Refuses to go forward on lead-new horse is testing me! HELP!

[jumper-4-joy]

Well, I just got a new draft horse, as some of you may know. When he first arrived, then I saw him everyday (for 4 days) until I had to go on vacation for a week. When I got back, his whole attitude was different. He is being very stubborn. He is not sick or anything like that.

When I go to walk him to the arena, he plants his feet and refuses to move. I keep on walking and give him a light slap on the hindquarters with the end of my leadrope. This is what I was told to do. It worked for a few steps, but then not at all. He just wanted to turn around and go back to his buddies. I tried turning him in circles, going left or right, everything!!! I am out of ideas and have no idea what to do. :( Please help. I know alot of it is testing me because I am new to him.....but this is ridiculous! and i am afraid of "ruining" him because he is only on lease (with option to buy).

Please help!!!

[Harry Hobbes]

If you really, really, really, reeaaallllyyyyy want to teach the horse to lead forward, then here's what you do:

1. Understand. The horse learns from the release, so if you want to teach the horse to move for you, you have to give it releases; at the appropriate moments, of course.

2. Focus. Train the horse to do something, rather than focus on what the horse won't do (for you.)

How to:

When your horse stops while leading, do the following:

a. Turn around and step over to the left (or right) side of the horse, say about six feet from its head, adjacent to its head. (At a 90 degree angle from its backbone.)

b. Take up the slack in the lead rope so that the horse's head is bent toward you about six-to-eight inches and hold (NOT pull) that bend. (If the horse backs away, just go with the horse and maintain the bend.)

c. Wait for the horse to put slack into the lead rope (by stepping toward you.)

d. The instant the horse puts slack in the lead rope, give more slack to the horse. (This is the teaching release; it tells the horse that it did the correct thing.)

e. Then, go to the other side of the horse and repeat steps a through d.

f. Repeat the entire sequence until the horse steps toward you as you take up slack from both the left/right sides.

g. Then, when the horse is consistently stepping into the pressure of the lead rope, repeat the entire sequence of a through f from 45 degrees to the left and right of the horse's head.

h. Then repeat steps a through d from in front of the horse.


If you've consistently released the pressure in the instant the horse moves into the pressure of the lead rope, the horse will now be leading forward. If not, then find someone locally who can teach you how to release, get good at it and try the above sequence again.

Best regards,
Harry