Leading a nervous mare

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Horsespog

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Hi, I'm wondering if anyone is able to guide me in some direction. We have had a young mare for around a year now, and she came to us incredibly nervous to the point she was unable to even be touched without freaking. A year on and I have managed to get a head collar on her, brush her and she's so loveable! I'm just wanting advice on how to go about beginning to lead her? Last time I attempted she freaked and pulled back and reared, evidently a fear of being restricted. Any advice would be great, providing it's not nasty😋 thankyou
 
I also have a nervous pony. He does hoon off on occassion when led on a normal lead rope. The thing that has helped is leading on a longer rope held right at the end and all the time he is doing the right thing the rope is left totally slack, as long as is is facing the right way and not going backwards he gets no mental or physical pressire put on him. ive got him through gateways and doors with this tactic (which he would not always do before)

Mine is quite troublesome and maybe im not the ideal person to advise you but just saying what mine is happier with
 
WelshD said:
I also have a nervous pony. He does hoon off on occassion when led on a normal lead rope. The thing that has helped is leading on a longer rope held right at the end and all the time he is doing the right thing the rope is left totally slack, as long as is is facing the right way and not going backwards he gets no mental or physical pressire put on him. ive got him through gateways and doors with this tactic (which he would not always do before)

Mine is quite troublesome and maybe im not the ideal person to advise you but just saying what mine is happier with
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No you're answer was great! Thankyou☺️ I was thinking of using a longer rope, and as you say not pressuring her, and I was potentially thinking of a food reward if she takes a step towards me, and take it nice and slow☺️ Thankyou
 
We have an Appaloosa youngster, who is very wary of headcollars, breeder said that she was difficult to catch - she seems to dislike the noise of the buckles. She has responded very well to a rope halter and a nylon bridle. We have never had a problem catching her.
 
Thankyou for answering ☺️ it's not so much a problem of catching her, I've mastered that, she too did have problem with buckles and headcollars but we've overcome that, it's just the problem of leading😋
 
The Appy youngster above (I'm Pearls sister) responds best to a very low energy level from the handler and largley ignoring her when she is jumping about. She reacts quite markedly to change, things moved etc. so I make sure that things get moved round the yard randomly. We have also had a good response to clicker training.
 
I didn't put a leadrope on mine to begin with. Did work in the field and held a carrot just in front of her and adding "walk on" command. Went from her taking one step to walking around with me. I then put the leadrope on, had it slack and holding a carrot in front and using command.
 
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