Is your horse a knobber to lead in the rainy/dark Winter?

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Mongoose11

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I am getting nervous already about leading my mare when it comes to bringing in time in the Winter. We already have her anti social circling back when others are at the gate, then me clearing a path and making room for her to come through but if others get close to her while I am putting her headcollar on she can be a bit prancy...

In the dark/wind/rain and wanting to get in for her tea she can be a bit of a knob. Strong and fidgety and it frightens me - even more so after she has just broken my foot and I have been out of action for four weeks. My eart goes ten to the dozen and sometimes I am a bit of a wreck by the time I make it back tot he stables. This isn't every time just sometimes and I am worrying about it already.

Friend recommended a Dually halter. Any other advice?
 
Oh yeah sounds familiar!! I used to put a bridle on but if she was in the mood for it, it didnt make much difference.... I'm afraid I used to be a wimp and go up at lunchtime and bring her in early to save the battle! I did decide that she could bloody live out, but unfortunately the yard didnt have the facilities. So no advice really, unless you can either bring in early or have her live out?
 
My horse is great to bring in in the dark.. it's just when he can see that's the problem :p

I find it helps to walk with a relatively loose rope and rest my forearm along his shoulder so he can't randomly launch himself on to me...
 
I hate turning my horse out in the wind and rain. He is fine to come in but after a night in the stable, not so good. When he is out 24/7 no problem at all. I happily pay my YO to do it for me. He is a git with her too.
 
What time are you bringing in at? Have other horses been brought in beforehand? Is there enough grass in the field? The reason I ask is that a lot of horses can get bolshy and lively if they are cold and/ or hungry or if a lot of their friends have been brought in earlier. Is there any way you can bring in earlier, or pay someone to do it for you? It might be worth doing if you think any of the issues I've mentioned could be at the root of your problems.
 
Nope my guys are usually ok, yes they can have their moments, but in hand work means they normally behave, ive had to put them out by the headlights of the car on many occassions, and when hurricaine bawbag hit last year and the roof was blown off my stables they went out in the peeing rain and almost hurricaine winds, never put a foot wrong.
Unfortunately due to being off work on rest my wee tb mare is being an utter twit just now so you have my sympathies
 
Thanks guys, I do need to get a grip and do my best to solve her behaviour in any way that I can and as the grazing is limited they are going out to be mobile rather than to eat. I already have plans in place for supplementing the limited grazing this year that weren't in place last year so she may improve if she isn't SO keen to get in for food! It isn't that she wasn't fed enough last year (she is a very good doer) it is just that I don't think I was timing the feed/forage appropriately and I have a better plan in place this Winter. Hopefully that will have an effect. I am pretty sure it is food related now you have made me think about it more clearly as she is usually unflappable.

I have started doing more ground work with her on the yard, making her wait and back up etc when she gets bargy - we have been doing this in gateways as this has been an issue too. I think I will have to try working her like this on the track leading to and from the stable. Sometimes I have been tempted just to let her go!
 
I have a horse like this, been like that 'til I started Parelli with him two years ago, he is still a handful at times leading and will spook and leap forward and sometimes rear, but he no longer barges or runs over me or comes towards me. We play at getting horses to respect your space and not to come into it, we use a 6ft Carrot stick and 6ft Savvy string (so you can reach all areas of your horse) and a 12ft line and we teach them to back out to the end of the line when told to. So that means in time and with proper practice, you will be able to lead your horse 6ft behind you and keep him at a respectful distance. I found a Dually headcollar completely useless on my lad. You see gadgets like that do not teach respect as they are mechanical devices that exert force ( considerable) on your horses face, also if you horse has a tantrum and you get on the wrong side off the Dually, becuse s/he spins or turns you will not be able to control them, ( you have to unclip the leadrope and clip on the side nearest you, so useless in that scenario). You need to help your horse to see you, and respect your space,items such as a Dually or Chifney and bridle do none of these things......
 
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Yes. I feel your pain.;) In winter,there is no rhyme or reason-one day a donkey to bring in,the next a kn*b and tho bad weather often plays a part,not always. He wants to come in-end of story. How he gets in,at what speed&whether he's still attached to you,doesn't seem to figure in his plans-he just wants in. Next day he'll be an angel:-/ He's too precious for his own good.;)
 
No. I have the rule that if excited, fizzy etc, they can do almost anything on the way too/from field, provided it doesn't invade my space, pull me along & remains at my choice of speed. Eg they can do collected canter at my side, or small bucks, but dragging me or crossing my path in anyway isn't on. I find regular timing helps too.
Following on from storminateacups post, we use cheapo headcollars (TM), by midwinter mud plastered leadropes (TM) & handlers wear a selection of dodgy woolen headwear (TM).
Sorry, don't want to thread hijack to debate parelli, but couldn't resist, warped sense of humour (TM).
 
Nope, mine is very good to lead anywhere, any time of day or night. I don't just lead her to and from the field though, I take her out for walks regularly, at least twice a week and do a lot of training while we're out. She's allowed to jogtrot and gawp at things, but she isn't allowed to pull, get in front or tread on my heels. Practice makes perfect.
 
My girls have gotten better in the dark...,..old mare has this trick where she starts weaving her head about and then wacks you in the face.........so as soon as she starts weaving I put lead rope through her mouth stops her dead:D

They have gotten better in the dark the more I do it so just practice your leading work.
 
No. Mine leads sensibly whatever the weather and no matter how dark. She also goes at my pace. I turned out in pitch dark with a torch last night and she behaved the same as in daylight. However once it is dark before I arrive at the yard she is brought in for me. I trust her to lead sensibly but I don't want to be flailing about in the mud in the dark trying to find her in a big field and coping with others who might try to guard the gate etc.
 
You need something stronger than a headcollar to hold this particular horse in and a dually is very good for this. I would suggest you work on leading generally in the good weather so that he is good at respecting your space. For some horses hunger is an issue too so you could try giving a part feed just outside his gate to take the edge off pulling to come in. You have my sympathy because this sort of behaviour is miserable.
 
Last winter I was being paid to bring in 2 ex racers and totally understand where you are coming from! They had to be led in together and often would buck, rear, spin and generally drag me across the field to get in. They hated being out for more than a couple of hours, and as the owner never had time to excericse them enough, were ticking time bombs.

I did find a dually helped on one - he respected it and was far more controllable in it. Also if I could keep one settled it usually meant the other was more calm. I also walked them in briskly, with my elbow into their shoulders, so if they did kick out it was always away from me. I always wore a hat and gloves too.

By some miracle I got through the winter un harmed, but won't ever put myself at risk like that again.

Good luck!
 
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