Yearling Handling Issue!

[*rach247*]

Hello,

I have recently purchased a 14 month old yearling filly (arab x welsh) a couple of months ago. It is clear she hasn't had much handling which I suppose can be looked at in a good way and a bad way. She is genrally very quiet natured for a youngster and doesnt have a bad bone in her body.

The problem I have with her is her responding and respecting I am the boss. She is lovely to lead and never pulls but for example when I try to back her up in either the stable or field it like I have to physically shove her.. I have tried digging my fist in her chest, giving her a little pinch etc and she seems unresponsive unless it is very hard, which I really don't like doing.

The main problem is in the field, when I shout her she comes galloping over and if Im not quick enough she plows straight into me... today she actually just managed to stop infront of me but then started 'half rearing' bouncing on the floor and throwing her head.. (like when horses play with each other in the field)

Whilst she is doing these types of things I am shouting NO, holding my hands up, trying to get her to back off with the headcoller and leadrope (normal horses would jump back or keep their distance). She seems totally un-phased by any of my actions.. whilst this is nice she isn't head shy or scared I fully understand this is a serious issue and dangerous. She is only 13.1hh at the moment so is just manageable.

I want to sort this correctly as I feel this is an important part of how she will turn out, however Im not sure the way of doing this, I have tried using a water spray in her face when she gets near but she is totally fine with sprays, so just carries on with a wet face!!

Has anyone any ideas please!?

Many thanks,
Rachael

 

[EQUIDAE]

You need to teach her these actions. 'Normal' horses have already learned them - they don't just know automatically. There is a great book called 'From birth to backing' and I think one called 'Perfect manners' by Kelly Marks.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

She needs training. The books that E mentions are good, but you might want someone experienced with youngsters to actually come and help.

The backing up issue sounds like she's ignorant and doesn't actually understand what you want her to do. So nothing to do with being the boss. I like to teach mine vocal cues. For example if they take a step backwards, I say 'back' immediately and soon they associate the cue with the action. Giving a treat immediately (you have to be quick so they associate the correct action with the treat) every nown and again when they get it right, helps to make them try harder.

Galloping over and nearly not stopping in time is also an issue I've had with mine. Shouting and waving stuff would cause mine to rear. I would call from the other side of the gate and only enter the field once they are over and standing nicely. Teaching the 'stand' command is helpful here and if the gate opens inwards, then it's a good opportunity to brush up the 'back' command too. Mine seemed to get 'back' quite quickly in that situation as the stepping back was needed with a gate coming towards them, so made sense. For gate opening I also teach 'turn' which means that they turn back to face the gate so that I can close it safely. Then 'turn' to face away from the gate again and finally 'walk on' and go to the yard.

 

[kc100]

As others have said - backing up needs a vocal cue. So when you ask her to move back, make it a loud 'back', getting progressively sterner and louder with your voice if she still ignores you. The vocal command can be paired up with physically pushing her back with your hand, until eventually she learns to move back with just your voice command. Make sure you are doing this work in a safe place, so keep this to the stable for now. Enter the stable, put your hand on her chest and push whilst saying 'back'. Keep repeating until she starts to get it. Even just a couple of steps is great and should be rewarded with a pat and 'good girl' vocal reassurance. She'll soon get it; it may just take a few weeks of practice. Dont expect loads of steps back at first, one or two is progress that should be rewarded.

If she still doesnt budge AT ALL (and I mean doesnt even attempt to step in any direction and plants her feet) then you might want to try a schooling whip, not the actual whip end but the handle that you'd hold - push that into her chest in a short sharp fashion (rather than digging into the chest as you have been doing), again repeat these short sharp movements until she moves back. But only go down this route if she is not showing any signs of wanting to move in any direction, if she takes the odd wobbly step with your hand and voice that is fine and you dont need to get the whip involved.

FYI I didnt need a whip when teaching my unhandled yearling to move back, the voice command and push with my hand worked really well and he quickly learnt the voice command so I didnt have to use my hand anymore. But with a bolshy 17.1hh horse I used to ride who was a nightmare on the ground/v.dangerous and didnt respect your space, then I did use the whip handle method (note I was never 'whipping' him, it was more of a quick jab with the handle end into his chest until he learnt to respect my space).

In terms of the galloping over to you, again as the others have said - dont stand in the field! Personally I dont mind my horse galloping over in the field when he is due to come in, his entire herd of 4 do it and whilst it makes me cringe thinking is he going to stop in time (he always does!), I actually think its a fairly harmless thing for them to do as they are just excited to see you and come into the stable (presumably expecting food). It is of course harmless providing you are outside the field on the other side of the fence/gate and then they stand patiently and calmly waiting for you to enter and put the headcollar on.

I have taught mine (now 2) to stand perfectly still when I come in to get him, equally to do the same when I turn him out. He knows that when he is turned out, we have to close the gate first then walk to a safe place (normally out of the mud so I dont get stuck!) and then he stands still whilst the headcollar comes off, he gets a pat then he is allowed to walk away. I've had him over a year now and never once has he galloped away from me or bucked etc once the headcollar is off, he knows around me he must be still and calm. When he gets to his friends he can run around and do what he likes; but near me he is calm. This has been achieved purely through consistent repetition, every single time he is turned out I make him stand, wait and then he gets his pat once the headcollar is off. If he tries to move he is given a stern voice command and we wait a few seconds more to teach him he goes when I say he can, not when he chooses.

I've been lucky I've never had issues getting him in, as I said he does gallop over but the whole herd does so there is nothing I can do about that. I always back him up when I get into the field so again he knows now I am there he has to respect my space.

Providing she does actually stand and then learns to back up once she has finished her gallop over to the gate, I wouldnt worry about that too much - but if you dont have the option of standing on the other side of a fence/gate for safety then I'd stop calling her over, and simply walk over to her and put the headcollar on that way. Over time doing it that way will teach her not to be so over-excited about coming in and should stop her galloping at you so much.

Something worth doing to teach her some better manners is some ground work - if you have a school or a safe enclosed field space away from other horses start taking her in there and working with her a little. Not lunging or anything like that, but teaching her to stop and walk on, all behind you. So you stop and ask her vocally to 'halt' at the same time, and she must stop behind you (not entering your personal space). If she stops next to you or in front of you, move her back a few steps (more practice for backing up!) and then repeat. You can do this for about 5-10 mins keeping a careful eye on whether she is getting bored/tired etc as you'll lose her attention. But the aim to to eventually be able to stop and walk on, just by you stopping and starting walking again, and she will follow your body language but keeping a good distance away from you respecting your space. Another simple one is on a lung line or a long leadrope, halt her and then walk away a few steps, so she learns to remain in her space and not move into yours.

As the others have said there are some great books out there for handling youngsters, teaching them the basics, and groundwork exercises that will build your relationship with her and teach her to respect you. Dont panic too much, she doesnt sound that bad; just a little exuberant which is normal for a youngster! She is testing you and working out who is boss, but the great thing about youngsters is they learn fast providing you are 100% consistent with what you will and wont accept, and you reward them lots for the good bits. Youngsters need lots of praise and will take their confidence from you, so if you are relaxed around her and praise her lots then she will start to trust you and be more confident (hence less silly) in your presence.

My unhandled yearling (who was around 14.2 when I got him!) learnt everything he needed to (all the basics) within about 2-3 months, I will admit he's been a doddle and has very rarely questioned my authority. But even with horses that do question authority, repetition and consistency, together with kindness and patience, works more often than not. Even with the huge bolshy 5 year old I worked with for a while, we could never get him perfect under saddle but we sure did get him perfect on the ground. So he went from dangerous and afraid of people, to loving human company and being easy to handle. He needed lots of frequent work, if you stopped for a week or two he would start to show signs of going backwards again; again just shows consistency and repetition is key. My yearling thankfully never forgot his manners after they were taught, so despite being turned away for nearly a year he was still well mannered and easy to handle when he was brought in (well in during the day out at night) when he turned 2.

Hope this helps!

 

[Dry Rot]

Backing up is the opposite of leading! Pressure-and-release. Just push steadily with three fingers in that hollow at the base of the gullet/top of the breast/sternum. Release the pressure the instant the horse even shifts weight backwards. Gentle sustained pressure works best. Try gently pushing that hollow on your own anatomy. Ouch! It is not pleasant! So be gentle and just teach the horse how to "switch it off".