Pony being dangerous to lead

[Bellalily]

Ok, our pony has been a bargy git to lead for years once he sussed he was stronger than us. He’s put me in hospital twice and I’m getting too old for this behaviour. I’m seriously thinking of breaking all my principles and just buying a chifney for him, blow his discomfort or pain, I’m getting seriously worried about leading him. He’s already in a control halter, tried a dually, but I have OA in both hands so I need him to behave. He’s just being greedy and basically doing what he likes. Hate admitting defeat, but what else is there?

 

[Gloi]

What about a bridle and long lead, from bit over poll if needed.
Or roller and side reins so he can't dive for grass.
Or a muzzle.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Lots and lots of groundwork. Get a trainer.

The dually etc only work if they are used with the right training to support.

I used to play a game of Simon Says with my horse. If I said his name and gave him an instruction which he got right he got a scratch or a treat. It meant I could always get his attention. It started by working on the basics in the school, controlling his feet over poles etc, then reinforcing that by seeing every time as leading to be an exercise or a lesson.

With the new one my trainer would place treats in blue barrels and I would lead the horse to the right barrel with a treat on it so he would start to put "me leading him" together with "I know the best places to go"

 

[Equi]

Get a decent trainer in to instil some manners. It doesn’t have to be aggressive just a consistent patient person who will show the pony what is and is not acceptable.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Have you tried leading him in a bridle? Otherwise, I agree get a trainer to show you the best way to deal with him.
I lead Barry horses with a schooling whip held in front of them to act as a physical barrier.

 

[Bellalily]

What about a bridle and long lead, from bit over poll if needed.
Or roller and side reins so he can't dive for grass.
Or a muzzle.

Thank you. He’s already on a lunge rein with the control halter, so I’ll try the bridle with the over poll thank you. I’ve just binned my muzzles but great suggestions.

 

[Bellalily]

Lots and lots of groundwork. Get a trainer.

The dually etc only work if they are used with the right training to support.

I used to play a game of Simon Says with my horse. If I said his name and gave him an instruction which he got right he got a scratch or a treat. It meant I could always get his attention. It started by working on the basics in the school, controlling his feet over poles etc, then reinforcing that by seeing every time as leading to be an exercise or a lesson.

With the new one my trainer would place treats in blue barrels and I would lead the horse to the right barrel with a treat on it so he would start to put "me leading him" together with "I know the best places to go"

He’s 28, he does it every spring and with my OA, there’s not much I can do now. I need a solution for tomorrow, not long term at his age

 

[Bellalily]

Have you tried leading him in a bridle? Otherwise, I agree get a trainer to show you the best way to deal with him.
I lead Barry horses with a schooling whip held in front of them to act as a physical barrier.

Yes, 50/50 success with a bridle. I can’t afford a trainer, I’m looking for suggestions for tomorrow. He’s 28, and a whip in front of him wouldn’t stop him, probably make him worse.

 

[Bellalily]

Get a decent trainer in to instil some manners. It doesn’t have to be aggressive just a consistent patient person who will show the pony what is and is not acceptable.

He’s 28, and I don’t have the money for trainers, just looking for physical suggestions.

 

[Bellalily]

Regards trainers suggestions, he doesn’t misbehave with anyone else, he knows I’m not strong enough to hold him, so no trainer will sort it out, it’s not lack of manners, it’s taking the p out of me.

 

[SEL]

I always lead anything like that in a bridle, but regularly led a problem mare in a chifney. She got to the stage of behaving quite quickly once she worked out she couldn't run people over so the chifney rarely had to do anything apart from sit in her mouth reminding her of her manners

 

[IrishMilo]

I'd have blown his comfort a LONG time ago Taking the P out of you IS a lack of manners. Get a chifney on him and give him a wallop with a stick the next time he tries to put you in hospital!

 

[Bellalily]

I'd have blown his comfort a LONG time ago Taking the P out of you IS a lack of manners. Get a chifney on him and give him a wallop with a stick the next time he tries to put you in hospital!

Thank you so much. Must admit after this morning I felt much the same.

 

[SEL]

I'd have blown his comfort a LONG time ago Taking the P out of you IS a lack of manners. Get a chifney on him and give him a wallop with a stick the next time he tries to put you in hospital!

I thought much the same!!

You can hear me bellowing across the county if any of mine try to squash or stamp on me. I'm pretty fluffy most of the time, but I do like manners (and not getting squished or pulled over)

 

[Widgeon]

If he's taking the p*** I don't think there's anything wrong with a chifney. Chances are once it's on you'll never need it to come into play. Keep yourself safe.

 

[gallopingby]

I dont understand why people can’t use a bridle when turning out if manners are lacking. A head piece with a bit and a long line if needed should be enough to instil manners and get a routine established. At this time of year when there’s yummy grass on the way to a field it’s better to err on the cautious side than risk being pulled over. It takes no longer to put on a bridle and lead out quietly than to mess about with a strong pulling horse where you waste time being pulled about.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I bring my boy in with a chifney during winter. He hates being out so wants to get in quickly. I pop headcollar on then put chifney over the top and attach my rope/lunge line to both headcollar and chifney so it's not as severe.

 

[outdoor girl]

I used to use a chifney with a young TB we bred. She was 16.3 and I'm 5ft 1inch. Her get out was to spin or shoot forwards and then stand straight up on her back legs and dangle them over the lead rope to get away. A chifney soon stopped the spinning and charging and so the leg dangling. Don't feel sorry for him, he needs some manners.

 

[Bellalily]

Thank you all very much. Bridle and lunge rein it is then with a chifney on order.

 

[Identityincrisis]

Do not feel bad for resorting to a chiffney, i b can’t abide rude horses! I have and would again, used a chiffney to turn out and bring in. He will remember his manners pretty sharpish once that is in!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I used to resort to a chain under the chin with my stallion either through bit rings or a headcollar provided it had round rings at the side. He respected that, rarely had to correct him.

 

[Above the snowline]

I would do whatever it takes to stay out of hospital.

 

[Bellalily]

Do I need to buy a slip head for the chifney or will his bridle one do?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Do I need to buy a slip head for the chifney or will his bridle one do?

Bridle one is fine

 

[Squeak]

You could also give one of these a go instead of a chiffney. We had a 17hh lump of a warmblood who knew he was stronger than people and used to charge off whenever he wanted as well as the yard having some other hooligans at various points. This gave complete control and I always think is slightly less dangerous than a chifney if the horse manages to break free. It gives a lot more control than a control halter or dually and possibly more than the chiffney too IME:

One Equestrian Stallion Ring

One Equestrian Stallion Ring The stallion ring by One Equestrian can provide better control when handling difficult horses. It attaches to the outer halter rings with a carabiner on each side. The horse's nose is guided through the large ring. A…

www.fundis-equestrian.co.uk

So you can see how it sits on a headcollar:

Kentucky Stallion Ring Horse Controller Headcollar - Edgemere

Kentucky Stallion Ring Horse Controller Headcollar The stallion ring and horse controller solves the problem of strong willed young horses, or for safe handling of stallions.The Stallion Ring Horse Controller Headcollar solves the problem of strong willed young horses, or for safe handling of...

www.edgemere.co.uk

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Use a bridle or a stallion chain might work as well if you can hold of one.

 

[Bellalily]

You could also give one of these a go instead of a chiffney. We had a 17hh lump of a warmblood who knew he was stronger than people and used to charge off whenever he wanted as well as the yard having some other hooligans at various points. This gave complete control and I always think is slightly less dangerous than a chifney if the horse manages to break free. It gives a lot more control than a control halter or dually and possibly more than the chiffney too IME:

One Equestrian Stallion Ring

One Equestrian Stallion Ring The stallion ring by One Equestrian can provide better control when handling difficult horses. It attaches to the outer halter rings with a carabiner on each side. The horse's nose is guided through the large ring. A…

www.fundis-equestrian.co.uk

So you can see how it sits on a headcollar:

Kentucky Stallion Ring Horse Controller Headcollar - Edgemere

Kentucky Stallion Ring Horse Controller Headcollar The stallion ring and horse controller solves the problem of strong willed young horses, or for safe handling of stallions.The Stallion Ring Horse Controller Headcollar solves the problem of strong willed young horses, or for safe handling of...

www.edgemere.co.uk

I think at £190 , I’ll go for the chifney

 

[Squeak]

I think at £190 , I’ll go for the chifney

The top one can just be attached to a normal headcollar and is £50 instead. The £190 is a bit steep for essentially a bit of leather I'd just wanted to include the photo of the expensive one so that it could be seen how it worked/ sat on a headcollar

 

[Bellalily]

Trying to find a 4.5” chifney. Presumably most ponies/small horses don’t need them

 

[Carlosmum]

Make sure you are wearing gloves, boots and a hard hat. And if he kicks a back protector too.