Tips??

[evilmavis]

Ok my boy is 10 months old now and having been very very good for the first few months due to being unwell he has now turned into a horror!

He tries to push me into the ditch or wire fencing, constantly barging into me, then he either rears above my head or kicks out with front legs.. he is a nightmare to lead, if he doesnt play up he just stops and plants himself.. i have not had these problems before with him.. although in his favour he is teething and bored as he does not have any comapany anymore although he can still mutual groom over the fence.. he is good in all other ways..

any one got any tips on how to deal with him???

 

[team barney]

Are you leading him from the shoulder? I have found youngsters, especially colts can be troublesome if you let them drop behind you.
Use a long leadrope so that you can keep hold when he does barge past you.
Regarding the planting wait him out if you have the time, they soon learn that you have more patience than they do (youngsters don't tend to plant for as long as old horses, they get distracted more easily thankfully) and they don't try that trick many more times, I understand there isn't always the time to do that though.

Has he been gelded? That could help if he is still entire.

Edited to say I can't offer any advise on the rearing, thankfully I have managed to avoid having much contact with any serial rearers.

 

[evilmavis]

yes he has been gelded at a very young age(before i got him) i walk at his shoulder and always have... he is just a compete pain in the ass at moment, as for the planting i use a long lead rope or lunge rope and wait it out, dont know where to go from here??

 

[tallyho!]

I lead young 'uns like that almost by his chin-hairs, wear steel toe caps, a hat, a whip to make them walk on, a bucket of carrot peelings for being good (washed) and my elbow on his neck to protect my self from sudden head moevements! Somehow I find the strength of a builder to hold on

I would also agree with a long lead rope - 10m if poss. If they break away easier to just let go let them run a circle around you til they calm down.

Some of this is taught, but mostly experience... bruised boobs, eyes, cheek, chin, trodded toes, kicked shins... oh yes and one bit me on my head!

That... is just foals unfortunately, and sometimes you get nice ones, others you get nasties.

I wouldn't keep him on his own though... you're asking for trouble there...

 

[buntybaby]

Hi

Do you have access to a school? If you do then its worth taking him in there and spend like 10 mins every few days (i know he's very young) just teaching him to lead properly and teach him about 'personal space'.
All you need to do is lead him round staying by his shoulder making sure he stays with you, get his attention(if you can!!) and just get him to halt for a few secs and walk on again, if he plants make sure you stay by his shoulder and either wait whilst using your voice to ask him to walk on (as said above he should get bored of it!!)or flick him with the end of the rope behind you but again using your voice firmly! Just generally teaching him manners!! Most important thing is though to make sure your confident and stay calm and that you let him know your boss and you mean business and he should respect this!!
This is what I have done with youngsters in the past especially colts and have found that it has only taken a cppl of weeks going in there a cppl of times a week! I had one yearling colt that used to rear and strike with front legs and i did used to carry a stick when leading him and just tapped his knees when he striked and he soon learnt it was bad!! As for the rearing a firm no from me and a tug on the rope when he went up and he did seem to grow out of it!!
Hope that makes sense and helps!

 

[team barney]

Some of this is taught, but mostly experience... bruised boobs, eyes, cheek, chin, trodded toes, kicked shins... oh yes and one bit me on my head!

I've handled a head biter too, he was a real git, bit me in the chest a few times as well, I would only go near him in long sleeves and I needed them too after dealing with him, I ended up more bruised than not!!!