Some advise for a new horse owner

[goldentintin]

I was hoping somebody could give me some advise I have owned my 15.2hh cob for the past 6 weeks and he is nothing like the horse that has been sold to me but I am working to iron out the problems.

When I first got him and brought him in from the field he would use the power of his head and drag me until i couldnt hold him anymore, he would then run back to the horses in the field. I have solved this problem by using a bridle to bring him in and he hasnt done this since. On the ground he is very difficult to manage and pushes you around using his head I am finding I am telling him off all the time, but we are getting there with the manners and we are beginning to get to know each other.

I have two main problems that I do not know the answer to or why he is doing this. The first problem is when i first go to get him from the field he comes to call with the rest of the horses but when I try to go up to him he runs off, I can then walk up to him and put the lead rein on him, I then put the bridle on him and he bolts of with the bridle round his neck, he then stands still and I can walk up to him continue to put the bridle on him and now lead him in.

The other problem is when I take him into the school, he will not work well. I have only tried this twice. I take him in and he walks about half way down the school and then stops no matter what I do I cannot get him to walk in the school he just plants himself and totally switches off to everything. He will hack out on his own and with company and he works well its just in the school. Does anybody have any advise?

 

[Samantha008]

I think 6 weeks is still a very short period of time to get to know a horse- when you saw him and bought him hed probably been at the place much longer than 6 weeks. Maybe he just takes a while to settle in?

I wouldnt worry too much yet, youve already said youre making progress with his manners!!

Just assert your authority, and get him to respect you whilst at the same time building up your bond, when he strts to associate you with good things he might be easier to catch.

Saying all this he is a cob, they are known for their cheeky behaviour

Hang in there im sure hell be ok Just give him some time and dont give up!!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

As you have found he is testing the boundaries. Now that you use a bridle to lead him, he is behaving himself.
Without seeing exactly what he is doing, it is difficult to say exactly why he is running off from the gate but I wonder if this is because of his place in the herd and the threats of the other horses.
Please don't put the reins round his neck, if you know he will run off with it - at best he will break the reins, at worst he will cause an injury. If you can put a lead rein round his neck, just ask him to accept the bit and draw the bridle up his face, then put the reins over his head.
As for the schooling issue, try riding him in the school with another horse, or try lunging him, then you could ask some-one else to lunge him while you are riding.
Good luck, most horses take a while to settle into a new home. What does the previous owner say about his behaviour?

 

[TigerTail]

Firstly advice is spelt with a C not an S

Secondly I wouldnt be using a bridle, especially as the control seems to be a bit precarious at the moment. I would be investing in a dually headcollar, which works on pressure and release, so when he behaves and walks with you it is like a normal headcollar, and when he tries to turn and bolt/ plant it tightens to say 'no this behaviour isnt acceptable', then instantly rewards him by going loose when he takes a step towards the correct behaviour.

To me he sounds very insecure - dont forget he has had a whole change of life/people/friends. However that equally doesnt mean that you let him walk all over you. Him running away when you catch him and planting is all him saying he doesnt trust you as his herd leader so isnt confident to follow you. He will follow other horses but not you. This is the relationship that you need to address with groundwork and time

I would suggest you buy Kelly Marks book 'Perfect Manners' to help you but you could also have a read of this thread http://ihdg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=help&action=display&thread=119511 and the IHDG for some excellent behaviour/groundwork advice

 

[caroline23]

I would also recommend perfect manners and a shally for leading and groundwork. my cob used to nick of back to other horses when being caught and it helps you have more control than in a bridle, as like yours he knew the power he had in his head & neck and used it to his advantage. don't give him an inch and set boundaries an he will become a lot more managable

 

[caroline23]

meant dually stupid spell check lol

 

[Bernster]

Just wanted to endorse what previous posters have said - I think continued work on ground work (with assistance from dually halter or similar pressure type halter and Kelly Marks) would be a good idea. Sounds like cob bolshyness and him settling into new home and testing your boundaries.

If you can, get someone to help on the ground when you are schooling, will help you to relax as well I suspect and they will get a better view of what is happening. And riding in company, lunging and long reining to help him settle.

Perservere as this does sound like it's fixable and you are making good progress. Let us know how you get on.

 

[ReggiePerrin]

Oh I know how you feel!! I've had my boy for nearly 12 weeks and we went through a patch where nothing went right! As everybody else has said, just keep plugging away and lots of praise when he gets something right and try not to lose your patience. I know how hard that can be! Even after 12 weeks we still have teething problems but yesterday I looked back at some of my earlier posts and realised that we'd actually come further than I'd thought.

Stick with it. I keep reminding myself that having a new horse in winter means that this is the worst it's ever going to be and just imagine how wonderful spring/summer's going to be when we have the light, the weather and most of the problems have gone away!

 

[1Lucie]

Dont panic!!

As a new first time horse owner (4months) i experienced a few things that worried me at first. He was sold to me as an ace hack... first few times he was jumpy and nervous on road. He would also nap when caught from the field and ridden.

However, these were very short lived. My horse had been imported from ireland, was in a riding school for 2 1/2 months and then i purchased him and moved him 160miles!! Poor boy probably thought he was going to be moved again!

4 months on my boy is a fab hack, easy to catch and bring in (my non horsey husband does it!) and i love him to bits! He is completly settled. I think your horse is probably testing you and settling into his new environment.

 

[MrVelvet]

Get a decent instructor! Have his back, saddle and teeth checked - maybe there is an underlying reason for the lack of will to work in the school. The instructor will help with manners on the ground too.

Well done though, you sound like you have a nice attitude towards looking after your horse.

 

[lochpearl]

6 weeks is such a short period of time and he is testing the boundaries. If you are able to catch him in a headcollar then I would put this on him and then perhaps put a chifney over the headcollar. With this he should not be able to run off from you. the dually headcollar is good also but you have to be very careful getting the correct size and using it in the correct way.

Reprimand him for any bolshy behaviour but remember to also praise him for good behaviour.

As to the school, do you have a Riding Instructor to help you with this? Do you tap him with a stick when he plants himself?

Don't stress as all of these issues can be ironed out but you might need a little help

 

[Naryafluffy]

How much of a 'New' horse owner are you?
Just asking as whilst people have suggested the Dually halter and this is a good piece of equipment, if you don't know how to (or aren't confident) in using it then it may not be as effective on a cob.
We have a big Oldenberg horse at our yard who is basically a 17.3hh cob who was taught to be a monster to bring in from the field, we did use a Be Nice halter on him which worked for those of us that had experience with horses and knew how to use it and read the body lanuage before the horse got started, if it was the person that taught him the bloody trick in the first place then she couldn't even get the Be Nice on him (you tried getting a halter onto a 17.3hh when it sticks it's head in the air and your only 5ft 6!!!!).
He now goes out with a Eskadron Controller on so that you don't have to try and put it on him, he can't step on it like a Be Nice and is also strong enough that he doesn't go up and bugger off.
With the pushing about and stopping in the school he's pushing his luck, be firm (but fair) with him, these sorts will always push their luck (I had a Highland Pony as my first pony and he was a toad to being with, but was brilliant after we ironed out our issues and had a fair few confrontations (sp?)), aslong as your not losing your confidence it will get easier and easier as you get more confidence and start standing up to him a bit more and the rank of the herd (you and him) becomes clearer that you are above him in rank.

Good luck, I'm sure he'll be a super pony once he knows you're in charge!!!!

Just noticed the comment above, we also use a chiffney on the same horse for getting him into the lorry (started after what could have been a nasty accident of him going over on concrete), very good idea as well.

 

[AmyMay]

I second getting a good instructor to help you.

As for the 'field' situation. Don't call him. Simply walk up to him and collect him. You'll find he will come in much more sweetly for you.

Re the dually or be nice halters - you need to be careful with these, because if he gets away from you waring one of these, and steps on the lead rope he could break his jaw. So I would stick with the bridle, as being the simplest and safest option.

 

[assuan]

Any kind of pressure/release control system would work, Richard Maxwell's training halter (cheaper than the Dually) is a simple rope halter and sends a much clearer message, however:

with regards any control method using pressure and release method, be cautious of a horse that may not have experienced this method before; make sure you use a long lead rope, as the initial few experiences of pressure like this could make him go up.

Both Maxwells training halter and the Dually can come package with a DVD, so I would recommend watching it a few times first!

We use both the Dually and Training Halters on our youngsters (not at the same time obviously) with much of their ground work. The release reward works excellently, but remember the verbal and pysical praise on every effort made by the horse.

When he plants in the school, try changing direction, it may distract his train of thought.

 

[soulfull]

echo some of the others, 6 wks isn't long BUT it is long enough to cause further problems if you get it wrong. So far you seem to be doing ok

Its important with this sort of horse that you not only give him confidence but also you do need to end everything on a good note and on your terms

Ie the issue in the school, somehow you have to avoid him winning as this will only get worse. Once you get him going you will most likely find he starts to nap at the gate, so already be thinking of ways to deal with this when it happens. It may even start happening out hacking too

All stages he will go through and if you can stay one step ahead of him it will really help!!

Echo those who said get the kelly Marks book!! it is as important to learn how to reward him as it is reprimand him, otherwise he won't know what is right and wrong. Very often people new to horses don't realise 'how to reward' they think a 'good boy' while keeping the pressure on the lead rope, reins (or keeping leg on) is enough, It isn't if he has done as you asked you MUST release the pressure slightly. Pressure release is probably the single biggest reward and if you get it wrong you can ruin a horse so easily

You are at least doing the right thing asking for advice and sound like you will take in on board

Good luck with your cob....in time you will learn what works for you and him and things will be fab

 

[Herts05]

As said by a couple of posters, get a good instructor who will help you deal with this and anything else your horse chooses to throw at you.
A first horse means a steep learning curve and one where you need to retain your confidence throughout and remind the horse that you are the one that is in charge.
Good Luck, we all go through it with horses in some shape or form, so please don't think this is unique to you.

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

Re planting, try turning him in a tight circle when he plants to ' unlock' his feet. Two schooling whips tapping behind your legs can also help. When you go in the school, get him moving straight away, don't walk, get him trotting and cantering with lots of turns and back up your legs with a quick tap if the stick the moment u feel him backing off. Poles and a few small jumps dotted around may help to keep him interested.

In field, I would ask an experienced friend or instructor to help you figure out what is going on. It sounds as if he's testing you but you absolutely don't want him to win. Ranking away on the lead is a tiresome vice that horses might give up trying with a particular person but never really seem to forget. He may have always known this trick but given it up with previous (more experienced?) owner, now trying it with you. Good luck x

 

[MagicMelon]

Sounds exactly like a Welsh Cob I bought as a 3yo (who had already been backed and was being hacked out). He was dreadful to handle - would set his neck and just charge off in a headcollar, would walk through/over you, barge his way through stable doors etc. and to ride, lets say he was extremely nappy to begin with, it took me about 3 weeks of daily riding to get him to walk properly and about 2 months to get a decent / non backwards trot out of him! You just have to work hard to gain their respect, some horses really do test the boundaries with a new person. Definately get a controller headcollar (I had a string halter which tightened if he pulled - worked a treat) and work hard on the ground with manners - like make him move back from the stable door or gate etc. if you're entering etc. You have to think about every little thing he does to test you, even down to when grooming if he moves over and you didnt ask him to - push him back to where he was, that sort of thing all helps build respect. You'll get there in the end, often these horses are the ones with most character!

 

[MrsHutt]

All the above contain some useful advice - especially those who say it is early days! You should have a look back at some of my past posts (I got H almost exactly a year ago) - we seem to have many of the same problems that you are having!! I got lots of helpful hints and support from people on here.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, although I can't really say H was fully settled in until the summer. Even now, he is insecure sometimes but I do feel that I now understand him a little more.

Good luck! It sounds as if you have things under control!

 

[goldentintin]

Thank you all so very much for your replies they have been very helpful.

I will look into getting a dually or eskadron after christmas. I have ordered all the kelly marks books so will have some reading to do when they arrive, I also looked at her website and the monty roberts dvd on how to use a dually is actually free so have ordered that as well.

We have both had a better day today, when getting him in today he didnt run off with the bridle so that was a bonus and he had plenty of praise and a carrot for being so good fingers crossed for tomorrow. I also spoke to a good friend who is a very good instructor we took him into the school, she could see how much trouble he was and suggested trying him with spurs. Which we did and I only used them once and he was a completely different horse we even managed a very good canter he had a massive big hug and plenty of praise. The plan is not to use them on him unless I really really need to and hopefully eventually be able to not have them at all.

Thanks again for all your wonderful advise, I will keep you up to date with what happens next.