Leading in from field

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Flowerofthefen

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I've had my tb coming up 8 years. It's taken me 4/5 years to get him settled in the field in the morning during winter. Up until that point I couldn't turn him out so he was stabled 24/7, his choice. I can now turn him out, unless it's really heavy rain or really windy and he is fine. The problem is leading him in. I can catch him in field and walk sedatly to the gate. I then catch my other horse from his field. I then start to lead in and he is fine, then halfway back to stables he kicks off. Example today, caught fine, to gate fine, caught other horse fine, started to lead in, half way in kicked off, bucking, got told off so reared. Can't lead in headcollar as too strong, hates a chiffney, currently leading in in a bridle with lunge lime over his head which he is best in. Just stuck as to how can stop this behaviour. It really spoils him. Mainly fine to lead in good weather.
 
You can get a trainer to help and understand what is upsetting the horse or what he's trying to tell you.

I've used HorseHelp UK before with good success. If you can say which area maybe we can suggest trainers in your area.
 
OrangeAndLemon said:
You can get a trainer to help and understand what is upsetting the horse or what he's trying to tell you.

I've used HorseHelp UK before with good success. If you can say which area maybe we can suggest trainers in your area.
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Thank you. I have had 2 ground work trainers out, 1 quite famous, neither has really helped
 
I have read this correctly? You are leading 2 horses at the same time?
That is a very big ask of the horse he not only has to suit his pace to yours but also to that of the other horse and he knows that when you attention is on the other horse it can't be on him, so he can kick off with impunity.
I would lead them in separately until he is rock solid leading on his own
 
Doing what you are doing with 2 can be tricky. I help with a friend's 2 regularly - one is a saint, the other is a total diva. I don't plan on risking myself so deal with the latter on her own.

I would honestly go back to leading individually till you have this behaviour sorted. If this horse goes up and you are leading another this has to put you in a pretty dangerous position - at the very least 2 horses = less space to manoeuvre on a path.
 
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Years ago I had a small TB mare and a bigger TB gelding. I used to lead them in together and used to get a bit cross with the mare as she would be jig jogging forward and the gelding hanging back. Eventually realised he was trying to get behind me and bite her so making her jog. I would try separately if you can and try to get him to settle on his own.
 
Flowerofthefen said:
Thank you. I have had 2 ground work trainers out, 1 quite famous, neither has really helped
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Are you able to say a bit more about this? Not who the trainers were but more what they did/advised and what helped/didn't help. Might be useful for people here making suggestions.
 
Is he better by himself?

I lead all three of mine together most of the time, however, in bad weather where I think the naughtiest one (the oldest too of the three lol) might act up I accept doing multiple trips so we all stay safe and attached to the handler ;).

In general terms I expect all of mine to be polite citizens and so have done a lot of work on ground work and manners, it sounds like you need to work on that more before expecting him to behave in bad weather and when coming in with another horse.
 
Might he be cold (or hot even) or hungry and therefore anxious to get in? If he's not turned out with the other horse, is their lack of a worked-out social relationship making it uncomfortable for him to be at close quarters? For safety it does sound like it would be better to bring them in separately so you can concentrate on him.
 
I *can* lead my three together, or in pairs, but in practice, I almost never do. It's just not worth the time saved - there are so many factors that can make it escalate very quickly, and your ability to deal with issues is dramatically reduced. It's just not worth it. Doubly so if one of the horses has a long standing training issue.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I have read this correctly? You are leading 2 horses at the same time?
That is a very big ask of the horse he not only has to suit his pace to yours but also to that of the other horse and he knows that when you attention is on the other horse it can't be on him, so he can kick off with impunity.
I would lead them in separately until he is rock solid leading on his own
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He is worse on his own
 
HufflyPuffly said:
Is he better by himself?

I lead all three of mine together most of the time, however, in bad weather where I think the naughtiest one (the oldest too of the three lol) might act up I accept doing multiple trips so we all stay safe and attached to the handler ;).

In general terms I expect all of mine to be polite citizens and so have done a lot of work on ground work and manners, it sounds like you need to work on that more before expecting him to behave in bad weather and when coming in with another horse.
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Worse on his own
 
I can lead my rising 2 year old in with my retired 19 year old but choose not to as it has the potential to cause more drama and escalate massively.....

Personally I'd just bring your lad in by himself and then go and get your other horse - perhaps your lad might be getting frustrated that he is being caught, taken to the gate and then left there whilst you get your other horse? I know that my retired lad detests waiting to be brought in and the one time I left him at the gate whilst I went to fetch my rising 2 year old, my 19 year old was an absolute terror to bring in - not done it since and he is a lamb to lead in and out :)

Edited to add - I've just seen he is worse on his own to bring in - which makes bringing them both in a lot more sense now - does he respond to treats or scratches? Maybe having a friend with you on the ground to help would be a massive advantage for you? :)
 
I always bring mine in one at a time, even when I’ve had up to four.

Something major is going awry with his general respect and handling if you can’t even lead him safely in on his own. It might manifest itself in being difficult to lead in, but it goes down to getting the basics of handling throughly installed. He must learn to respect you.

Horses are too bleddy dangerous if they push you around on the ground. Don’t tolerate the little disobediences or they soon escalate.
 
Tiddlypom said:
He must learn to respect you.
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It sounds to me like an anxiety threshold issue rather than "respect", especially if he is worse in bad weather and better if he has company. If it has been going on for 8 years I suspect it isn't as simple as him just trying it on despite a chifney.

Unfortunately figuring out what might be upsetting him is impossible over the internet. Could be location based if it happens at the same place every time or that he can only hold himself together for so long before his brain bursts.
 
smolmaus said:
Unfortunately figuring out what might be upsetting him is impossible over the internet. Could be location based if it happens at the same place every time or that he can only hold himself together for so long before his brain bursts.
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I agree with you here but I also think he needs to learn to hold it together a bit longer.
OP can you get your other first? Maybe the hanging around and gate fiddling for the second is all too much for him.
I’d also feed a very small feed before bringing him in, or giving him a mouthful if haylage or something.
 
Mine can be like it, I'm sure it is anxiety as its always when he's last in, He's calm in the field but plays up when coming in.

I don't know what to do really as I work 9-5 everyone else at the yard seams to be part time or retired. My work can be flexible so I get down early when I can, and if I end up being last use a bridle. Very few others will get him for me as they are nervous. He is actually very good when not left until last.
I have found, bad weather & hunger makes him worse, so a small feed maybe helpful

He's also not so bad now it is light when I get down.


I had actually started leaving him in on the worst of the dark wet winter days and he actually seams happier. thankfully spring is on its way.
 
Clodagh said:
I agree with you here but I also think he needs to learn to hold it together a bit longer.
OP can you get your other first? Maybe the hanging around and gate fiddling for the second is all too much for him.
I’d also feed a very small feed before bringing him in, or giving him a mouthful if haylage or something.
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I catch him then walk him to the gate of the other horse who is waiting to be caught. I have absolutely no trouble with doing it this way. He waits patiently for me to sort other horse out which takes seconds. I thought I might try a carrot or something to distract him on way in?
 
Flowerofthefen said:
I catch him then walk him to the gate of the other horse who is waiting to be caught. I have absolutely no trouble with doing it this way. He waits patiently for me to sort other horse out which takes seconds. I thought I might try a carrot or something to distract him on way in?
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But maybe it’s all trigger stacking? I’d just try the other one first.
 
Have you tried leading him a few steps , rewarding them going back to the field… do this 100 times literally do it all day until the few yards is done and really boring . In fact don’t turn round make him go backwards back to the field … the second he starts getting tense reverse up . I would use a rope halter rather than a chiffney or bridle.

If he bucks and flys about no reaction from you just stand out of the way til it stops … let him run round you in small circles if necessary . Once he is calm go back to the 3 steps forward 2 steps backwards …
 
mini-eventer said:
Mine can be like it, I'm sure it is anxiety as its always when he's last in, He's calm in the field but plays up when coming in.

I don't know what to do really as I work 9-5 everyone else at the yard seams to be part time or retired. My work can be flexible so I get down early when I can, and if I end up being last use a bridle. Very few others will get him for me as they are nervous. He is actually very good when not left until last.
I have found, bad weather & hunger makes him worse, so a small feed maybe helpful

He's also not so bad now it is light when I get down.


I had actually started leaving him in on the worst of the dark wet winter days and he actually seams happier. thankfully spring is on its way.
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I don't turn out on really wet or windy days because I know he will be an arse. He's quite happy standing in!
 
Miss_Millie said:
Is he like this to lead on the ground in general, or just coming back in from the field? If just coming back in from the field, maybe he is hungry and therefore rushing? Is there any hay in the field?
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Just coming back in from the field. He has hay but won't eat it as he has grass. I would assume if he was hungry he would be like it every day?
 
Is he hungry? My TB could be difficult leading in at the end of the day particularly in winter, they had little grass and no hay…so when I brought him in at dinner time he would kick off half way back to the stable, basically anticipating feed and hay!

So I stopped leaving him out all day and would bring in after 3 or 4 hours max…and his bad behaviour stopped. In his case I think the prospect of the full haynet and his feed bucket got a bit much for him!

Have you tried bringing in after just a few hours or putting some hay in the field etc? Just to see if the behaviour is different?
 
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