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Troubles..

2K views 22 replies 10 participants last post by  JavaLover 
#1 ·
Hi everyone, I need some help. Now before you criticize, I am going to school in September and bringing this horse along with me. During the course, I will be teaching him in depth, but I just need to get him to a certain point.

He is a 16hh Quarter Horse gelding built like a tank. As I have learned today, he is very attached to his new friend. I tried to get him to go through a gate to get him to the round pen but he would not go through, so I decided to work in the field. He needs some practice leading because he crowds a lot. So as I was brushing him today in the field (which is 30 acres) he decided to yank the lead rope out of my hand and run away to his buddy. As I approached him, his buddy ran away and he followed. I spent 3 hours following him around and wasn't successful. I'm not sure what to do.
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#2 ·
He's buddy sour......I'd get him away from his buddy (I'd get someone to help you with it if you need) put him in a separate pen away from that other horse.....out of sight. If he acts like a dink, tie him up and let him deal with it and don't untie him until he's quit fussing. A tree in the shade works well.
 
#4 ·
To put him in a separate pen, I'd need to get him to the round pen (which he would have to walk through the gate). I don't think he will go through the gate because its so close to the electric fence and he got a good zap yesterday.
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#3 ·
FYI, I DO have a trainer, which he is boarded at right now, but the trainer would like me to work with him by myself first.
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#6 ·
You need to stop making excuses for him, Java. I don't give my horses an option for what they will or won't do. I say do it, and they're expected to comply.

Sure, it's annoying when you have a horse who's that herdbound, but until you get him away from his buddy you're going to make absolutely zero progress with him.

Your trainer is right; you're taking him with you to college so YOU need to know how to control him. She can already do it, but that does you no good when you're far away and on your own.
 
#8 ·
I'm not making excuses for him, I'm asking for help. I'm not sure where to put him. My trainer has 4 pens - the giant pasture, the smaller pen (the roundpen is inside of this pen), the round pen, and the boarder pen.. I'm not sure he can stay in the round pen because he works on horses in there. He's only been there for two days - my trainer said he shouldn't be herd bound already.
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#9 ·
Is he getting grain at all? I find a huge motivator for my horses to go somewhere they don't want to go is to feel a little hunger. Put his food in the round pen, he don't eat until he goes in. Since this is a horse that a challenge to catch (hence your three hour escapade) I think catching him and traumatically forcing him through an area he does not like could result in him being harder to catch.

I would also say you need to separate them. Not forever but for a few hours. He needs to learn that he leaves his buddies and he goes back to his buddies and the world does not end. I would also say if you are going to brush him then tie him up or even better take him out of the pasture and tie him up.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I called my trainer last night and explained my dilemma to him. He didn't seem to think the other horse was adding to the problem, but he separated them this morning for me before I arrived. Ares approached me in the field, let me halter him, lead him around, and brush him without any incidents. He is learning to stay out of my space. The problem that i am working on now is that he sometimes stops in the middle of our walk. I usually just pretend to keep walking forward and he follows, or give him a little smack with the lead rope. Is there any other way to overcome this?
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#16 ·
I usually just pretend to keep walking forward and he follows, or give him a little smack with the lead rope. Is there any other way to overcome this?
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This is a really good start. Now do one step better and as another poster said when you feel him begin to slow down, ask him to pick up the pace again. Cluck to him, swing the excess rope in your offside hand towards his rump as you keep walking until he makes a change. Then just go back to normally walking him.
 
#13 ·
He does get along well with the herd, he just really got attached to this horse. I am trying to work with him as much as possible; visiting him, walking him, feeding him, etc
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#14 ·
Java, after reading your post and watching the video I had a pretty good idea of what was going on but one post is only a snapshot. Before posting a comment I did a little homework and read your threads going back to 2009. You aren't new to horses and have access to knowable people so that's not the problem. Also we can nitpick individual horses training, bad experiences etc. but the one consistant element in all of these horse snags your having is you.
I do not know you or anything about your life and what's going on but what I see in this thread and in your others is that you're having trouble with commanding the horse's respect and attention.
This is likely sounding like a jerky response. It's not intended to be in any way. If you go back and look at the problems you've had with various horses it all comes down to a matter of the horse not respecting you. I think you know what you're supposed to do and what the horse is supposed to do but that message is getting lost. The saddle thing is a red herring. One less than optimal experience is not going to traumatize a horse. He can relearn saddles in about 10 minutes of positive experience. And just as quick as he can relearn that he can learn to respect you and feel safe with you. Unfortunately you just spent three hours teaching him that you are HIS follower.
Like I said, I don't have any idea what is going on in your life but what I see is that your head in not fully in the game. Your horse is not trying to take advantage of you, he's just trying not to get eaten. And that means following the guy who's paying attention is smarter than he is.
Bottom line: You know what to do. Stay focused and dialed in. He'll respond in kind.
 
#15 ·
Thank you for the honest response. I do have a very hard time demanding respect with horses, I know that. Sometimes I just feel like I'm not doing things right and new a little push in the right direction.
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#19 ·
I haven't, I'm not very familiar with his work. Do you perhaps know any?
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#20 ·
I have made the decision to move my horse to a new trainer starting June 1st
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#22 ·
Leading: If he crowds you, then stick your elbow out. If you lead with your right hand and the horse is on your right side, put your right hand on your hip and stick your elbow out as far as you can. If he turns into you, flap your arm.
If he likes to get ahead of you, then swing the rope in front of you and your horse. If he steps too far forward, he will get hit with the rope (make sure you aren't swinging it very fast though) but that will be his fault. This teaches him that if he goes too far forward or to you, something will block him. He will try again, so don't stop. Maybe just spend the day walking around. It may not seem like you are doing anything, but it really does help. I have to do that whit Brisco.
However, Golley likes to drag behind.
In this case, if he gets too far behind than you'd like, then - without stopping or looking at him or turning too much - then swing the rope behind you so it hits him somewhere. This tells the horse that he needs to speed up to be next to you, instead of behind. I wouldn't go all day with this, just because it can get tiring for both of you.

Getting through the gate:
When he stops, stop where you're at and keep the leadrope tight. Don't pull and don't release. Just the keep the leadrope tight and be in a stance where when the horse moves you won't be knocked over. Just keep the pressure until the HORSE releases. Then before making any more moves, let that sink into the horse. -it may take some time before he finds out you won't stop the pressure. He will get tired of it too. Then, without letting him move, walk up to him and pet him. Then try and walk forward again. If he stops, do the same thing. But after about two or three, don't go and pet him, instead, letting it sink in still, just pull the rope forward until it;s tight again. get it to were his head is next to you. Then pet him nad love on him - letting it all sink in. But always end on a good note. If you don't, it will be worse the next time. Then when you finish, let him go and just build on it like that the next time you go out.

I have to do these with my horses too - eventually they will learn that they will have to release the pressure first - and that is by taking a step or even just leaning forward to give themselves more comfort. But let them take the pressure off. If you do before they do, then that teaches them that you will give up easy and all they have to do is wait. SO even if you have to stand there all day and night - but you won't - then do it. But don't release it first.
Bad habits are harder to break.
 
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