Teaching to Lead

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Wolfie

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To cut a long story short, we have a filly, almost a year old who refuses to lead. She has had a headcollar on for the vast majority of her life, but ever since she was very small she has resisted any and all attempts to restrain or lead her. In fact, as soon as you apply any pressure on the leadrope at all she starts to scream and rear until she goes over backwards, or tries to kick 8 bells out of you! :eek:

We have had quite a few youngsters through our hands now, and have never had trouble like this before! Someone suggested we tie her to a tractor and just drive off, needless to say this was rejected out of hand :rolleyes: It is becoming frustrating though, not to mention dangerous. She is either going to kill herself or injure one of us if this is not taken in hand. Any advice most welcome!
 
Have you had all the normal checks done? Could be poll pain etc.
If so, do you have another horse you could lead with them? That might help her out.
When I was teaching my baby donk to walk, the first time I took him out it took us about an hour to walk 100 feet! Patience was an understatement. And plenty of packets of polos! If you pulled him, he would plant. So I had to put a trail of polos just out of his reach to get him to move. Good luck!
 
Medically she is grand. She won't even lead to follow the mare or a bucket of meal! I am dreading to think what she will be like to break if she carries this attitude along, and I don;t want her to end up in a tin :(
 
Usually my Father is at her head, as he handles her and her dam more than I do. Normally I would try to walk with a wall on one side, but this is impossible with her for obvious reasons. We use a small paddock/garden, so at least no one gets hurt. We have tried everything from coaxing with a bucket of food, to me walking behind and nudging her rump (fortunately I am reasonably quick at dodging the flailing hooves!). Tbh, if you even put a hand on her headcollar she flips the lid, and did from the day and hour she was foaled. We have also tried a variety of leadropes, including a bungee style one so she doesn't feel so restrained.
 
is it possible to try and herd her somewhere where you could try 'leading' her with no rope?
Something alternative to try and break her mental block on it.
try walking around her field with her? slowly bringing up your hand to get her used to it being there?

I would be just trying to think of somehting alternative - as obviously she is not a happy bunny!
Good luck
 
Thanks Alligator, will give this a go! She is a real wee wench. I have never met a horse that screams so much in temper!

Happy hunter - She can be driven provided no reins are involved. I can;t run fast enough to follow her round the field tho ;)
 
you say she resists as soon as any pressure is aplied to lead rope, i had similar issue with my filly any pressure and she'd pull straight back and after all obvious checks, vet ect the best advice i was given was to leave the lead rope on her, so she trod on it which got her used to having pressure applied this worked within a couple of days then as she was used to some pressure to get her walking out we used the long line behind her bum technique.

good luck x:D
 
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