dorani
Well-Known Member
Friend has a pushy yearling that has already flattened her and I just wondered the general opinion of how to deal with it?
Pushy yearling
- Thread starter dorani
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Festive_Felicitations
Well-Known Member
Has it been handled at all? I.e. can you put a headcollar on and lead it?
If so, catch it and work on the concept of 'personal space'. Get 'him' (sorry, 'it' sounds a bit cold) to move away from you when you push on his shoulder (instinct will be to lean back).
When leading get him to stop when you stop, if he tries to barge through you slap him on the chest, say oy! and then repeat again and again till it sinks in...a verbal comand for stop/stand helps. Turing he should move away when you move towards him, if he doesn't again tap on the shoulder.
A lead rope long enough to allow you to tap him with the end or carrying a DR whip helps just to get their attention.
At all times he should be about 0.5 to 1 arm length away from you, if he comes closer than you are comfortable with chase him away (push/slap/tap on shoulder / flank till he moves away).
You want to get his respect now, becasue if you think a yearling is bad wait till he is 2....
Also if your friend has no experience with youngsters I suggest going to a stud or finding some one who has some experience to give you a hands on demo. It is alot harder than it sounds or dealing with a pushy older horse.
Good luck.
If so, catch it and work on the concept of 'personal space'. Get 'him' (sorry, 'it' sounds a bit cold) to move away from you when you push on his shoulder (instinct will be to lean back).
When leading get him to stop when you stop, if he tries to barge through you slap him on the chest, say oy! and then repeat again and again till it sinks in...a verbal comand for stop/stand helps. Turing he should move away when you move towards him, if he doesn't again tap on the shoulder.
A lead rope long enough to allow you to tap him with the end or carrying a DR whip helps just to get their attention.
At all times he should be about 0.5 to 1 arm length away from you, if he comes closer than you are comfortable with chase him away (push/slap/tap on shoulder / flank till he moves away).
You want to get his respect now, becasue if you think a yearling is bad wait till he is 2....
Also if your friend has no experience with youngsters I suggest going to a stud or finding some one who has some experience to give you a hands on demo. It is alot harder than it sounds or dealing with a pushy older horse.
Good luck.
air78
Well-Known Member
Tell her to buy the Richard Maxwell book from Birth to Backing
china
Well-Known Member
ditto everything that felicity_09 said, dont be afriad to use abit of force. you cant allow the yearling to be like this now, imagine how it will be when it gets older!
lucy1984
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Tell her to buy the Richard Maxwell book from Birth to Backing
[/ QUOTE ]
I have that book, it really is invaluable!!
Tell her to buy the Richard Maxwell book from Birth to Backing
[/ QUOTE ]
I have that book, it really is invaluable!!
yethersgill
Well-Known Member
Second Felicity_09
Good luck
Good luck
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
Ditto Birth to Backing, a great book and so informative.
From the age of 18 months I had to work with Chancer as he started to be too big for his boots. I got in an instructor who was experienced with youngsters, and he was soon sorted, though it did take a few slaps from Mr Sticky to get the message through that you don't squash people - the nice way was not working - very thick skinned, fearless gypsy cob.
Sooner you start teaching manners the better before they get to think they can use their strength against you.
From the age of 18 months I had to work with Chancer as he started to be too big for his boots. I got in an instructor who was experienced with youngsters, and he was soon sorted, though it did take a few slaps from Mr Sticky to get the message through that you don't squash people - the nice way was not working - very thick skinned, fearless gypsy cob.
Sooner you start teaching manners the better before they get to think they can use their strength against you.
dorani
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your advice, pretty much what I told her but there are so many new theories on horse handling ! It is the way I have been with my youngsters and older bolshies but thought it may have become unfashionable. She can lead him and has now taken him and tied him ,walked him and generally handled him ,she so wants him to be her friend and is afraid that she will spoil their relationship. Having been knocked to the ground she now feels a tad differently!! told her to always carry a stick now.
Many thanks.
Many thanks.