Teaching youngster to respect space ...

[Nakita]

After reading the post "what behaviour/habit can you not abide" I noticed at the top of peoples list is barging.
I can lead Emma in and out of the field no problem however if I take her upto the school or a walk around the yard she becomes hyper and bargy, She never pulls enough to get lose she seems to respect the leadrope, its almost as if she throws a complete fit at the end of the rope and if i try and lead her somewhere she doesn't want to go she just barges me out of the way.
Was wondering the best way to teach her to respect my space as it seems impossible to gain her attention when she is having one of her moments.

 

[ecrozier]

I'm not always an advocate of the natural horsemanship type stuff but my youngster is quite big (16.3) and I'm not (5'5) and I have a dually for him and had one lesson with one of the IH people and learnt the basics. It's useful
for working on respect of space and also general handling and that kind of thing, and I also used it to introduce XC as we went and played over tiny solid fence on the long line in dually!
But generally I find squaring up to him and looking him straight in the eye is the first port of call and if that doesn't work a poke in the rids/shoulder! I'm NOT getting trampled so he has to respect my space!

 

[Cedars]

I'll read this with interest and my baby is in the habit of wanting to be stood ON me at the moment. xxxx

 

[kirstyl]

It is essential that she respects your space. Are you doing plenty of in hand work? Have her on a lunge line and teach her to do turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches and reinback. You may have to be quite 'in her face' and 'big' with the whip (by that I don't mean clouting her, I mean making your presence felt!). Needs dealing with sooner than later and well done for recognising that. Do you have an instructor? Perhaps she can help you gain that respect

 

[Echo Bravo]

Does she associate the above with pain,excitement. Must be a reason why she gets bargy.

 

[Nakita]

Thanks everyone!

Echo Bravo - It is just her wanting to be with the horses and also the fact she has lots of energy, the school is beside the field so she gets bargy trying to drag me to the side of the field closest to her friends and when I'm leading her around the yard she just seems to look at "scary" things and wind herself up!

kirstyl - The thing is if she is calm and listening she does everything I ask her goes back, moves to the side etc atm it does take a bit of persistance on my part at times but we are getting there. It is just as soon as she get excited or has a little spook at something or even decided she doesn't want to go the way I do it all goes out the window. Today i was very "in her face" trying to get her to move back and she is just not phased in the slightest! I honestly thing you could scream, wave a whip in her face, push her and she would just stand there like "duh?" ... She has just turned one a month ago and is about 14.1 atm. The lady who owns the yard backs and brings on youngsters profesionally so tomorrow I'm going to ask her if she could help me as I really want to nip it in the bud before she gets bigger & stronger!

ecrozier - My girl doesn't so much as flinch when I have poked her in the ribs or shoulder and gave her a stern warning to go back! Are the dually headcollars quite difficult to get the hang of? I don't want to cause more problems for myself ... Lol.

 

[intouch]

Try to get to a horsemanship demo - Steve Halfpenny of Silversand Horsemanship is in UK atm, someone like that. or go to you tube and search "leading a young horse" or similar.

I can't understand why this sort of training is considered "NH" - it is simply training a horse to be safe, it won't be long till it's mainstream - at least I hope so!

 

[Cedars]

Today i was very "in her face" trying to get her to move back and she is just not phased in the slightest! I honestly thing you could scream, wave a whip in her face, push her and she would just stand there like "duh?" ... She has just turned one a month ago and is about 14.1 atm.

Erm, do you own my horse?!?! Mine is EXACTLY the same. You can scream, shout, push her, flick leadropes at her, wave your arms, she just stands there looking at you!

 

[SarahWeston]

Any one of the IH Recommended Associates would be able to show you how to stop this sort of behaviour in just one session and all without wafting a whip or a rope. Horses that pull and barge are often expressing worry and by moving them around, rather than them moving you around, you can prove that you are "there" for them. The most basic ground work can help them to just stand still and to lead nicely.