Lack of Manners

Hello Horse Forum Members,
I am currently working with one of my professor's two-year-old draft crosses. She is a gorgeous young (and tall) girl, but unfotunately she is quite the spoiled baby. The first issue I would like to work with is her lack of "human respect". She is not unfriendly in the least, and she does lead on a halter, but she quite literally walks all over you. She also makes things difficult around the gate: she leans all over it and is a real problem when moving other horses in and out of the gate.
I have a plan for working with her; I just want to run it by you and see what you think. I would like to purchase a dually halter or another much like it, and simply lead her around. As soon as she starts to put the forward pressure on me, I will make her stop and back up. As soon as she backs up, I will reward her with a rub on the forehead and walk forward with her again. Obviously it's going to take time, but I'm willing to continue working on this for as long as necessary.
If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them!

I'd try the Parelli 7 Games with her. It's a great way to develop trust and respect at the same time. Good luck with her! :)

I'm not a fan of a dually halter. I prefer a plain rope halter. Also carry a riding crop. You have the right idea - when she gets pushy, make her back up. Sometimes a tap with the crop is needed as well. I've also walked with my elbow pointed at them as we walk. As long as they walk properly outside of my space, it doesn't touch them. But as soon as they step into my area, they feel the elbow. It wasn't my decision, but theirs.

However, this won't be a one session thing. They will show improvement, but you need to do this every time you work with her. Never allow her to get away with invading your space. Let her get away with it once and she will feel she can do it again in the future. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your suggestions!!! I really appreciate the help!

I have a great method for these pushy ones, but I would be typing for hours trying to explain how to do it. Let me know how your method works, if you are still having trouble let me know!

I also don't care for the dually; I would probably only use it as a very last resort if a rope halter, or even a stud chain did not work.

I would definitely start teaching her to back out of your space. Teach her how to disengage her hind and front ends, so if she starts getting snarky, you have a way to control her body. Teaching her how to longe will help you teach her how to work 'outside' of your space, and can be a good tool when she just has too much 'foward' when you are walking with her. If she wants to go, then make her go; in constructive circles around you.

I would carry a crop, carrot stick, or dressage whip with you so you can cue her easier.

For the gate leaning, every time you go to the gate, use the carrot stick, or crop to make her back out of that area; and tell her 'back off', so she learns a cue word to the action. I would go out to the gate frequently JUST to ask her to move away from it. The more she does it, the quicker she will learn that the gate is part of your personal space, and she needs to respect it.

When you try to take another horse out, have a partner; have that person lead the horse in and out, while you enforce her 'back off' cue. She will learn quickly.

I use the dually on my 2 year old and if used properly it is a great tool. If you get one definitely watch the video that comes with it AND practice using it on trained horses first. Monty also has some good training videos on his website that may help you. Try a join up as well it helped Hunter respect me and my space better.

Yes, do Join-Up properly. If done properly, it will have amazing results! I would suggest doing that first.

Then, using a rope halter, follow these steps on this website: Training ~ Yielding

That makes the horse give to you, and not enter your space.

This is another good article: Training ~ Ground Manners It is also really good on the concept of space.

My gelding Bo, is sweet, but, he is 2 1/2 you know, a rebellious teenager? So I do these exercises a lot with him, and it has come a long way. =] You don't have to buy their 'special' rope halter either, buy a rope halter, then take that worthless lead rope that comes with if off. I found a 10' one even though you are supposed to have 12' the 10' works good. But I took the metal clip off and just tied it to the rope halter itself, as you only want it to apply pressure in certain areas, not all the time, you know? The knots aren't just there, they are there for a reason. No one should ever tie up with a rope halter.

I agreed with you on everything but this comment. The knots are just there to form the halter and the halters are great for tying horses as there are no pieces of hardware to break if they pull back. Why do you say that you should never tie a horse with one?