Problem foal

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charlottewhittaker

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Hi,

i bought a foal about a month ago. shes everything i could of asked for, sweet, loving, perky and handles great. shes just turned 1 and when i bought her it was the first time coming away from the yard she was bred on. so heres the problem. she doesnt seem to want to walk forward? im no novice ive had quite a few horses in the past and i have got three horses all together but never come across this before. i know shes just being stubborn because at first it was she didnt want to come off the yard (she must of been scared). now she wont come out the field. she just stands there, but when i get her back to the yard shes a bit funny about me taking her to be tied up, but as soon as we are going back out, surely she goes. the technique im currently using atm is one person leading her and ill clip a lunge line to the side of her headcollar and walk behind her and if she plays up, i give her some encouragement. however shes getting to be a fast learner and is starting to realize that shes stronger than me and if she doesnt move then she cant be budged. i dont mind using this method however i cant bring her out on my own? bit of a pain. ive tried taking a whip and she really doesnt like it! she gets a bit aggressive actually (ears back and runs). i have no confident issues or anything like that and i know its just going to be time.. however anyone got any suggestions as i want to walk her out but i know shes only going to stop dead in the road and wont budge! :mad:
 
Have you had a youngster before? She needs to learn about pressure and release. I would not be using whips on a yearling.
Try getting the book No fear No force by Sarah weston, its a great help with youngsters (no I have no connection with her, its just heped me a lot!)
There is a good chapter on leading etc.
 
itsmylife said:
Have you had a youngster before? She needs to learn about pressure and release. I would not be using whips on a yearling.
Try getting the book No fear No force by Sarah weston, its a great help with youngsters (no I have no connection with her, its just heped me a lot!)
There is a good chapter on leading etc.
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I have another youngster (4yearold). i bought him as a problem horse as he was unable to be mounted and was absolutely terrified. this year hes winning 1st and 2nd in Equitation and best ridden so had no problems with him. ive broken youngsters and handled youngsters too. Shes learning but ever so slowly. shes very clingy to another horse who's in the field mothering her at the moment so she might be resistant coming in because of that? but i want to start taking her for walks and bringing her in more often for her feet and grooming. shes got a superstar personality i just hope she snaps out of this 'mule impression' phaze!
 
You have a yearling (sorry, she is not a foal) who has moved away from the only home she has known.
Its a lot for her to take in - many with older horses/ponies will find that they don't settle in just a month.
She will not want to leave her new 'herd' and go alone, this will need patience & reward - and most importantly - time
She will take some time & gentle handling before you will find her biddable & easier to do, nothing will happen quickly.
Do read the book recco as mentioned above, and take your time, dont 'force' her to do things because you 'want' her to do them 'now' but take small steps - and have a friend who may know a bit about youngsters to help if you can.
Let her learn with another equine friend nearby, this will often help as the youngster picks up on the older ones sense & safety

Edited to add: Please do not use a whip on a worried youngster that plants! :eek:
 
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The Fuzzy Furry said:
You have a yearling (sorry, she is not a foal) who has moved away from the only home she has known.
Its a lot for her to take in - many with older horses/ponies will find that they don't settle in just a month.
She will not want to leave her new 'herd' and go alone, this will need patience & reward - and most importantly - time
She will take some time & gentle handling before you will find her biddable & easier to do, nothing will happen quickly.
Do read the book recco as mentioned above, and take your time, dont 'force' her to do things because you want her to do them 'now' but take small steps - and have a friend who may know a bit about youngsters to help if you can.
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I know shes a yearling however i see her as a baby still as shes the youngest horse on the yard, sorry :D but yes i know time will bring her on, and patience is the key however i just feel as though shes taking the mickey sometimes when ive been stood coo'ing at her to walk on and shes looking at me as if to say, no!
 
charlottewhittaker said:
I know shes a yearling however i see her as a baby still as shes the youngest horse on the yard, sorry :D but yes i know time will bring her on, and patience is the key however i just feel as though shes taking the mickey sometimes when ive been stood coo'ing at her to walk on and shes looking at me as if to say, no!
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Well, if do you realise that she IS a baby, then make sure you have an older horse to show her the ropes, take them both for a walk, eventually let them go side by side, then work on the youngster going in front with friend behind fter several sessions.
As I said above - baby steps all the way.
 
I agree with the above, you need a older sensible horse to help show her what to do. She is only a baby and needs to be shown whats expected. To ask her to leave her mates and go out alone is too much to ask just yet, You can do too much to young and ruin them.
 
Ive tried bringing other horses out with her but that doesnt seem to work and she defiantly knows what i want from her. shes just being stubbon. like i said, absolutely no problems with walking back to the field!
 
There will not be a problem going back to the field, shes going back to her mates! Doubt very much if shes just being naughty, just does not understand what you want and does not want to leave the others.

Think you neeed some help from someone who understands youngsters. As already said she (and you!) need to learn about pressure and release. The more you pull on her the more she will pull on you!
 
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itsmylife said:
There will not be a problem going back to the field, shes going back to her mates! Doubt very much if shes just being naughty, just does not understand what you want and does not want to leave the others.

Think you neeed some help from someone who understands youngsters.
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Ive got alot of experienced riders on my yard and they all just say the same, time and patience. but whens enough? stoof there for half hour when i know what she wants.. she wants to stay in the field with her pals. however i need to bring her in for her feet care but cant bring her in because she doesnt want to come?..
 
There isnt really a time scale as to how long it will take, they all learn at different rates. They all have to be treated as individuals! Time and patience really is they key.. Everytime she's in give her a small treat- ensure she wants to be with you and is fully understanding of what is being asked. Maybe even just practice leading her in the field.. But please seek expert help on the matter, you really want to imprint good / positive memories on babies, never use whips! Force never works. You will just end it up a sour pony!
 
I have had two youngsters now for nearly 12months, they are2 this time and had a bad start. One is very confident and the leader the other is over hesitant about new things but once I have his confidence he is lovely.
I always give them a small feed when I bring them in each day, when I brush them and pick out feet.
It did take me nearly thee months to get the routine established and even then one youngster can be hesitant to lead. I have now started to give them a few pony cubes from my hand when they are back in the field and this seems to solve the problem.
I do not give treats normally Use voice to encourage, and when I say a few nuts I do mean just 4or 5 individual high fibre nuts from my pocket.
Give yourself and yearling time it is very early days at present - give yourself time and enjoy the experience.
 
It sounds to me as if you need to get that book. I haven't read it but I've seen it recommended on here so many times, it must be good.

Then, if that doesn't work, come back on here and ask more questions. Books are expensive so borrow a copy from your local library. If they haven't got a copy, they will get one for you. And it's all free, too!;) The librarians are there to help you.
 
charlottewhittaker said:
she defiantly knows what i want from her. shes just being stubbon. like i said, absolutely no problems with walking back to the field!
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Unfortunate typo there...I think you mean 'definately'.

She's not being stubborn. She is resistant to your method of handling which is obviously ineffectual. Instead of teaching her to walk on, you have taught her that she can resist and you can't dissuade her. As you say, she will go well enough when it suits her.

As an earlier reply states, you need to teach her to yield to halter pressure. Once the horse has learned to yield to pressure, it becomes keen to remain pressure-free and will follow closely on a slack rope.
 
'Cooing' isn't giving a clear message ;)

If there are others at your yard, ask someone to walk behind, giving a clap of their hands if needed to just bump start her... The second she walks forward lots of praise and pats and cooing... No cooing when she doesn't move;)

Don't get tense, frustrated, short tempered... She hasn't got a clue why you are getting that way.

There is the method of the bum rope, but to be honest, I'd go with a second set of hands just to drive/encourage her forwards and praise for every forward movement.

When she gets In the yard, have a handful of chaff waiting in the bowl and don't do anything with her until she has had this, so she learns coming in is an excellent and rewarding thing.
 
Have you tried asking her to move in another direction? Friend's youngster would plant when I brought her in, she soon realised it was easier to walk nicely forward than to move sideways or in circles :)
 
I had the same with mine when he was a yearling. Pressure training is very helpful.

When she plants, apply a bit of pressure. Not enough to haul her along, just enough to be slightly uncomfortable. She will probably pull back to start with but resist the temptation to yank her forward. Keep it gentle and consistent and she will give slightly to feel more comfortable. Reward that give immediately. Rinse and repeat.

I find it an effective non confrontational method that usually works well as long as you reward the instant the give.
 
One of my homebreds want through a phase of panting when he was a youngster. The trick was to get his feet moving - either from side to side (even if only one step in each direction) or by stepping backwards. I would bring him in every day, give him a small feed and turn him back out. He soon learned what was required.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Well, if do you realise that she IS a baby, then make sure you have an older horse to show her the ropes, take them both for a walk, eventually let them go side by side, then work on the youngster going in front with friend behind fter several sessions.
As I said above - baby steps all the way.
Click to expand...

When we got my sister's tb yearling, although well handled and used to people, he'd never had a headcollar on, been lead etc etc. He clicked with our cob pretty quickly so we just did everything to the cob to show the yearling. To lead, they 'joined up' and then we walked beside 'leading' the yearling who got the idea and we were able to start leading him slightly away etc, same with teaching him about feed - he didn't understand that it was to eat, we fed the cob in front of him and he got the idea.
You say that she has a horse who is 'mothering' her, so bring said horse in at the same time and walk them together and gradually have the yearling going more in the front and she'll get the idea
 
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