Help please.......

L

LizzieC

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Oct 14, 2016
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I have just stated a horse share and everything was fine when I was with the owner. The first time I went to the field on my own I had no problem catching him but when I put the head collar on he refused to budge. No amount of talking quietly then more assertively, would make him move.

I had read that you should not keep on if you are getting nowhere so I left it and went for a coffee. When I came back after half an hour he became quite bolshy laying his ears back and generally ‘warning’ me to go away. This has really knocked my confidence as he behaved beautifully with his owner..

Has anyone any suggestions on how I can get the great lump out of the field so I can groom, school, ride him I know he is taking the mick but he is a lot bigger and stronger than I am!!
 
I'd have a chat to his owner, this might be his 'trick' and she will likely know how to get him past it or be able to come with you a few more times to get you more confident :)
 
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He probably just needs time to get to know you.
Can you catch him if his owner is with you?
How about just going into the field and spending some time with him, find out where he likes being scratched, brush him in the field etc.

Or go in with his owner, you catch him and put the head collar on but immediately pass to his owner to lead in. Next time put his head collar on walk one step and the pass to his owner, get to the point where you can lead him all the way with his owner walking next to you, then gradually build up until his owner waits by the gate for you to bring him to her. May take a while but he will probably trust you more if his owner is with you. This is assuming his owner is able to spend time with you doing this.
 
So you got the head collar on (that's good) and then didnt know how to make the horse obey you on the ground.

You cant make a horse move by talking to it. You need some technique, body language and the use of a long rope or a whip to flick him too.

Unfortunately when we learn to ride we very rarely take lessons in ground work, leading etc.
But it is a skill that can be learned. You can probably find some videos on You tube of how to teach a horse (or person) to lead.
Or find an instructor and get a lesson?
By all means watch what the owner does - but my experience is that her horse could still ignore you when you are on your own. And be careful to wear hard hat and gloves too when handling a horse that expects to get the better of you. This horse may well have acted hostile when you returned to him because you had already let him get the better of you.
Learn to lead a horse and make it do what you want when led - back up, turn, walk and halt. Then learn to make it behave well while you groom it and tack it up. And then you will have reached the stage where you can actually get on and ride.
It isnt a waste of time putting in the work on the ground because a horse that complies to you on the ground is more likely to comply when ridden too.
 
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I would take something into the field in your pocket like a carrot chopped up and once the head collar is on treat him. Then get him to walk on, you can move his head to take him off balance, you can flick the end of the lead rope at him or you can take a schooling stick and flick this to make him move. Once he is moving then you can give him another treat. Once he realises that moving means a treat he won't be so resistant.

Do speak to his owner, if he is just being a sod then you need to get assertive :)
 
Thank you to everyone who has replied I will try and put the suggestions into practice next week.

Happy riding to all
 
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