Tying up to lorry .... Please help!!!!

Katie__Connie

Katie__Connie

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My pony refuses to be tied up to the lorry even if I'm with him! I would never leave him tied up while i went away anyway but its so annoying when i need to go into the lorry to fetch something and he just breaks away as soon as i'm not looking!

He's not even scared its just a habit he's got into!! please help!! anything i can do??
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Sorry to hear you're having problems.

It might be time consuming but to start from scratch would be good idea. Re-introduce him to the lorry at home, in the yard. Try to give him feeds near the lorry, don't tie him up though. Just feed him, praise him if he stays close and calm and walk away. You can repeat this as many time as necessary, to build his confidence up.

The build up from there, feed him and have someone moving inside the lorry (still with you holding him-not tied up) as that may be what's worrying him.

Then gradually introduce tying up, just to feed. Stay by his side, praise him, untie him when he's done and walk away.

From there, you can start to move two steps back and then three and then inside the lorry etc etc.

Perhaps that's not the way about it at all-it's hard to know not knowing the horse-but I think that's what I'd try and do.

You need to reassure him that it's ok and that it's nothing to worry about but building up confidence and trust takes a while.

Good luck
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Thanks for the advice kat_bath i'll definitely give it a go!!

When i need to leave him thats what i do silver... but when he's tacked up and i just need to nip into the lorry to fetch something i really need to be able to tie him up for one minute without him escaping!!
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thanks!
 
Train him using a lunge line threaded through the ring and clipped to his headcollar at one end and you hold the other. Gradually move away and let the lunge line be the stopper on his activities - if he moves, keep a tension, but don't allow him to pull away. Andso on til you can go out of sight.

Might be worth doing some training in a controller-type headcollar which tightens as he pulls and loosens as he gives. Done correctly, this does stop silly behaviour on the lead. If he is trained using one of these, he could wear it (but not be attached to it) whilst the tying to lorry lessons are in session. Mine are cheeky at times on headcollars going to the field, but put the 'naughty boy' headcollar on (mine's a rope style) and they are meek as kittens. My lad had loading issues which stopped completely after 'NBH' lessons and putting it on them is enough to change their minds about pratting about.
 
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