sharp on leading

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vanessa97

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My mare is usually a lamb, to lead. However, she is occasionally spooky and reacts sharply, and sometimes knocks me over. I wondered if a control headcollar, might be the answer.
Can anyone advise me if this would help? Its not a training issue, as I said, she is usually very good, its only when she spooks. Thanks.
 
May be try a Chifney?! or if you didn't want to use a chifney, then a bridle?- Used correctly-they are very good for strong/tricky/big horses! I always use one to lead mine even if they are being well behaved!

Saying that, I did once use a Libbys Controller halter on my little youngster when he was very colty and too small and young to wear a chifney! was quite good!
 
Chifney? is that the same as Parelli type headcollar?
Yes, I have thought about putting a bridle on, but it seems so naff!
 
Buy a stallion chain, she will soon learn not to knock you over! I use one on my boy when he becomes pushy to lead. A week of using it he remembers his manners and we can revert back to just using the headcollar alone again.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brass-Stallio...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item56308accfc

Control halters are ok but more pricey and fidly, only takes a minute to attach a chain to your normal headcollar and is effective.
 
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friesian80 said:
Buy a stallion chain, she will soon learn not to knock you over! I use one on my boy when he becomes pushy to lead. A week of using it he remembers his manners and we can revert back to just using the headcollar alone again.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brass-Stallio...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item56308accfc

Control halters are ok but more pricey and fidly, only takes a minute to attach a chain to your normal headcollar and is effective.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am sure I have on of those for showing on a lead rein. I might try using that!
 
I think a bit of ground work might help here. See how well you can get her out of your space, because what this will teach her is that she isnt to come too close, even when worried.

Stand in front of her, give yourself about a metre, and lift your hands in front of her, one on each side. Walk towards her, and keep walking until she moves away. If she doesnt respond, use more energy, jump up and down, or move FAST towards her. The aim is to be able to use your energy to get her to move away. It doesnt matter if she doesnt move straight, its just the moving away you want. If she doesnt move away when you use energy, then physically touch her, by tapping her firmly, or just pushing her head away with your hands. Sometimes just jumping up in front of a horse and waving your hands can cause them to move.

I like to be able to move my horses just with my energy, i rarely have to touch them to get them to move. So when i am leading a spooky horse, i like to lead at the head, not the shoulder, so that if the horse does spook, it doesnt knock me over with its shoulder. I also like to give myself some space, say a metre between me and the horse, again so ive room to move. If she can move backwards and move her shoulders away from you by using your energy, all you should have to do when she spooks is raise your arms in a defensive manner, and if she invades your space, back her off you QUICKLY and immediatly. Just by tapping her shoulders or raising your arms might work. But you might need a fair bit of energy to start with. If you watch a lead mare in a herd, all she has to do is give a 'look', or a swish of her tail for another horse to move. A less dominant horse will not push into a lead mares space. You have to be the lead mare.

I hope this makes sense, as when she realises that you can get her to move her feet, and be the boss, she will think twice about running you over. Even when she spooks. After all, she has lots of room to spook in, she doesnt need to invade yours, and possibly hurt you. In a situation like this, its important to be firm with her, otherwise
she might not learn this. Obviously a chfney and bridle are options, but i never like to use something that could possible hurt the horse, even if its a temporary thing.
 
I just use a stallion chain with my horse when he's fresh. I can do IH stuff with him in the school untill the cows come home and he's amazing, he will follow me, stop when I do, I only have to say 'back' and he moves back ect ect.
However in the dead of winter and I'm late and it's dark and he's wanting to come in, he's just a typical boy and doesn't listen so I just put on a stallion chain! A sharp reminder with that and he's a lamb.
Easy peasy :)
 
Thanks for all the replies.
Jenny Harvey, I understand what you are getting at. My mare will step back for me in the stable. Its difficult for me to have her loose as we have an open school-(unless i could do it on the lunge?)
 
vanessa97 said:
My mare is usually a lamb, to lead. However, she is occasionally spooky and reacts sharply, and sometimes knocks me over. I wondered if a control headcollar, might be the answer.
Can anyone advise me if this would help? Its not a training issue, as I said, she is usually very good, its only when she spooks. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I would say it is a training isssue she should learn to respect your space and not knock you over. I own a lovely but spooky irish horse and whenever he spooks the last place he would go is through a human and Ive never laid a finger on him!
 
firewell said:
I just use a stallion chain with my horse when he's fresh. I can do IH stuff with him in the school untill the cows come home and he's amazing, he will follow me, stop when I do, I only have to say 'back' and he moves back ect ect.
However in the dead of winter and I'm late and it's dark and he's wanting to come in, he's just a typical boy and doesn't listen so I just put on a stallion chain! A sharp reminder with that and he's a lamb.
Easy peasy :)
Click to expand...

HAHA, youve just described my situation exactly!!!! Walking along a road in near dark after work with a horse who is eager to get inside and get his food is no fun without my stally chain, id rather save my body than faff about with anything but a chain!
 
vanessa97 said:
Thanks for all the replies.
Jenny Harvey, I understand what you are getting at. My mare will step back for me in the stable. Its difficult for me to have her loose as we have an open school-(unless i could do it on the lunge?)
Click to expand...

I dont mean having her loose at all. Keep her on the lead rope or lunge is fine. The main aim is to get her to back away from you as soon as you ask, so if she does spook, all you have to do is be firm, so she knows she cant run you over.
 
Tb is always led out in a chiffney and i bring her in in a head collar when feeling brave!
Its brilliant-without it her head is in the air,she will rear buck and just forgets how big she is and can get dangerous! However with the chiffney in she brings her head right down and is a donkey, she must know and it saves us both from being injured.
 
I can't believe how well behaved my horse is with a Dually, the Monty Roberts headcollar.
I have used a chain before, but the Dually is MUCH better. I was trying to work out why the other day, as it is only a soft rope, yet my horse behaves perfectly when in that. If he is just in a headcollar he has a naughty tendancy to put his head down and pull me over to some nice grass, but in the dually he is aperfect gentleman.

I am a bit wary of the stallion chain, as is is possible to hurt then if used too sharply.
 
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