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Horses that don't pay attention to you

2K views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  New_image 
#1 ·
What do you do about a horse that ignores your presence completely, and when you step in to work with them, they just avoid any and all contact? Like - a horse you can walk up to in a field, he won't run away from you, and when you are trying to put on the halter, he pulls against you and tries to keep his head down so he can eat? Like he's thinking, "Puny human. Do what you want to me, but don't interrupt me being social and eating and whatnot."

I think I have a pretty good grasp on what to do, but I'd like to know if anyone else has dealt with a horse like this, and what you've done.
 
#2 ·
If the horse pulls and just keeps munching on grass ignoring me I make her feet move. That's it. If "gentle methods" don't work the smack on butt with the rope (or a stick if you carry one, which I almost never do) definitely gets the attention back on you and make it move.
 
#3 ·
I have a long lead rope. If my horse doesn't move after I ask twice nicely, or swing his hindquarters after I ask, or won't pay attention to me after a jingle on the lead, I'll throw the rope to hit (with gravity force) his hindquarters, if he doesn't listen I'd get progressively harder until he did.
 
#5 ·
Well unless the horse is starving, and in need of the grass... It sounds like he does not respect you. I would do some on lead or round pen work. Work on controling his body and movement, and make him do what you want, when you want it. A little bit of refresher and he should be fine.
 
#7 ·
Yeah this horse just got here Saturday. Worked with him yesterday with respecting space and our goal was to walk toward the barn with slack in the rope, without him passing my shoulder. He seemed to get it eventually, but there's no doubt he needs lots of work.

When I go to catch him and halter him, he pulls WHILE I'm trying to get the halter on and buckled. If I "cluck-cluck" to get his head up, he'll move forward. If I stick my toe under his nose, he won't do anything. Just eat around it. When his head DOES come up, and I get the halter over his nose, he pulls while I'm trying to buckle.

Thanks for all your advice, guys :)
 
#8 ·
When he puts his head back down give him a tap with your foot, not enough to be kicking him in the head but enough of a bump for him to stop and say woah! what was that? It will take a few times obviously until he associates going down with a bump, but I used to lease a huge lumbering thoroughbred who would do the same but when I was trying to do up his bridle, I just kept my foot around where I knew he would put his head down and as soon as it got down I made my foot make contact with his nose. (Again, don't think I'm saying kick him in the head please!!)
 
#9 ·
^

Agreed. A light toe kick to the beak with bring his head up (I say this as nicely as possible) In the past mine have required more than a "tap". When the head comes up, and he goes to walk off raise your hand quickly above his head right in his line of vision and yell WHOA. In my opinion... It sounds like you need to mean it. IE "I SAID head up, halter on, stand here, THEN walk......"
 
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