leading problems

[izzyxxx]

i have just brought a little 12hh 3year old and she is the sweetest thing i hoped she might make a good L/R pony but there is one problem, she wont lead properly.

i have had bearly handled youngsters leading like little angles with minimum effort but this little mare is really testing me atm.

she will happily mope along behind you but not next to you i have managed to get her listening to me so i can make her back up as she is lacking in some manners atm. i cant make her trot properly she just bobs her head up and down and walks faster lol unless i run at the end of the lead rope then she will happily trot but that not really ideal. she doesn't respond to me flicking the lead rope or a tap with the schooling whip.

is there anything i am doing wrong or any exersises(sp) i can do the thing that gets me is when its on her terms eg in the field when i am sorting fencing she will walk by my side like a dog, if i try to get her to lead she will plant her feet half the time so i am open to any suggestions or faults on my behalf thanks in advance

 

[Bossanova]

Stand at her left shoulder, facing her. You need her on a long rope or lunge line or similar. Hold a lunge whip or long schooling whip in your right hand, parallel to her body. The aim is to stay in this position, asking her to walk on by moving the whip in closer to her quarters and slow dows/stop by using slight pressure on the lunge line. To push her nose away from you move the front of the lunge whip in. To mover her shoulder away from you take half a step towards her. You should be able to walk her wherever, from either side.

This is a really good exercise to improve their leading skills, it teaches the horse to move away from your pressure and to 'take the lead' rather than follow you.