is it just me or....

This is one of Boyo's naughty habits, but we have been working on it, and with the exception of walking through the hayfield (nightmare lol) he is responding very well to the command 'head up' whenever his nose starts to drift southward... ;)
 
Mine has never done it, as she has never been allowed to. However, OH has done her for me quite a bit in the last few weeks, and when I commented that she had tried to get to the grass when I was leading her, he said " yes, she likes a wee stop to munch, doesn't she!" Grrrr! He's been letting her, and she is now convinced that it is her right.
I've done her every day this week, she's stopped pulling now! Lol
 
I don't let my boy do it unless im leading him to the grass to eat it, but not while im bring him in etc! I let my mare do what she wants shes 28 and is very respectful generally so just let her do it if she wants as she is old and I want her to be as happy as she's made me over the years!
 
Yes, I allow my current horse to do it (allow being the operative word), both when walking to/from the field and when out hacking. When on a longer hack or going somewhere new I will stop him and allow him to have a mouthful of whatever vegetation we are on top of/next to and then we will move off again. He's young, food orientated and works hard for me, so why shouldn't I allow him a little snack along the way. Similar with the leading to the field - he stands quietly in his stable after all the other horses have been turned out and walks politely alongside me on the longish trek to the current field even though he knows his strength advantage only to well (he was a thug when I got him), so I will stop once or twice on the way to his chewed down field to let him have a mouthful of the good grass. He stops when I stop and moves off again as soon as I say, he does not pull me or grab at things.

I chose to teach this particular horse that it was alright to eat while in hand because when he gets a little stressy eating seems to be very effective in getting him to snap out of it, so I hope it will be a routine that comes in useful at shows in the future.
 
This is one thing I love about Ned. He has NEVER pulled to grass, with me leading or riding. If I allow him to eat when I'm leading/riding he will wait for my permission and leave it as soon as I tell him :) After years of riding naughty riding school ponies...it's a quality in him I adore!
 
cinnamontoast said:
Hilarious! How is that relevant? They respect you more cos they're Parelli trained? Mine isn't and has just been taught to lead nicely without pulling me to get to grass.
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LOL Exactly!! Both yours and mine are well trained regardless of the method.....do yours keep pace at both fast and slow speeds?
 
I like mannerly horses, but Alf is allowed to push his luck a bit. He's older, knows how to behave, and responds well when I don't have time to wander in from the field picking at grass (and having a sneaky roll in the school!). He also has the odd mouthful of cow parsley out hacking - if I was out for a walk through a plentiful, free supply of Manchego and red wine, I'd stop for a snack, so I allow him the odd nibble. Wouldn't do it if he was a youngster, or was rude about it.
 
I suppose its personel preference i hate it though and have a young 16.2hh ISH who i dont want pulling me down to grass when ever he feels like it and i find it rude i never let my welsh d do it had him since he was a yearling then when he went for backing they use to let him now hes awful for it
 
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