help! no mannors!

[equinechikk]

My gelding is absolutely horrible to catch! It's easy enough to go up to him and put the lead rope on, and then he will follow me around very docily around the field, as long as we're not heading towards the gate! As soon as we get close the the gate, he sort of half rears and begins yanking on his lead rope, he then turns to bolt and I have to let go or get dragged.
I have tried to bring him in with the lead rope in his mouth and in a bridal, but nothing works except gradually tempting him in with a feed bucket. But this is terribly time consuming, as I literally have to take one step at a time.
He also will try to bolt away from time to time when he is being led too and from the field. Is there a way to break him of this awful habit? And get him to be more eager about coming in?
All suggestions welcome!
Julia

[maverick927]

Time, patience and a lot of praise will crack this problem.

Is there other horses in the field? Maybe he doesn't want to leave them, is there anyway you could bring one of these horses to the gate with him.

Don't ride every time you bring him from field.

Bring him out of the field and immediately turn him back out again.

do you ever bring a feed bucket to catch him (not recommended if there are other horses)


I hope some of these will help as its not nice having a pony who doesn't like being caught. Not making you jealous here but my pony comes to his name, but again that took time and training.

[helencheshire]

Ohhh thiis brings back memories of a horse I had called jake!.. He was a 16.3 shirexandulsian and he did exactly the same thing!

He was fine bringing him across his own field but always played up when at the gate.

He was fine when we were in the paddocks with the gates by the yard but when they were rotated we had to go across a field before his paddock...

Oh I used to dread bringing him in... When the sun was shining he was fine! When there was wind or rain he was a real swine.

The worst was when brought him out and was closing the gate before setting of across the next field.. 9/10 at the beginning all I could do was let go he was just so strong with VERY big feet! He was built like a brick house! aswell.

I started trying a bridle on which worked for turning him out with but no use on way back.

I also tried with a feed bucket for when we got across the next feield ( by the gate in the middle) I would walk along with it but all he did was dance round me!

I tried gentle approach..and screaming at him! which didnt make any difference!

I would always take someone across with me just incase.

What I found worked well with him in the end was to walk at the outside of the field.... when we got through the gate I would make him wait for 5-10mins..let the other horses settle down and go away if they had followed..then he usually calmed down...

Eventually he grew out of it and realised he got praised alot when he got back to the yard if he had been good.!
I talked alot to him as we walked from the fieild and tried to show him who was boss which got better with time!

Like Maverick says it takes time and patience... I found he always behaved when walking back with another horse so tried to bring him in when somebody else was, but not always practical!

[rache]

have u got a poll pressure head collar, we had a horse that used to rear everytime we put him out and in the end got the headcollar and he was dream.

[eml]

A pony I bought for my daughter several years ago was impossible to lead, didn't rear just try to charge off. Apparently she was used to coming in with the herd of cows she lived with before so had never really ben taught to walk with you.

We spent ages lunging her in tiny circles and moving a few yard each time so eventually we could get her to and from field school etc. Then we reduced the nuber of circles and increased the walking in a straight line until eventually she led (it was I admit only after 6mths of work!) All the time we used a lungecaveson and lungeline so we were able to turn her onto a circle.

She is still not the easiest pony to lead when going somewhere she is keen on eg field, but at least now is safe to handle

Hope this may help

[virtuallyhorses]

What do you do with the horse after you do manage to catch him and get him out of the gate? If you just tack up and ride - then I'd suggest that you concentrate on doing some basic 'manners' training, leading and groundwork with him instead. Mavericks suggestions are very good ones.

Can you tell us how big the paddock is and whether there are other horses in there? Have you discovered why the gate is such a big problem for him - is it because he doesn't like leaving his friends or because he doesn't like the stuff that he's asked to do once outside the paddock? ie sore back, boredom, whatever?

Personally I would use 'round pen' techniques on this horse in the paddock, but if you have not done any groundwork before then you would have to work up to this. Is there anyone nearby who you could ask to show you NH techniques?

If there are other horses in the paddock that can be caught, ask the owner(s) if they'd mind you catching them and giving them a little pick of grass outside the gate, or if possible offer to feed their horses. Spend some time ignoring your horse but let him see that there are benefits to being taken outside the gate. If he sees the other horses being fed on the other side of the fence this will be a big incentive.

When you go to catch him only give him treats when he is close to the gate or better yet ouside the gates.

Food however is a short term solution, your horse does not respect you as a leader and so he choses to 'flip you off' whenever he wants - you need to concentrate your efforts on groundwork to build a relationship in which you can lead this horse anywhere, anytime - this is going to take time there is no quick fix.

[equinechikk]

thank you for all your suggestions! No, he isn't turned out with other horses because he can be agressive. (never w/ humans tho) as to suggestions about basic mannors schooling, he's pretty good everywhere else except when coming in from the field. Once in a while he might play up a bit, but he's never unmangeable.

[janet hakeney]

You seem to have a big disrespect issue here. I suggest you take up the sport of Parelli Natural Horsemanship which will give you the foundation for whatever equestrian discipline you decide upon embark upon once you have played and won the 7 games.

[ros]

I agree there does seem to be a respect issue here, but it also sounds as though your horse has some problems of his own - he has no manners, he can be aggressive with other horses and has to be turned out alone... He doesn't sound very happy. Do you know anything much about his background? Was he hand-reared, perhaps, or has he been kept on his own for a long time?

[FreedomStar]

hmm, I can't help with the rearing bit but with the charging away..A pony a few weeks ago did that with me, he saw grass and just cantered away dragging the lead out of my hand. He's much better now. What you do is make him mind you and keep his attention on you. If his mind starts to wander or he seems as if he's going to try charging away, immediately get his attention back by a slight tug on the rope, and every few feet or so, halt him and make him back up so that he's out of your personal space. Everytime you back him say 'back' so that soon enough he'll know to back up when you say the work back. Just make him keep doing walk, halt, back-up, and so on. Alos, if he gets too close, teach him 'space'. Walk forward, and turn around and hold the lead rope up. He should stop immediately, giving you plenty of 'personal space'. If he doesn't and keeps walking forward, stop him, and swing the rope gently and say space loudly, so that he'll back out of your personal space. My friend and I made up these exercises, but we've tried them on several different horses and it works!

[ponytude]

did you ever try putting treats in a plastic bag. crickle it every time you go to fetch him. Once you do this over and over again he should know to come when he hears a bag. its good to have in an emergancy. Doees he get cranky if you give a treat before you ride. If he does i probably woundn't try this(treats). Good luck!!!



PONYTUDE