My friend's six month old filly puts the breaks on when being led. She is OK if she is following her other pony. My friend has trouble bringing her in as she comes in earlier than the others and there is often no one around to help her. Have you got any suggestions as to how she can overcome this. The only way she has done this is by someone else nudging her on from behind.
Spirit used to do this when we first got him,he would get half way round to the yard then plant. All I did was ask him to take 2-3 steps back,then walk him forward again or turned him in a circle and keep the momentum going forward onto the yard.Luckily he doesn't do it anymore and hopefuly your friends filly will get over it too
I am also having this trouble with my share horse, who seems to be trying to test me in every way possible!! So far I think I am winning but he's a big lad and it's starting to knock my confidence
But I'll persevere and hopefully he will start to listen to me
Keep the pressure on no matter what, do not take it off. Otherwise they learn that stopping releases the pressure on the head collar. Try, whilst keeping the pressure on, to walk to the side to throw her off balance so she steps towards you and then reward.
Agree with getting her off balance and moving her to the side. When I first started to work with Izzy he HATED coming in from the field on his own. I used to have to walk through the fields in a zig zag - about 5 steps then he'd stop, we'd walk the other way for 5 steps. Very frustrating but there was no way I could have pulled him straight.
Once he knew we were going and I could move him he soon got the picture.
My filly is 5 months old. She is learning to lead, but it is not straightforward. Now after much patience, she is not stopping and planting but is coming with me.
They stop because they don't understand that they have to go with the rope and because they are unsure of things around them.
I don't keep pressure on her, simply move her balance and ask her to follow me, but I don't want to force her.
Perhaps if you have a look at Bill Dorrances book ' Natural Horsemanship through Feel' it might help you.
Let her learn what life is about - she is only young and presumable she doesn't have her mum with her, so she's on her own when in the wild she'd still be suckling.
try richard maxwell's 'from birth to backing' as well explains very well how one can 'truly halterbreak' ones horse. again, as most of these, works with pressure and release. appley sometimes plants but responded very well to pressure/release and then a dually headcollar - she is much better now and im happy that nobody had to shove/push/chase her with a broom!
PS: and be patient!!!! any hectic 'quick fix' now will bite you on the bum in years to come i suspect
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My new filly does this sometimes i just back her up a few steps then wait for her to come forward again it usually works but shes only been haltered trained 4 weeks so i take my time with her. will keep myeye on this thread though.
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Inca used to do this all the time, I just kept the pressure on - but not so that I was hanging off her head, you've got to remember that when they're young they are so sensitive to pressure and their polls are still weak. It could also be an idea working out why it is the brakes are coming on, there is usually a reason.
. All I did was ask him to take 2-3 steps back,then walk him forward again or turned him in a circle and keep the momentum going forward onto the yard.Luckily he doesn't do it anymore and hopefuly your friends filly will get over it too
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