Leading in 3 horses....

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L&M

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What is the best way to safely bring in 3 horses that share the same field, who all want to come in at the same time?!

I tried to lead all 3 together today but ended up loosing one - however if I lead in 2, the 1 left behind gets very stressed.

Alternatively I have tried leading the 1 in first, then going back for the other 2, but they then start fighting!

Any suggestions?
 
Over the winter months I lead all 5 of mine of in and out. It took a bit of time to get an idea for who needs to go where in the 'line'!

For example, the youngster who is quite bolshy and spooky goes in the middle where i can keep her in check and she likes the security of the big boys either side.

Practise I guess is the way to do it if you want to take all 3 at the same time!
 
one lunge line, two lead ropes. Put the easiest to lead (dope on a rope) on the lunge, then he can go out to the far side or at the back or wherever, the other two put on leads by your side so that you have more control over them
 
I have longer than usual ropes because I am usually leading in at least three or more horses. I just let them drop in behind and walk with two either side of me.
Sometimes they will all come level but know better than to pull ahead.
 
Thanks for your help and will try the quietest one on a lunge line tomorrow - it doesn't help that I have to lead them downhill on a narrow track, making 3 abreast a tight squeeze, but I am sure with practice we will get there!
 
Last time I did that I ended up getting trampled ! 12 hoof prints up my back and legs and a knee the size of a beachball, lucky no breakages cause they flattened me into soft mud :eek:
 
when i worked at the royal stud we used to lead in 6-7 mares each about a mile from the paddock across the road or up the road then into the yard. These were def not dopes on ropes -Tb`s but it can be done.
 
Do you have to lead all 3? With my 3 I tend to lead the naughty one and the Shetland (because the Shetland likes to wander off where she shouldn't be) and let my old gelding follow which he quite happily does as he is a big wuss and can't bear to be without his girls! Of course all my field is fenced off I would never let him follow down a lane!
 
Depends how secure your yard is and situation and how well behaved the pones are but I lead 2 of mine from yard to stable with 1 pottering along behind who takes himself into his stable for me :) they also t/o the same. But I am on my own yard and its always securely gated.:D
 
I have the naughty youngster on the outside, cos he whizzes past me and at least if hes on a long rope on the outside he can only get himself in a muddle! Dominant mare between me and him as she keeps him in line.
 
I have tried letting one go as we get onto the yard but even though sensible to lead, he then hoofs it across the concrete to his stable at canter, which I don't want to encourage, especially if we get an icy spell.

The other problem I have is we have as we approach the yard we have to go down a steep bank, so if any one of them gets keen, I start ski-ing after them!!

I am sure they will settle as time goes on.............
 
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