Need some advice

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Footlights

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I posted a thread last week about my new horse that has become incredibly herd bound. When I try and lead him away he plants his feet and refuses to move, so I started carrying a lunge whip with me to give him a little bit of encouragement to move forward which was working really well. After a couple of days doing this I no longer needed to use it and he was improving and gaining confidence.

Over the last few days, however, things have gone back to the way they were, and worse. He now not only plants his feet but is actually walking backwards back towards the herd. No amount of encouragement, pressure etc will get him away from them, the only way I have got him in is by bringing in a 'friend' for him too. I have tried the nice approach, as well as sending him off on a circle every time he stops so that he realises it's not the easy thing to do, neither of which worked.

I don't know where to go from here or what to do :-(
 
Sounds like he is very determined. Have you tried pressure and release with backing him up and I mean for a long distance? I use this method I ask horse to walk forward and for a negative response I make the horse back up a good distance, ask for forward - if that meets with resistance we just back up again and again and again. You need patience, but it always works in the end. Good luck.

Someone posted up Ellen Ofstad Youtube vids - she is a brilliant trainer and you may glean something from watching some of her work - timing is everything. The below one is trailer loading, but you will see she has 100s for all manner of situations.

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...904715l28l19l0l4l4l0l1161l6206l5j5-7j1j1l14l0.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ZEvOaoEcY
 
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He is very determined, and what makes it worse is that I can tell he is getting so upset the further he gets away from them.

When you get a negative response from asking to go forwards do you turn the horse around and back them to where you want to go, or just back them up (in my case, back towards the herd)?
 
Apologies, I have not seen your previous thread. How long have you had the horse and how was he previously kept? Was he in a herd? How did the previous owners manage him?
 
I have had him 2 weeks now. He is an ex-racehorse on trial from Darleys but I don't know how he was kept before he came to me.
 
Footlights said:
He is very determined, and what makes it worse is that I can tell he is getting so upset the further he gets away from them.

When you get a negative response from asking to go forwards do you turn the horse around and back them to where you want to go, or just back them up (in my case, back towards the herd)?
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I think initially it doesn't matter. Personally I would want to minimise his stress and the whole idea behind the pressure release method is that you are in control of making the horse feel comfortable. Practice it wherever - you are not trying to get one over on him you simply want him to want to follow and be comfortable with you. The horse will twig that and will see you as leader and be prepared to follow you and get reassurance from you. It really is that simple that by making him move you are in total control and you choose when to release the pressure. You should make him feel comfortable and safe, particularly in this case away from the herd. Try it in stages, maybe initially in the paddock with the herd and then get him to the gate, then groom him just outside the gate in eyeshot etc. It will be worth being patient with him - he will respect you for it.
 
Gosh, two weeks is very little time and a lot has changed in his life. If he was in training, he has probably not been turned out much. Suddenly he is out, with company and then being asked to leave them behind.
Personally, if he was mine, I would have him coming in and out with a friend for now. If you can have different friends, so that he doesn't become fixated on one particular horse. Give him a chance to relax and settle in, the warmer weather is coming and they tend to chill out more in summer. After a couple of months, try again on his own. Just up to the yard for a few minutes, maybe a quick groom, bit of hay in a net, take him back BEFORE he gets stressed. Gradually extend the time he is on his own. I'm sure you will get there :) but, tbh, I think you are expecting too much from him at the moment.
 
Sorry, I didn't give much info - he has been out of training for a year and has been in work at the rehoming place for 3 months.

Maybe I am expecting a little bit too much too soon though
 
debsg said:
Gosh, two weeks is very little time and a lot has changed in his life. If he was in training, he has probably not been turned out much. Suddenly he is out, with company and then being asked to leave them behind.
Personally, if he was mine, I would have him coming in and out with a friend for now. If you can have different friends, so that he doesn't become fixated on one particular horse. Give him a chance to relax and settle in, the warmer weather is coming and they tend to chill out more in summer. After a couple of months, try again on his own. Just up to the yard for a few minutes, maybe a quick groom, bit of hay in a net, take him back BEFORE he gets stressed. Gradually extend the time he is on his own. I'm sure you will get there :) but, tbh, I think you are expecting too much from him at the moment.
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I agree with this ^^^
Even at the rehoming centre i doubt he will have had a lot of turnout and probably not in a large herd.
 
My TB used to do this when I first got him. Infuriating isn't it? All I can say is that it WILL get better, but it may take a few months. It took a long time with my boy and he would totally freak when finally on his own in the yard. He would plant his feet, run backwards, explode in violent spooks, you name it. I finally tried filling my pockets with pony nuts and trickle feeding hi when he took a few steps forward. I would stop before he planted, treat and then ask for a few more strides. Using a clicker worked even better as it gives them a focus. You can start clicker training in the field. Give him a target such as a cardboard circle on the end of a stick and click and reward when he touches it. You can train him to follow the target whilst he is in the safety of the herd. Gradually get him to move further and further away from the herd. The clicker training will achieve much faster results than the trickle feeding method. Eventually you will be able to dispense with the target and treats. Good luck!
 
Thanks for advice, I'm obviously expecting too much too soon.

It's so incredibly disheartening when you can't even lead your horse in from the field :-(

Clicker training is a great idea as he does respond very well to 'trickle feeding' - I am also relieved to hear you had the same problem and it got better with time, it gives me hope!
 
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