Leading - Do I have a problem or not?

[kyanya]

A while ago, I posted about Gypsy not wanting to walk on when I was leading her from the ground. We had a time when she planted herself and I couldn't get her to move on at all.

Thankfully, things have progressed since then, but it's not perfect. She is more willing to walk on when I ask, and if she does stop I just ask calmly and she will 9/10 times walk on with no problems.

However, I've noticed that she is more willing to walk behind me rather than with me at her side (either near her head or her shoulder). We have more incidents of her stopping if I am next to her, but when I walk in front she hardly ever stops.

To tell you the truth, I'm not really comfortable with her walking right behind me. I can't see her when I'm in front and have to trust her an awful lot because she could easily take advantage where I can't see her. She probably wouldn't do anything, but when I started sharing her she dragged me over when I stopped her going to get some grass and although she's never done anything like it again, it's left me more cautious. I prefer to be able to see her because then I feel more competent and prepared if she was to misbehave.

So, what do you think? Do you think I should just let her walk behind me as she prefers (possibly because her owner often leads her like that)? I have seen her owner letting her walk behind her with no problems, but they have a trust and bond far greater than the one I share with Gyp at the moment. As much as I would like to let Gyp walk behind me, I'm always thinking about the 'What if' situations.

Or do you think I should insist that I walk next to her side (where I feel more comfortable) and try and work through the stopping until she doesn't stop at all?

I'm planning to have a go at the exercises in Kelly Mark's 'Perfect Manners' book tomorrow and see how it goes. Not sure if that will affect the leading, but I thought it was worth a try.

[Tootsie4U]

Kyana, I can't remember if you do any of the NH stuff or not, but a great way to bring her past this would be to use something similar to the circle game or driving game (Parelli).

If you're not keen on Parelli, you can do a similar thing without putting a label on it. But before you do, it sounds like you also may need to work on some desensitizing too. ********If she isnt comfortable with you behind her head, work on that first and foremost.********

Pick a cue that you will use to have her move forward. Start with her on the end of a line and you standing in the middle of a circle as if you're going to lunge her. Give her the cue and if she doesnt move, reinforce it by driving her on by tapping the whip against the ground or toward her flank. When she does, stop. Continue until she understands that the cue means move. Then, gradually come nearer to her and practice the same while leading. If she balks, give the cue and reinforce if she doesnt move.

[virtuallyhorses]

If you are a KFH follower, then having your horse follow you is ideal. He has very strict ideas about leading (which I go along with) - including the leader's position. When you 'lead' alongside the head or shoulder of the horse you are in the subordinate position, whereas when you are out front or behind the horse you are 'in charge'. This tallies with what you are saying - when you are out in front she doesn't argue with you but follows along, when you are in the subordinate position - she doesn't want to lead and doesn't think she needs to mind what you want either.

[katefarmer]

Sorry, but I have very mixed feelings about KFH. Some of it is fine - but he has a very "predator" approach - also evident in some of his groundwork, parts of which make my hair stand on end! The leader being in front is pack/predator social structure. For horses, the stallion (in his role as protector of the mares) will go at the back if the herd is under threat, and the lead mare will by no means necessarily be at the front. She might be, but can also steer the direction from within the herd. (If side by side is supposed to be subordinate, who is subordinate to whom?).

The higher ranking horse decides where the lower ranking horse goes - side by side, in front or behind. If Gypsy is controlling the order, she's saying she thinks she's higher than you, or that she thinks she ought to be! I think you really want to be in the situation where you can tell her where to walk, and she should go there because she trusts your judgement. If you're going down a narrow passage, you may well want her behind you, walking across a field, you'd probably prefer her beside you, and in some circumstances you may want to drive her in front of you.

If you have a look at my website under Part1 - the article on "The Waltz" will give you some exercises to help get this going, and help built her confidence in you as the leader. See also the "Establishing the Heirarchy" section for the background and more on how the herd order works.

Good luck

Kate
www.harmony-project.net