New pony won't lead from field

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new pony owner

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I has just bought a riding school pony and have moved him to a new yard. He is turned out 24/7 with an elderly girl pony. In his previous place turn out was open stable doors and the horses run out, and then bringing them in, they were not caught, but came running in for feed and hay.

I moved him yesterday, he was ok in the trailer and when we arrived he walked quietly down the track to the field. Gets on fine with his new girl, but has got a bit sweated up when talking with the large gelding in the next field.

This morning I caught him fine and was just going to walk up the track and back again, but his new girl whinnied, and we got half way up the track and he swung round and tanked off back to a pony in a nearby field. I caught him again and started leading back to his field at the end of the track, but he ran off again.

Back in his previous home he would follow me around the indoor school, no lead rope and would trot round following me if I jogged round.

How can I get both him and the new girl to trust me and respect me so I can get him lead quietly away. I moved for the wonderful hacking, but that seems a long way off now!

Advice would be very much appreciated.
 
Give him a chance, you've only had him a day and he won't trust you straight away.
Do things with him to help build a relationship, lots of grooming, grazing in hand and possibly even do a bit of join-up.

In the mean time could you lead the two in together?
 
Don't let him do that, don't let go of him, obviously don't put yourself in any danger but it sounds like he's just taking the mick because he knows he can get away with it. Be firm and consistent, he'll soon get the idea. If you can't hold him in a normal headcollar, try one of the training halters or his bridle until he is easier to handle.
 
Thank you for replying - he pulled the lead rope out of my hands and ran half way back down the lane to one horse in another paddock. Caught him, then he ran off again. Got hold of him by the gate into his field, but when I opened the gate he just ran off again. Today I decided not to try and go out of the field - he lets me catch him fine, lead a 3 or 4 steps and then just runs off again. And now he is turning his back side towards me.
Am not the bravest of riders but I can't see me getting out hacking for a long time now.
 
HI, sounds to me that your pony is just scared and wants to stay with his instint of other herd ponies.If he has only been used to coming in at same time as friends then he will need to gain confidence that coming in on own doesnt mean bad things.Take it slowly talk to him give him treats for walking with you use a bridle for more control, but just keep reassuring him on little steps away from others gradually increasing it. He will learn to respect and trust you and get more confidence just needs to settle in and feel safe - me thinks x
 
Definately get someone to help you out. Someone who is a bit stronger.

He is basically in a strange situation, and has found new equine friends, who he doesn't want to leave. He is also testing you out to see where you stand in the pecking order - whether he can trust you and if he has to do what you tell him. Each time he gets away he is more convinced that he is above you - emphasised by his turning his bum on you when you go to get him - its like he is telling you "I said no!"

Don't worry, he will settle down, but you need some help in getting some firm ground rules down for him to understand. Definately lead him in a bridle so that you have more control. Could you get someone to lead one of the other horses in at the same time, so he doesn't feel panicy about leaving his friends. Do this a few times for a few days. Give him a bit of food and fuss in the stable, then let him out again. Once he is settled and happy coming in start trying to get him in alone.

Ps Just saw that he is an ex riding school pony. My first pony was too. They often live on large yards/ go out with lots of others, and feel insecure leaving that environment for a smaller set up. We were quite novice when we bought my first pony, and had a lot of similar problems for quite a while. Ex riding school ponies can be really hard work. I'd say get yourself an instructor for some lessons, so that you can iron out any problems like this, and work on your confidence. Once we'd got through this with mine, he was a wonderful pony! Good luck.
 
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Honey08 said:
Definately get someone to help you out. Someone who is a bit stronger.

He is basically in a strange situation, and has found new equine friends, who he doesn't want to leave. He is also testing you out to see where you stand in the pecking order - whether he can trust you and if he has to do what you tell him. Each time he gets away he is more convinced that he is above you - emphasised by his turning his bum on you when you go to get him - its like he is telling you "I said no!"

Don't worry, he will settle down, but you need some help in getting some firm ground rules down for him to understand. Definately lead him in a bridle so that you have more control. Could you get someone to lead one of the other horses in at the same time, so he doesn't feel panicy about leaving his friends. Do this a few times for a few days. Give him a bit of food and fuss in the stable, then let him out again. Once he is settled and happy coming in start trying to get him in alone.

Ps Just saw that he is an ex riding school pony. My first pony was too. They often live on large yards/ go out with lots of others, and feel insecure leaving that environment for a smaller set up. We were quite novice when we bought my first pony, and had a lot of similar problems for quite a while. Ex riding school ponies can be really hard work. I'd say get yourself an instructor for some lessons, so that you can iron out any problems like this, and work on your confidence. Once we'd got through this with mine, he was a wonderful pony! Good luck.
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Agree with what Honey8 says. Get yourself an instructor that you are on the same wave length as who will help you on the ground and on board. In the mean time, get yourself a controller halter or lead him in his bridle with a longer rope. You need to avoid letting him run off again, the more he does it,the more he has the upper hand! Put his bridle on in the field and clip your lead rein to his bit so you have more immediate control. You need to nip this in the bud immediately! Am sure you will progress v quickly once he realises who is boss! Best of luck!!
 
I was going to suggest bringing him in at the same time as another horse is brought in while you get to know one another then saw Honey08 had already suggested it.

Also - gloves and hard hat when handling, if you don't already, until he settles in.
 
mandy@zoo said:
HI, sounds to me that your pony is just scared and wants to stay with his instint of other herd ponies.If he has only been used to coming in at same time as friends then he will need to gain confidence that coming in on own doesnt mean bad things.Take it slowly talk to him give him treats for walking with you use a bridle for more control, but just keep reassuring him on little steps away from others gradually increasing it. He will learn to respect and trust you and get more confidence just needs to settle in and feel safe - me thinks x
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Agree with Mandy, I had an ex riding school horse, that was a nightmare from habits he had developed at riding school. He wasnt so bad to catch, but it took me nearly 7 mths to get him to leave the yard by himself. In the end, he was taking the p**s out of me, and i just said enough, and when he went up, just kicked him on, 20 mins later, we had left the yard, and once we were out of sight of the yard, he was fine. They do pick up habits, and he will need time and patience to get him trusting you, but dont let him take the p**s out of you. happy medium somewhere in the middle!!!!
 
Thank you all for your messages. Last Saturday morning before we moved yards he was following me around the indoor school, no lead rope, if i started jogging round he would follow me, stopped when I stopped and didn't run into me. Am just a bit shocked at how quickly things have changed. The new yard is much calmer, or so I thought, horses lying stretched out in the sun, my standing there all alert. I have an instructor coming out today. At the moment though just can't imagine having the confidence for going out hacking. I know of a couple of other people who have bought horses recently, one just a 5 year old from a sale and was hacking out alone the day after they got home. That was all I was looking for.
 
new pony owner said:
Thank you all for your messages. Last Saturday morning before we moved yards he was following me around the indoor school, no lead rope, if i started jogging round he would follow me, stopped when I stopped and didn't run into me. Am just a bit shocked at how quickly things have changed. The new yard is much calmer, or so I thought, horses lying stretched out in the sun, my standing there all alert. I have an instructor coming out today. At the moment though just can't imagine having the confidence for going out hacking. I know of a couple of other people who have bought horses recently, one just a 5 year old from a sale and was hacking out alone the day after they got home. That was all I was looking for.
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Ah hun,dont worry, it will all come with time. Give him time to settle and get someone to help you and you'll soon wonder why you found it so hard in the beginning.
 
He'll settle, i know you had a good relationship at the old yard but he knew where he was and the routine.
Life has changed for him, he feels more secure with his friends at the mo. Try bringing him in in his bridle until you have control back, he has learnt very quickly that he can get away with spinning and running off.
Do everything with the bridle on and the headcollar under neath, lead of the headcollar, but have a hand on the reins so you can take up contact if you need to.

You might find he is still fine to be ridden, ground manners don't always reflect the ridden manners.

My youngster had a two week naughty phase recently, she would turn and bolt off, holding 16.1hh of muscle isn't easy, brough her in, in her bridle no problems, but to ride her she was an angel still, just a moose on the ground, she has since chilled out again and happy to come down in the headcollar only again.
 
Don't panic!

Your pony will be doing plenty of that. Imagine your first day at secondary school... new people, new rules, new routines... probably all seemed a bit daunting didn't it?

Well, it is the same for your pony. He will be nervous, insecure and unsure of what is happening/expected of him.

And yes, if he has only ever hacked out in company it might take him a while to build up the confidence to do it alone. But you'll get there. Just take it easy on both of you for a while. Do things (even if it means bringing in together/hacking in company/whatever) for a little while that help him get confident he is safe and can trust you and you get confident that you are in control.

Good luck!
 
Instructor came out this lunchtime. Pony was as bulshy and beligerent with her as ever. She eventually got him lunging in the school but did pull away a couple of times. Did a lot of trotting and cantering (i just didn't know he had so much energy) and then she tried leading him back down the track again. He was a bit better but the lessons he had been taught hadn't really sunk in, constantly challenging. She raised surprise at just how strong he was. I'm going to have a go at leading and lunging and will need to do this everyday. She has suggested I get the vet out to do blood test as she thought he was quite riggy and there was thickness in the area where his bits were.
Poor pony, this wasn't how it was suppose to be at all.
 
I've had my new horse 6 months......and its just now he's starting to really settle and bond....and I've had horses all my life. Not saying I'm an expert- but I have experience, and you certainly sound like you're struggling.

Its good that you have an instructor, and you have been given loads of really good advice on this thread.....

I think perhaps you were being a little unrealistic expecting to be able to hack your pony out the day after you got him. I know your friend did- but it does usually take time for them to settle...some take days, others months. And it will be a big change for him from being a RS pony....everything has changed- home, friends, routine.

You might find he is getting bolshy because he isn't being exercised as much? What are you feeding him?

Please don't be disheartened.....think of it as a challenge, a journey for you both if you like.

Oh...and welcome to the world of horse-ownership;):D
 
Poor you. To be a horse owner you often find you have to have patience of a saint! It is never easy leading anything 'naughty', they often get the upper hand very quick and then continue to take the P. It WILL get better, but it WILL take time. Glad you are having some help.
Where abouts are you? There maybe someone from here who could also help??
 
new pony owner said:
Instructor came out this lunchtime. Pony was as bulshy and beligerent with her as ever. She eventually got him lunging in the school but did pull away a couple of times. Did a lot of trotting and cantering (i just didn't know he had so much energy) and then she tried leading him back down the track again. He was a bit better but the lessons he had been taught hadn't really sunk in, constantly challenging. She raised surprise at just how strong he was. I'm going to have a go at leading and lunging and will need to do this everyday. She has suggested I get the vet out to do blood test as she thought he was quite riggy and there was thickness in the area where his bits were.
Poor pony, this wasn't how it was suppose to be at all.
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My pony behaved like this when she moved yards once, refusing to come in from the field, neighing loads etc schooling was out the question although I could hack out -completely out of character, it was just down to her being insecure nothing else. The behaviour does pass after a few weeks or so. When she came back to me off loan I turned her away for acouple of weeks to settle in, it does take time! Moving can be very stressful for any horse, they need time to settle in. Sure you'll be fine :)
 
Agree with other posters that he's had a lot of changes all at once and will need some time to settle and get used. It sounds as though you've made a good start - continuing to get help from your instructor should help you to work through the problems with more confidence. How long did you have him before the change of yard? I think a lot of people forget how much work many riding school ponies do. If you've not had him long he's probably still pretty fit and so will be feeling rather full of himself now he's doing less. You'll probably find him much more amenable in a couple of weeks once he's dropped some fitness and become accustomed to his new routine. Hope you get things sorted. It's a big leap when you first buy your own horse/pony and can seem a pretty steep learning curve at times! :)
 
Wow, only been a horse owner five minutes and already someone has told you to call the vet. (Instructor, not forum member, before the rush).

You need to take a step back and just slow down for a minute.

Ok so you have bought a riding school pony, that doesnt make him any different to any other horse.

He has been moved yards, to a different environment, different horses and different routine. For him his whole world has changed.

You had a good, special relationship with this horse previously, there is no reason why you shouldn't build on this, indeed you may be a long way ahead of folk who buy a horse they have never known before.

The behavioural change in this horse is in part a reaction to the changes, look on it as feedback from your horse.

He is telling you that he is either scared (lost and alone), something is wrong, ie he is ill (teeth, back etc), something is hurting him (tack possibly), or he is being dominant with you and has decided he is in charge, has no faith in you as a leader, and has to make his own decisions from now on.

I would guess, it is a little bit of being scared and trying to be a bit dominant.

You need to spend time with him yourself and do some ground work with him until he settles down. Get help if you are a bit unsure, but don't abdicate all your responsibility for him to someone else or he will follow them not you. Sorting this not leading and breaking away from you, is a two minute job to cure but it is difficult doing this on a forum.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't get disheartened just get some help.
 
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