personal space issues

[Toast]

how do you instill some kind of sense of personal space into an 18 month old gelding?!
Harvey is getting old enough to know by now, but he still insists on invading mine, and just about everyone elses personal space. He unsderstands the word back, and will move if i touch him on the chest and ask him to move back.. only it doesnt last for long and he'll quickly change position so that hes back on top of you again. Any suggestions?
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[Lippyx]

How about standing tall, and looking bigger. I know some people don't like it but have you looked into Monty Roberts, Natural Horsemanship, etc etc?
Richard Maxwell I think is great, and has a very good view on horse and human relationships. Take a look at his website, its very good!

 

[Toast]

Well, im quite short, and hes getting on for 14.2hh now so is a fair bit taller than me. I'll give it a go though, it worked when he was a tiddler! I have a book by richard maxwell.. i may do a bit of research.
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[Lippyx]

I think Richard Maxwell is great, so get reading and let us know how it goes!

 

[Tallante]

Stand on your tippy toes, think tall and raise your hands in the air.

Works with my 16hh 3 year old most of the time, if not, I reinforce it with jumping up and down.

It takes time and you have to keep at it, eventually he'll get the message.

 

[NELSON11]

Just as Tallante says, keep going you have to be consistent with them. But having said that you have to ensure other people that are handling him are also enforcing the this is my space and that is your space. Far too easy for you to put all the enforcement work in and then others let them get away with merry hell. Richard Maxwell's book from Birth to backing I find useful to read and gives some good ideas. Good Luck with him. Max came to visit my youngster at 18 months and declared he had never met such an opinionated bugger so keep plugging away, you will sort it.

 

[Toast]

yes i bought From Birth to Backing last year which ive found very helpful. I'll have to give it another read. I'll give the arm waving and jumping a go later, better than being sandwiched between him and the stable door.
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[CBFan]

I think you just have to be consistent. Its easy for us to 'get bored' with all the discipline and let things slip but they have a way of reminding us that we need to keep on top of it.

My 2 y/o tries it on with the same thing as yours and I find a dually headcollar a really big help. I keep the leadrope on the nose ring til he is tied up and if he takes a step forward into me (usually to get to a haynet etc) he is reminded on the nose and asked for a step back...

I'm going to begin some groundwork with mine when the snow clears...

 

[bananas_22]

If the above doesn't work, but he will move back when asked, you can try moving him back to where you put him as soon as he moves forward and make sure you do this everytime he moves. With enough repetition, the theory is that he should learn to stand in the place he is asked to as if he doesn't, he just gets put back there over and over again. It may take a while longer than the approach the others suggested though!

 

[Toast]

thanks for everyones replies!He is very clever so hopefully it wont take long for him to get the message!
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[Kallibear]

Consistancy!

Depending on his temperament, just asking him to step backwards may not mean anything to him (they can be deliberatly thick at times) so CHASE his out of your space.

The first couple of times you may needs to really up the game and be prepared to get seriously big and scary and possibly smack him on the chest if he won't move, but only once or twice. Stamp your feet towards him, wave your arms and yell at him, plus shake the leadrope at him. Repeat, couple of times then reduce the 'force' needed until all that's required is a wiggle of the rope.

He'll soon learn that invading your space results in him being chased right back to the end of the leadrope.

however it does depends on his temperament. I have one Drama queen who would dissolve in a bundle of quivering nerves if I so much as shout at him, and another who wouldn't notice if you hit her with a sledge hammer, so the level of 'chasing' needs to be tailored.

 

[Toast]

hes just about inbetween those two! Hes plain ignorant at times, very clever just ignorant
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[ladyearl]

We used to do something we called "transformers".

Face on with your arms at your side - like you are about to do the david brent (off of the office) dance. Seemed to work without the arm waving....