Rope not stick!

[Tidy Paquet]

My home bred 5 year old gelding has proved himself slightly different from any thing I've had before!
He hates having a leg aid backed up by the stick and is up for a massive fight if it is used!
After sleepless nights and armed with the knowledge that he is happy to be touched by the lunge whip and instantly goes forward, I bought 8ft of rope! It has worked brilliantly, he will go any where now. I just swirl it a couple of times and then if he hasn't moved I gently flick it round his bottom or on his side and off we go!! He is like a different horse. Today he went past 2 massive tractors, a house being sandblasted and a quad. I would have still been out now without the rope ha ha!

I intend to gradually shorten it and eventually have a stick with just a little piece of rope on. Otherwise we will never get to a competition!! ...... unless the rules say I can carry my lassoo!!
Just thought I'd share my breakthrough in case it helps any one else with a similar horse.
:

 

[Dobby]

haha! good thinking

don't suppose you'll be allowed to go cross country with 8foot of rope dangling behind you!

 

[millitiger]

i start all of my breakers off using a leadrope (minus the clip) instead of a whip.
they seem to find it much less confrontational- i think Richard Maxwell uses a rope called a wip wop?

 

[Tidy Paquet]

Oh Militiger, how I wish I'd known you earlier this year!! What a wonderful idea to start the babies off with a rope. I have backed quite a few horses over the years and have never had any trouble with the conventional methods and have always carried a stick. But my boy really dislikes being even tapped!
If I hadn't bred him myself I would probably summise that his early days of being handled were not carried out correctly!! Just goes to show how wrong we can be.
I have just bred a full sister to my lovely boy who I intend to keep and I will use a rope with her right from the start!

Oh and Dobby, the visulisation of me galloping across country with 8ft rope flying has had me in stitches! You know the sort of thing.......... the odd fence judge caught up in it along with the competitor behind us. Maybe someones burger and ice cream dangling in the grass too! Brilliant.
However, I'm into dressage and showing! Not really a good look for either arena......... Look out for us. x