Need help with bolshy youngster...

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Gingernags

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Ivy the terrible is in the dog house again... fair enough the horses have been in for 3 days due to the weather, but it doesn't excuse her latest escapade.

I turned Asti out first this morning and took her plus hay out to the field, had no problems. Went back for the other 2. Led them down the field, one in each hand, managed to not get nipped by Ivy, she has a habit of trying to walk behind you and trying to get your shoulder or calf - but more playful than nasty, but then has a habit of standing on you.

Anway, got through the gate, went to swing Byter round, and Ivy decided to just try and trample me in the mud. She barged into my back and I got various blows from knees/feet whatever, up my legs, and on my back. It scared the sh!t out of me, I very, very nearly ended up under 15.2+ of 2.5 year old bad manners.

She then took off but as I was still holding onto both leadropes, and trying desperately to hang onto them, she ran into Byters - ended up across her chest, and dragged both ropes out of my hand.

They then went galloping round the field, ropes flying, for about 20 mins before I could get hold of them and take the headcollars off.

I now have a very bruised and sore leg and back, feeling very sorry for myself, and a feeling of being at the end of my tether with the little sod. She's not even mine! I think I need danger money off my sister!

The frustration is she's either thick or just obstinate. Some things just don't seem to get through her wooly head and thick skull - like keeping out of my space and moving where she's told. She's VERY slow to learn and I'm wondering now if its sheer bloody-mindedness?

What can I do to teach her to move away when asked and respect my space? Bearing in mind she can turn and bite or kick if she's reprimanded (Like she hates the word no if said firmly, not as in whacking her, though I certainly felt like it this morning!)

She accepts a bit and leads out in hand OK, with a saddle on. She will walk and stop and turn, though with occassional lapses where she forgets and walks into you... Biggest problem is we just have sodden fields at the moment and nowhere to work her otherwise I think the Richard Maxwell pressure halter would be coming out and I'd start working her with that...

Any ideas to stop me from being killed next time? Or before I borrow the farmers 12 bore? (joking - honest!)
 
Would it be feasible to lead them separately so you can concentrate on her? Or perhaps consider a different type of headcollar - one of the be nice ones of whatever they are called? One of ours is always led to and from the field in a bridle. We've had him since he was a baby (like most of the others) and he never managed to learn any manners - the only one out of a yard of 30 that has this problem! Some of them are just bolshy in hand and she may never really sort herself out.
 
I would try a pressure halter, 'Be Nice Halters' are good, the gelding who goes out with my mare, had no manners when he arrive (3 YO), My 'Be Nice' didn't fit, so led him in and out with a bridle, now he is brillant to led, even in a headcollar.
 
personally I'd lead her on her own in a chifney with lunge line attached and schooling whip in my hand to mark out my space. You could do the same with a be nice halter.
I don't mean hit her with the whip but use it as a guide to where she's supposed to be.
 
TBH after 3 days in I would be inclined to lead her out on her own to the field.
My youngster went through a very short bolshy stage a couple of months back and a week being led in and out on his own with a chain over his nose soon cured that.
 
I might have to try but its a problem leaving one in on its own when I turn the others out. Asti has to go out first as she's the only one sane enough to stay in the field on her own without panicking as to where her pals are. Most days I lead 3 together but the ground is too bad at the moment unless I want to ski down the field!

And the other thing is our stables have metal gates not doors and I'd be terrified in case the last one out went mad at being left and got stuck in the gate or tried to jump out.

I have a be nice head collar, asti is led in it as she can be a tad strong when she wants grass. Not really bad but will try to get her head down and with the be nice she leaves well alone! And I do have the richard maxwell but would like to try working with it before just leading her...

Hmmmm.

I *could* try tying Asti in the yard, taking Byter first and hope she settles in the field for 5 mins, going back for Ivy who should still be OK if she can see Asti, then do Asti last. Might try it at the weekend when sister is on hand in case of problems!

Failing that my sister really needs to get her backside in gear and get a new job so we can turn out together!!!! (She goes to the yard and feeds/changes rugs at 6.30, I go at 8 and turf them out!!!).

Can I just add... OOOOOWWWWWWW!!!! My shoulder has now joined in the pain causing, I guess it nearly got pulled out of its socket... at least 8 hours to go before I can go soak in a hot bath...
 
I'm just wondering if it's like it is with human teenagers (think of Harry Enfield's Kevin!) that the body growing up causes changes in the way the brain works. It takes a while for the brain to catch up with the body sometimes and they don't always know where their feet/hands are - maybe it's the same with horses?

If it were me who had to lead her out I'd wear as much protective gear as I could, I'd lead her on her own so I had two hands in case of trouble, and I'd probably use a rope halter that tightens if the horse messes about. Also, I'd make sure I was really clear about what I wanted her to do; I've made mistakes with mine and afterwards realised that I had just expected him to know what I wanted.

She sounds like a little madam - I wish you well when you start to back her!
 
Would you believe she has been sat on twice and led around the yard, and didn't bother AT ALL?

I mean all of 5 mins, once about 3 months ago and again about a month ago.

Most of the time she is OK its just this being aware of your space idea.

She harasses my mare, goes up and licks her neck, which Asti can't abide so she snaps and squeals at Ivy, which wasn't happening before and I think Ivy was thinking she could get away with everything, whereas the mares are finally starting to sort her out!
 
Have PM you.

Funny you should say about Asti.

Cairo has put up with a lot from Chancer over the past year, mounting, chewing his legs, hanging off his tail.

OH and I have noticed in the last couple of months, he now takes no crap from him and has on occasion given him a hard nip and flicks his heels.

It is as Cairo is saying you are not a little baby anyone more and time to grow up and respect others.

I am glad that Cairo is standing up to him - rather than him go in with a horse that is less tolerant and he had not been taught personal space etc and jumped on them.
 
Cairo would adore Asti - he loves bay and ginger mares - will groom them and love them all day.

All she needs to do is stand there, and maybe a little groom back in return.

Two hairy horrors - think my OH would kill me - he loves Chancer but finds him a total pest at times - especially when he has to get him down from the Dog Club's A Frame or on top of the shavings bales, or chewing things he shouldn't.
 
Having some problems with my 2.5 year old to so can completly sympathise.
Personally I wouldn't go down the chiffny route IMO 2.5 is far too young for this as they are still learning. In a ideal world she needs to be taken to field on her own then each time she puts even one foot wrong you can concentrate on backing your horse up an out of your space. Do this even if she goes just 1 inch to far in front of you, If she shoots past you spin her round so that she is facing you then back her up all the time she is thinking and concentrating it makes it harder for her to be naughty. I know how easy it is to say this and trust me my nerves are shot after my horse rearing up at me and i'm still trying to put all the above in to place it does take time but i've been working on my horse like this for a fortnight and can definatly see he difference.

Good Luck
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ivy the terrible is in the dog house again...
Any ideas to stop me from being killed next time?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I can think of one solution
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......Shall I go and hitch my trailer up now and start the car to warm up?
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lead her with a pressure halter and lunge line and a crop and if she barges or act agressive you can repremand her as another horse would without letting go of her.
another horse would probably give her a good hard kick if she tried to trample them over, dont let her be the boss of you or lull you into thinking you cant tell her off.
if you have a menage i would do plenty of leading practice int there and really iron out these problems before she gets any bigger or worse.
and lead them seperately im sure they will get used to it.
leave the one in the field with their breakfast to keep them occupied while you get the other (and the one left int he stable could have its breakfast while you lead the other one out!)
 
We have the same problem ie three horses to go out/come in. Normally what I do is
1 - take the hay out into the field
2 - take B and S out as the are the most "paired"
3 - take Flo on her own
Thus the one left on their own is in a stable (not in the field).

This is reversed at night ie FLo in first, then the other 2.

With regard to the bad manners, if she was always led on her own in some variety of pressure headcollar, at least you would have 2 hands free to deal with her if she starts to mess about.

Hope you're not feeling too sore, but shoulders don't tend to recover very quickly. I jolted mine when the neighbours let off a firework as we had just caught the horses (held on to all but got a big jerk), and was still sore to lift over chest height about three weeks later.

FIona
 
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