Leading problems - please help!

[zoesophie]

Hi, Im not sure how to solve this so thought Id pop a post on here and hopefully get some ideas.

Background to the problem is, Oscar has been on box rest for 3 months. Hes allowed out for a few hours each day in a tiny field for a month. The only area we have is a fenced off area in a larger field which horses are in all the time. To get to his tiny bit we have to walk through the larger field.

3 times out of 4 hes fine but on the odd occasion he will suddently spin round and face me. I dont think hes doing it to be naughty, coz hes not like that, I think its out of excitement that he can actually get out and have some grass. But, have you got any ideas on how to stop him spinning round?

Sorry its long but worth a try to see what ideas I get.
Thanks in advance!

 

[AmyMay]

Do you put a bridle on him?

 

[zoesophie]

Yes hes taken out in a chifney (sorry if thats the wrong spelling) just as a precaution really going through a bigger field. Normally i.e. before he was injured we could do anything in a headcollar. Hes in this small field for a month then he will go out in his normal field and once thats happening Im sure he will go back to normal but Id like to nip this spinning round in the bum really!

 

[juliebrewer]

Get two people to lead him with lead ropes. One person each side. Wont be able to spin round then..

 

[AmyMay]

I'd pop a bridle on him - so much easier to deal with.

 

[zoesophie]

OK do you think it might work better i.e. less harsh? He doesnt actually pull against it he just turns from walking next to me to facing me..

 

[zoesophie]

Good plan - Ill give that a go too - ta!

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
OK do you think it might work better i.e. less harsh? He doesnt actually pull against it he just turns from walking next to me to facing me..

[/ QUOTE ]
No it's not the harshness aspect - a chiffney is not harsh if used correctly. Its that fact that a bridle has two reins, so you can control the head from both sides......

 

[zoesophie]

OK thanks for the help, maybe Ill do as suggested above too and use a bridle with one person on each side....

Cheers peeps!

 

[ColleenIsh]

also if leading with a bridle just a carrying schooling whip with you might help

 

[zoesophie]

Another good idea - thanks. I dont know why I didnt think of any of these...makes sense when you think about it really! Must engage brain...

 

[mickey]

Does he barge/go to run out of the stable? If so you could spend some time getting him to back off away from you to get him controlled before you get outside.

 

[zoesophie]

No hes not bargey at all (I couldnt let him at 17.1, he is as good as gold normally), in fact if I stop he stops next to me with no pressure at all on leadrope. I think he just gets excited after his box rest and rather than being naughty he just likes to turn round and face me - silly boy, but wanted to crack it before he does it all the time.

 

[cariadssogreat]

Ditto Colleen- carry a schooling whip out to the front of you so he can't spin round so to speak. You will find a lot of in hand showing people will do that with they're show canes to guarantee that they can get round the corner in trot!