Rebreaking a clydesdale

[spotty_pony]

So basically to cut a long story short I am currently restarting a Clydesdale for a client who was started rather badly and has clearly had a scare or two along the way.

A bit of background about the horse... he is 9 years old and lived in the scottish hills until last summer where he was bought by a girl in Wales and apparently broken to ride (there is video evidence of him out hacking but we believe he could have been sedated for this as he is very ploddy in the videos and this isn't how he is naturally) his new owner bought him in January. Since owning him, she did something a bit silly and the first time she got on him decided to try and get on him whilst he was tied up and he panicked and bucked her off.
I would describe him as semi feral. He has got better but can still be very nervous. His owner is doing lots of groundwork with him and we've taught him to pick his feet up, and he is happily lungeing and long reining. He was a bit worried about things above him but I've Managed to improvise with that and have had a big teddy both laying across and sitting on him. Also we've got lots of different sized mounting aids so we we can practise standing above him. The main problem I am having is getting him to stand next to the steps when and where i ask him to stand if you try and make him stop he basically runs through you. Yesterday i stood on the block and basically lunged him off it in walk and he gradually got closer and closer abd eventually stopped but would only stop when he decides. I was able to stroke him all over When he was stood. I realise this is a groundwork issue and I'm not entorely sure he is doing this out of fear ... oossibly more the fact he knows his own strength but im wondering what I can do to teach him to stand still? I'm never going to win with strength, and having a bridle on doesn't make any difference.. Should i do some in hand work in a chifney or similar?

 

[Polos Mum]

Totally agree that arguing won't work!

How is his stand / back up without a block - so is it definitely the block or just manners / worry in general? Until he will stand on the lunge / not run through you in other situations the block will be tough.
Next step really depends on whether he's being rude (in which case firmness will help) or worry in which case firmness will make it worse.

Chifney will only help if he's rearing - won't stop barging

You can pop a block in his stable for him to learn to love / ignore if he's just nervous of that

There's a brilliant video of someone teaching a horse to come towards the mounting block when touched with a stick - I'll see if I can find.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Perhaps he just needs time, repetition, sympathetic handling and praise until he realises it is all OK rather than gadgets.

 

[rabatsa]

You need to watch some Richard Maxwell videos. They are well worth paying for.

 

[outdoor girl]

There's a Richard Maxwell video on Youtube of him teaching a horse to stand at a mounting block. He actually teaches it to move its quarters round the forehand so it's standing parallel to the mounting block. Definitely worth a look.

 

[TPO]

You need to watch some Richard Maxwell videos. They are well worth paying for.

Echo this.

Richard Maxwell and Joe Midgely both have video subscription services and have video series focused on groundwork, backing horses and specifically getting the horses to manoeuvre themselves to the mounting block.

Richard Maxwell also has some really good books that will cover what you are looking for at this stage. You can often find them for a few pounds secondhand on Amazon and eBay:
Train Your Young Horse
Maximise Your Horsemanship
Unlock Your Horse's Talent in 20mins a day

 

[tristar]

time really , put him at the block every time you go through the yard etc, i would use someone to hold him on the outside rein while getting on, for clear instruction and safety, then get them to stand holding him still a few moments so he does`nt walk off straight away, and build on it as his patience grows and it clicks

 

[Polos Mum]

This is the one I thought of and like the idea of. I love his calmness about all the headbutting

 

[spotty_pony]

Thank you for all of the replies. I am unsure as to whether it is manners or him generally unsure. He does this on the lunge/long lines too although has got better and it's usually if he feels trapped/cornered when i'm about to let him out on a circle. If i take him into the middle of the field and then let him out he is Much better. As you can imagine, if he does take off him there is no way of being able to hold him, and he doesn't go far and once he realises he is free he stops and i can catch him and continue. I've done lots of groundwork with him - getting him to move around me in a small circle both ways and cross over his hindlegs and also to back up from just fingertip pressure.

it is like he has an overactive flight response and his answer to anything he is't sure about or doesn't understand is to run. I've been standing on one block and placing a bucket of feed on another to get him to focus on the food rather than what I'm doing which does seem to help. Yes, I guess this is just time. I only thought about the chifney as I've used it to load one my horses who can be a bit cheeky and drag you the other way and he loads fantastically in it.