends.

 

[icklechlo]

Thanks for the reply, I personally have either found foresters to be lovely, or as he is, really ruddy pushy! Any ideas anyone else?

 

[Archie07]

Thanks for the reply, I personally have either found foresters to be lovely, or as he is, really ruddy pushy! Any ideas anyone else?

My forester is 3 and has days of being a bit of both, I wouldn't say there's one extreme or the other. At 4 your friends NF is still very young and newfie's are late to mature and having been backed and hacked etc at 3 is quite a load for him to take on board possibly. Maybe he needs to chill, if your having a few issue's now I'm not sure powering through with even more work to do is right for him, although only you and your friend can decide that at the end of the day.

Maybe go back to basics but make it fun and interesting for him, because it sounds like he's starting to not enjoy what he's doing at the moment. Can he walk out inhand alone? Have you taken him to any local shows - that will give him something to think about also. What about doing some spook busting with him, that will build up his trust in you. Manners wise you need to set boundaries and stick to them because it sounds like there aren't set ones at the moment hence his behaviour as he's confused as to what is acceptable and what is not. Honestly even 10 - 20mins of interesting groundwork - moving his feet, poles, obstacle courses etc will start to put your friend as leader and build up some respect. Forget lunging, has your friend long reined him at all? That is fab for youngsters and will eventually help with the not wanting to hack on his own problem too. Once he's good at home then box him up and long rein him in new places etc. Kelly Marks gives lots of good advice on it and how to do it.

Good luck, get it right on the ground first before moving forward in the saddle.

 

[icklechlo]

He is currently far too pushy to take anywhere/shows etc, and even leading out inhand is a total battle.

Thankyou for the advice about the groundwork, and making things much more interesting/varied for him, thankyou, the reason he had the winter/6 months off is because he was getting stuffy and needed a break to grow up a bit, I think now he is just taking the micky.

 

[horsecrazy25]

When i first had my Welsh Cob 4 years ago he was very bolshy anad bargy and didnt respect anything!!

I did a lot of ground work with him, long reining, and using certain commands so when i say those commands he hopefully understands.

When he was bargy on the ground my friend gave me her Monty Roberts headcollar which has a extra noseband which puts extra pressure on the nose to stop them pulling or being bargy.

Hope you find something which works! x