Really stupid question!

[MrsElle]

Blue is 3 in May and is a fab little pony. When I got him last July he was very 'in your face' and had no respect for personal space whatsoever.

He is now much better, but leading to and from the field is a bit of a problem.

When being led out he is fine as he has lots to occupy his mind, lots to look at, but walking down to the field and back he either stops (but starts as soon as I growl at him) or walks so close to me we trip other each others feet. I end up with aching arms and shoulder trying to push him away from me and a jab with my elbow has no effect at all.

When he walks to the field nicely he gets told he is a good lad, I try to reward the good so he knows what is expected of him and ignore some of the bad, although him stopping etc I obviously have to do something about.

He chuffs about 50% of the time going to the field and back. It doesn't matter if he is lead with another horse or on his own. He has a Dually halter and it makes no difference if he is in that or an ordinary head collar.

I feel he does it for something to do as he finds the walk boring but its only a couple of hundred yards, if that so it only takes a couple of minutes.

Any advice?

 

[Bexaco]

I will copy some advice that I gave someone else earlier as I think it will be useful to you;

(I did all this with my mare when she was very young as I think its really important to have a horse that respects your space and it also helps once you are on board. for sideways I started by torching her flank and shoulder and pushing her gently at first and adding more pressure until she moved away( sometimes I had to walk my body against her stomach to cover a bit more of her) then when she did I told her she was a good girl and released the pressure but no tit bits. I gradually used less and less pressure and touched less of her till it got to moving away with a little prod with the finger.

you could try all the spook training - bags on whips, umbrellas, prams, push bikes, walking over plastic etc etc all of it will keep him thinking and help you out in the future. and of course loading, having clippers on him (obviously not actually clipping him).)

once you get this sorted then the next step is to lead him, and if he gets to close you touch his chest and he should stop and only walk forward when you offer him that choice, either by voice command, pressure on the rope or if he is like my mare he will follow as soon as you leave his space. this way you can keep him thinking on the walk to the field and as long as you are telling him to stop then its ok. but with him being young it is important that he keeps his mind active so spook training etc will give him something to think about.

 

[teddyt]

QR- groundwork. Teach him to respect your space, be more aware and responsive of you and your requests, etc.