Progress and Questions

[NoviceNic]

I have good things to report. I led Captain passed an old pony eating his breakfast this morning. No tantrums or dragging me to the bucket and all still with a loose lead rope.

He has now got company. It is the YO's trusty cob and old faithful pony. The cob is grazing next to Captain and they can touch each other and groom and nuzzle over the tape. The old faithful is wandering free in the field and often stands with Captain at his field over night. Arrrr.


Just a couple of small questions really:

Captains grazing is now down so when I take him out of his area to walk him back to the stable the first thing he does is put his head down to munch on the non grazed areas. Also when I practise our stand and wait he drops his head and completely takes all attention off me. So I am keeping on eye on the gate and on eye on the munching piggy. I am flicking the rope around and saying No Head Up. Should I be using an easier command??

I have had a couple of incidences when he has walked over to me in the field with his head down and trying to shove me out of the way.. This has happened twice since Thursday.. I stand my ground and growl and push him away. Basically I am telling him that if he is going to be bad mannered then I dont want to stroke or pamper him. He then walks away and completely blanks me. This I presume is another test.. Have I passed.??

I have noticed that he now doesnt look me in the eye as much. He will often have his head turned away as I am talking to him or fussing him. Is this a good sign??

Sorry for the questions I am just one of those people that always seem to want to know the answer to changes in behaviour... Of course I am aware that there is sometimes not an answer but the more I learn the more I love horses.

[Yann]

Good news indeed I would imagine now he has some company and will chill out as a result you'll see even more improvement

Captains grazing is now down so when I take him out of his area to walk him back to the stable the first thing he does is put his head down to munch on the non grazed areas.

Personally, at this stage I wouldn't let him choose to graze at all, he's abandoning you for the grass and taking matters into his own hands again which is something you need to discourage. Anticipating the dive and heading it off is preferable to fighting to get his head back up. Keep him walking politely with you all the way. Later on when things are established you can choose to let him graze - but it's got to be your shout.

I have had a couple of incidences when he has walked over to me in the field with his head down and trying to shove me out of the way

He's testing you as you're well aware. I'd personally send him off in no uncertain terms here, don't wait for him to come into your space, make eye contact and yourself big, smack the leadrope on your coat and swing it if necessary. Go soft once he turns away and go and give him a fuss.

I have noticed that he now doesnt look me in the eye as much. He will often have his head turned away as I am talking to him or fussing him. Is this a good sign??

Less easy to say, it sounds like a good sign in terms of the fact it might be submissive behaviour, but you can have too much of a good thing sometimes.

I am just one of those people that always seem to want to know the answer to changes in behaviour.

Fascinating isn't it

[Tootsie4U]

Yann's already covered it but I just wanted to add that when my pushy gelding dives for grass I take the end of my lead rope and spin it at his hindquarters. This makes him circle around me. It doesnt take long for him to realize that *just* walking is a lot easier than trotting circles if he tries to snatch a snack along the way.

Sometimes though, after the really bad diving is resolved, he still needs a reminder so I just slightly bop his lead up when I suspect he's going to dive. I dont pull and dont hold the line shorter, I just bop it upwards so he can feel it in his head collar. Kind of like a 'warning'.

Allow him to come toward you as long as he's showing submission. You never want to discourage their willingness to be caught or come near. As he comes closer, make sure you then take initiative to invite him in so its on your terms. The key is to be sure to ask BEFORE he takes it upon himself to come in. (hopefully that makes sense) Correct only the shoving if it happens. Break it up into two parts. You want him to come to you. You dont want him to shove you.