need some leading advice pretty please :)

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jessikaGinger

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Little willow is currently being taught to lead, but for some reason she will NOT under any circumstances go through the field gate on the lead, but if i take the lead off she will follow mum through

She will go through the yard gate on the lead

Anyone any suggestions? i have tried walking mum trough and right up the path but willow will not follow she rears plants her feet steps side to side, i tried for 1hour 30mins lastnight as i thought giving up she would win, but in reality i dont have this time to keep trying
 
Difficult without being on the scene, in the meantime try to avoid the situation until you have enough helpers to ensure obedience, take her on different routes and try to get her to think about what she is doing. It is essential that she moves her feet, so if planted try pulling her head to one side so she has to move towards you. She is trying to make you move your feet, and it has to be the other way round.
Make sure your lead rein is long enough so you can hold her if she is rearing [have to confess my lady baby tried a little rear in towards me one day, and the next day again, but I slapped her on the neck with the rope end [and she got the message] [ you should see what her mum does when she is being naughty!] I do not recommend this btw, but it cured mine, though yours is planting, so try the feet movement and see how you get on.
I assume you tried bribery with a bit of grass.
 
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It's raining outside so to postpone going out and getting wet, I will try a reply!:D

In training animals, if something doesn't work within a reasonable time, try something else. Continuing to try to force a youngster through a gate (or, perhaps, into a horse box) merely convinces the animal that there is something worse to fear so it becomes even more determined not to enter what it considers to be the danger zone. So what can you do?

I'd use a rope head collar and gently teach the horse the meaning of pressure and release away from the gate. The principle involved here is to apply gentle pressure to the head collar to cause mild discomfort. You teach the horse how to become more comfortable.

The horse will naturally move in different ways in an effort to become more comfortable when pressure is applied to the head collar. Whenever there is any movement in the direction you want the horse to go (it may be an inch, it may just shift its weight in the desired direction -- be content with very little at first. The lesson usually takes me less than 10 minutes), release the pressure. Your timing must be instantaneous as you are, in effect, empowering the horse to "turn off" that mild discomfort. Take your time and be gentle. Pain or force may cause an animal to panic and that is totally the wrong way to go.

When you approach the gate with the horse, you will notice subtle changes in behaviour which will tell you it is becoming apprehensive. If you continue, the horse will stop and even begin to fight. The distance between these two points is "the threshold". You need to gently erode this threshold until it is eliminated.

Gently bring the horse up to the point where there is first resistance. Stop. Apply gentle pressure on the head collar. Release pressure imediately the horse goes ever so slightly in the direction you want. Stop. Reward your horse with gentle stroking and sweet talk. Turn the horse and walk it away. Repeat.

Each time you do this you will find you can get the horse nearer and nearer to the gate. Be content with an inch or so at a time. Sometimes it won't work. But if you quietly persist, reassure, and take your time, you will succeed!
 
Has something happened to her in the field gateway?
Is the field gate narrower than the yard gate?
The answers to these questions might help you to understand why Willow is reluctant to go through the gate with a leader.
Do you lead from the shoulder? Although this is normal and the way you would usually want her to lead perhaps she feels that there isn't enough room for both of you for some reason, would she follow you through the gate?
It is difficult to advise without seeing what is actually happening but Dry Rot has given some good advice.
 
Fab advice I will try all of this tonight :)
As far as I'm aware nothing has happend at the gate and the gate is huge, but, there is a pony who BOLTs out of the gate if were not quick and I'm starting to think she's the problem :(
She will go out of the field on her own so it isn't a huge problem but I don't want the problem to get worse
Thanks again
 
So does this mean that you don't open the gate wide? Perhaps that's the problem. Could you get someone to hold the bolting pony?

Or do you need Willow to turn so that you can close the gate if you are leading her?
 
I think that could be the problem to be honest, as yes I am unable to open the gate fully
I will get a few friends up tonight and see how she is with the gate wide open :)
Thanks
 
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