PLEASE HELP. My horse wont walk when told!

mrsjcmking

mrsjcmking

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I've got a little colt that only does what he wants. He will walk around the yard (on a lead rope) until he decides it's time to eat and then he stops until i tie him up to feed him.

He has a particular reluctance to go through the car park (anywhere off the yard). He's not scared of cars at all, he didn't even blink when an ice cream van drove past today!

I have tried everything. I've tried tugging, not tugging, pleading, growling, longe whip (which worked for a while until he realised it wouldn't hurt), someone walking behind him clapping, pushing him, being gentle, not feeding him and tempting him with food.

He did okay today when I gave him a mint, but I don't want hi to get in the habit of having treats every single time, also once I had fed him and I tried walking him through the car park he decided it was time to go back to his field and dug his little hooves in. (I did walk him around the field about 10 times before i let him go!)

I just feel like whatever I do he seems to be getting what he wants.

PLEASE HELP!!!
 
My 2yr old Thoroughbred does this. Plants his feet when he doesn't want to go somewhere and will not move. Luckily, one little pony nut and he's walking again but i'm sure it wont be long before he won't go anywhere. He does it mainly when you're taking him to turn out (he's a bit of pre-me pampered racehorse and doesn't like getting wet and dirty feet) or when you're asking him to so much as turn away from his stablemate, never mind leave him!!

I've no solution either but i think its going to be a game of patience.

Good Luck!!
 
Try making sure he cannot get his head down and wait him out, this can take a long time! The other trick we have for those who do not want to move is to wave a stick or a lead rope, in their eye line, but behind the head (hope that makes sense). I have also used this trick from on top. Mind you the big girl planted with me for an hour, we sat there until she got bored (I was bored too and my patience was running very thin by then). She hasn't tried that trick since, thank goodness.
 
yorksG said:
Try making sure he cannot get his head down and wait him out, this can take a long time! The other trick we have for those who do not want to move is to wave a stick or a lead rope, in their eye line, but behind the head (hope that makes sense).
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Oh he can wait for ages! I once got so frustrated with him not walking that I decided to take him back to his field without any dinner, as I didn't want to reward him for his bad behaviour. I was sat on a bench whilst he stood there looking at me for 45 minutes. He didn't even nibble on the grass outside the gate. Luckily a lady had 2 ponies that live in his field, on the yard and when she turned them out, he just followed them.

I'll try the stick behind his head...thanks!
 
Have you tried turning him in a tight circle (i.e., almost knock him off balance so he has to move), then offer him the option of going forward, if he doesn't take it then tight circle again...repeat ad nauseum/until horsey (hopefully!) gives in!
 
bex1984 said:
Have you tried turning him in a tight circle (i.e., almost knock him off balance so he has to move), then offer him the option of going forward, if he doesn't take it then tight circle again...repeat ad nauseum/until horsey (hopefully!) gives in!
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^^^This^^^

And, you say he's little, is he little enough to put a rope round his bum, get him going forward from behind?
 
There's a simple showing tip to get youngsters moving forward...

Stand next to him with a whip and walk on and if he slows/plants the tap him with it near the girth. Swing it around behind you obviously and keep walking forward. If he slows, do it again. He can't see it so won't be able to anticipate it.

You can use a long lead rope too and swing tha behind you to his girth/belly area.

Good luck!
 
bex1984 said:
Have you tried turning him in a tight circle (i.e., almost knock him off balance so he has to move), then offer him the option of going forward, if he doesn't take it then tight circle again...repeat ad nauseum/until horsey (hopefully!) gives in!
Click to expand...

We've been in circles until i have felt like I want to vomit...he's a stubborn little one

singing dawg said:
And, you say he's little, is he little enough to put a rope round his bum, get him going forward from behind?
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I don't think i'd be able to do it myself...he's 12hh (and realised he's stronger than mummy!)

tallyho! said:
Stand next to him with a whip and walk on and if he slows/plants the tap him with it near the girth. Swing it around behind you obviously and keep walking forward. If he slows, do it again. He can't see it so won't be able to anticipate it.
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Tried this...It worked for 2 days, and then he realised that it doesn't actually hurt him so just stands there when I do it! He's too clever and too brave!
 
Have you tried jabbing him with the whip? I.e. poking him with it? Might give him a shock.

Otherwise, the circling thing is what I do with my little one (though thankfully she is normally v good).
 
O I love it when they go through there cheeky stages!

Thing that worked for me was a lunge whip. Not to hit them with but to flick behind them, usaully spooks them forward a bit.
 
Well well, he really is a bossy chap. Think you'll have to tap a bit harder and make him respect it. You can't let him boss you about at this age or you'll have no end of respect issues....
 
He's just got such a stubborn streak (especially when food is at stake!)

it seems i make a break through one day and I think ui've cracked it and then the next day it doesn't work! I swear he behaves to give me a little bit of hope and then next day its all.."No mummy, i'm bigger and stronger...I'LL decide when its dinner time!"

Beginning to wonder why I took on a youngster!
 
Youngsters are fine as long as you show them the boundaries. Don't let him write the rules. He's better off knowing you're the boss at all times. You have to be his mum and a very strict one. Not his friend or it will be a real struggle.
 
Al this sounds familiar.

Buy Richard Maxwell's book on birth to backing/young horse and follow the instructions - you'll me amazed.

But don't expect a result overnight, Good luck, I wish you much luck, patience and determination.
 
Found Richard Maxwells book totally pointless but have all of Kelly Marks books and do most of the exercises - have helped my little one no end.

Fill a tin with stones and if he doesnt walk forward when asked, shake it HARD behind your back. You just need the shock factor often enough that he stops bothering!!
 
Not sure if you've tried having someone walk behind (at the side of his back leg) and when he stops tickle his heels with a long schooling whip? It usually make them shuffle forward.... Worked for me :D

Sometimes I also have to Zig-Zag pony pony back out to the field (knock him off balance on each leg) until he realises than I mean business, this method took hours so started using the above one!

Good luck, sounds like he's very strong will'd already! :D x
 
flamehead said:
Fill a tin with stones and if he doesnt walk forward when asked, shake it HARD behind your back. You just need the shock factor often enough that he stops bothering!!
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Will definitely try this one!

flying solo said:
Not sure if you've tried having someone walk behind (at the side of his back leg) and when he stops tickle his heels with a long schooling whip? It usually make them shuffle forward.... Worked for me :D

Sometimes I also have to Zig-Zag pony pony back out to the field (knock him off balance on each leg) until he realises than I mean business, this method took hours so started using the above one!
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Tried both of the both. The first again lasted about a day and the second he just backs up...
 
Have you had a good look for any sore spots on his poll that may be hurting when he is being led?? or lameness issues making moving unconfortable for him?

If he has the all clear health wise I would persevere with the zig zag method... I have spend 2 hours dragging something in zig zagging before.. but he never did it again.

Everytime you try a new approach and give up he will get worse because you are letting him win every time.

I might get slammed for this but I would carry a short whip at all times (they fit nicely down a welly!) and when he is refusing point blank to move give him a tap, if he doesnt move from the tap hit him harder.
 
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