would it be totally insane?

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Christmas_Kate

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Having MAJOR problems with the shitland atm. Stems back from when he was chased on a bridleway weeks ago. Basically started refusing to wak down near the bridleway, then refusing to walk anywhere near the road.
Now refusing to move at all, unless it's where he wants to go.

I think this started as fear, and as I could not physically MAKE him go, he's learnt if he stands and plants himself he can take the pi$$.
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I'm actually really embarrassed about this
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I've tried using a schooling whip, tried bribing him, nothing works.

Would it be insane of me to try a halter? the type that applies poll and nose pressure? my thinking being if I apply pressure it will be uncomfortable until he moves? Hoping then that gradually, by using it over his bridle, he'll learn that doing as I please is better for him.

My OH is saying if I don't sort this he's going to sell him
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. Obviously he's no good as a LR pony atm as he's refusing to go anywhere.
 
I think you are on track with a pressure halter - other thought - turn him around and make him go backwards down it???

Schooling whip behind the hocks by the leader can encourage a donkey
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have you tried "link up" with him and then take him down the track, he needs to prefer being with you and wanting to stay close. You could take his feed to the place he wont go and somehow get hiim to associate it with nice experiances rather than nasty ones
 
lol we've tried allsorts! schooling whip just ensures a typical shettie tantrum. If I ask him to move backwards and he refuses to he just stands on his hind legs. I even bought a chiffney and he went beserk as soon as I put it on.

I'll try the halter. I just don't want to make things worse.
 
hmmm. well, if it's fear then obviously you need to respond as such (reassuring him, winning his trust etc) BUT if he's taking the pee and you're sure it's that not fear then you need to remind him who's boss.

Does he respond to being shouted at? I'm amazing how many horses really don't like this and whilst it sounds aggressive I personally prefer it to using a whip etc. Just don't give up, if he throws a tantrum, ignore it and carry on regardless, otherwise he's winning again isn't he, and he'll learn that throwing a strop works too.

Good luck getting it sorted - sounds like he's being a little monkey...
 
ooo one more thing, I may be completely wrong - someone please correct me if I am- but I would think if you use a pressure halter with pole pressure he may push against the pressure and therefore against you even more???
 
In refusing to move, he plants himself and threatens with rearing. Being so short in body length (him, not me
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, if I get behind his shoulder he can fly kick me... and he knows it! If i am in front of his shoulder he strikes out with his front legs when he rears up.

so my thoughts were if I use the pressure from the haltar to stop him rearing, i can get more in front of the shoulder and use the pressure to encourage him fowards. Ie put pressure on, if he rears it'll make the pressure worse, if he moves fowards the pressure stops and he is rewarded.

Does that make sense??

To think not long ago he lead like JAK's ponio, (and still does at times... and he whickers when he sees us and gallops over to us) I just cannot fathom this behaviour.
 
Well he is chestnut! Seriously, you may or may not know that Toffee is the world champion napper, and as the received wisdom is never never give in, Troggy has spent a lot of time in park with the engine off on various hacks. However, there is a school of thought that if you change direction, or turn back, the horse doesn't think 'oh, I've won', the horse may think 'oh, this is not so scary and I will behave'. It is up to you, but based on our experience, if he digs his heels in nothing will shift him, so it may be worth trying a less confrontational approach. Horses apparently have quite long memories, and certain things can trigger flashbacks (so our vet said, although I don't know how how he would know that...). Anyway, good luck - I hope you get him back to the more obliging person he used to be.
 
You should be in front of him leading the way - if using a flat headcollar I'd change for a rope one immediately

Assuming no person on board, you walk forward, if he plants do not look behind, or turn your body at all. Apply strong downwards (although if short, lets just go with strong), consistent pull.

The minute he moves a foot you instantly release pressure (timing is key). When he is with you respectful distance to avoid getting his legs kicked, you should have no pressure.

That way he learns that being with the human is good and too far away is uncomfortable.
 
what about ride and lead from anther pony - that may give him the reassurance - get the r&l going well in teh school/field and then try the problem path

assume he's OK everywhere else except where he's been scared ?
 
Unfortunatley he seems to scare all the other horses, them being so big and him so small.

He originaly started this leading up to the place he'd been frightened, but now does it everywhere, including halfway across a road
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does he longrein - or could you teach him to longrein in a school and then try 'driving' him from behind - at least that way you'd not be near his front legs !!!
 
I'm hoping to send him away to be broken to drive, atm teaching him to lunge, but we usually end with his back feet waving round my ears.

so yes, if I can find someone to break him to drive for me (as I havent the facilities or time, no school etc) then it would be something which would be of great use to us.
 
The Intelligent Horsemanship (Monty Roberts) have a great halter, it uses pressure over the nose. You -do- have to be careful with it and its mostly about timing. When he stops it will put pressure on the nose and when he walks forwards this will release. You can encourage a horse forwards by small pulls (but its not a good idea to 'hold' it).

I would advise you practise with it before going to the play that you are having problems - teach him how it works by schooling him from the ground at home. Personally i think this is the best halter as a halter that uses poll pressure can encourage a horse to go upwards.

The other thing that works is using the horses own strength against it, this is really difficult to explain but i will give it a go! When he plants himself, move 45 degrees to the side - most horses physically cannot keep themselves planted if you pull from this direction.

Hope that makes sense. Good luck!
 
Agree with fee-fee, the Dually headcollar is good for pressure/ release type of training, I prefer it to the Be Nice. You do have to practice at home with it getting the horse to understand the pressure / release system & have to get your timing right. Worked with a 17hh horse, not sure about a shetland though!
 
My friends highland plants out riding. You could beat the living daylights out of him and he wouldn't move (or bat and eyelid) tough scotish skin. Joinup didn't work. Pony brain to clever and took the micky. We tend to find the most effective thing with him is to rattle something noisy in his ear. Jangly bunch of keys, pot of coins, childrens rattle. Works most of the time. He tends to go through phases, some weeks he is really good then he reverts to his tree like impression. Good luck I know it is really frustrating once they have learnt it gets them out of work it is really difficult to break the habit.
 
Okay, I'm going to be incredibly controversial here......if this little shetland was mine and wouldn't do what I asked, especially if I had tried all of the things you have....then I'm sorry but he would get a good hard thrash across the backside!!

At this stage, I have to be honest and say that I really wouldn't give a damn about trying to figure out why he won't do what you ask, I would just be making him do what you ask!

Yes
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...... this from someone who avidly dislikes the hitting of her horses and discourages the hitting of other peoples horses. However, with all of my horses here, I have never had cause to ever smack them ..... but then mine don't take the pee with me, they understand what I am asking and they are happy to oblige.....that's why I have Quarter Horses and not Shetlands
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What works with many other horses/ponies, very often does NOT work with Shetlands - they need and deserve firm handling, that's why I generally say most of them are not suitable for small children.
 
Thankyou Tia for your honest reply.

Fact is, I'm more than firm with him. When he first came he would literally drag me down the road. That was totally unacceptable, and he did get a few cracks across the backside for it.

When I say I've tried everything with this 'napping', I mean everything.
The other week he really played me up, and after too much coaxing and him biting me each time i asked him to walk on, I smacked him. Though all this results in is him standing on his hind legs and striking out.

Personality wise, he's quite insecure. If he thinks you're trying to 'make' or 'bully' him into anything, he just gets 10x worse, to a point of me being unable to catch him for a day or two.
I don't know if it's of any relevance, but we've been spending the last 6 months getting him to go off the LR independantly. He was quite insecure in that he hated to do anything without a LR or someone walking next to him. And it's also been since I got someone hacking him off the LR for me that this started, along with him getting chased on a bridleway.

Yesterday I had to get him in the little paddock (as the main field had been topped). It took me two hours to get him across an acre. I tried the 45 degrees thing, and yes it helped. Each time he stopped, I was making him go in a different direction, over nd over and over. For the last little bit he just went "oh, okay then" and walked quite nicely. Wether that'll work again, I don't know. I'm trying to do lots of inhand work with him, but as you said Tia, shetlands need firm handling, or they do just take the pee. Ours doesnt just take the pee, he fights back....

I agree about them not being suitable for small children too... he's amazing with the kids, but very strong, which leaves me always concious of the fct if he could drag me, what could he do to a child? hes always been a complete saint with them, but it does make you think twice.
 
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