Won't leave the field ????

[Keiley]

So iv had my girl for just over 2 months and since being with me she's never gone in the stable of her own free will, always encouraged with feed or carrots ect because other wise she plants her feet at the door and won't go inside.. So last few weeks she's not even walked in with the bucket or treats i had to put a rope round her bum whilst standing at her head and pull her in to the stable.. So thats the stable issues,
when she's out in the field I can walk up to her, or even wait for her to come to me but will not leave the field at all iv tryed taking her buddy in first treats and walk away, command pressure release even sitting in the field with her gradually moving towards the gate as soon as we get within about 10mtrs of it she reverses or plants her feet the only way is if I empty the field of the other 10 horses first.. Please can someone give me some advice. Am I doing this all wrong, today iv been up in that field for 3hours and still came out with no horse getting a little disheartened

[sarahp]

Sounds one for an IH practitioner to me, she knows she's got you exactly where she wants you and knows she doesn't have to do what you want! They can be very canny in knowing who's boss and who isn't.

[gillwales]

what did the advert say when you purchased her? If suitable for a novice or good in stable then I would think you could ask for your money back.

Where are you positioned when walking her? Make certain you are by her shoulder,get someone to go behind her, make certain you are wearing gloves, do not wrap the leasdrein around your hand.

[lulah]

Have you contacted the old owner? Just to find out if this is out of character or ask for some advice?

It is still early days so she may still not of settled in properly ( especially if your routine may be different to previous owners) or she maybe testing you .... Or both!

I would try being more assertive . take a schooling whip, stand next to her shoulder facing the direction your going and ask her with the headcollar first. If no response then insist she walks on by putting pressure on with the headcollar and give her a tap with the whip. immediately stop pressure as soon as she walls forward. When she has walked forward nicely a few steps then reward with a treat. if you are going to use a whip then I would evaluate your results carefully. I.e if it doesn't work then you don't want to worry her or become the "bad guy" .

Lunging may help get her more responsive with voice commands.

Also loose schooling and using Monty Roberts "join up" methods.



Good luck

[comanchediva]

Aug 29, 2013 19:15:28 GMT lulah said:

I agree with Sarahp that's it's definitely a good idea to contact an in hand specialist

Good luck

I think Sarahp might mean Intelligent Horsemanship, not in hand. Correct me if I'm wrong...

[lulah]

Whoops sorry
You're probably right!

[sarahp]

Yes she was! But an understandable mistake.

[Keiley]

Thanks for the responses, I am in touch with old owner she lived out during the summer only came in for schooling ect then straight back out when I went to see her she was in the stable and looked comfortable there, she has said that she's always been hard to catch but has always walked out of the field straight away, I don't have a problem with the catching bit as she comes straight over to me when called, we've done lots of join up schooled 3/4 times a week, iv also tryed the schooling whip but if I tap her hind end (lightly) she backs off if I tap her girth area she goes up! Yet in the school she's not bothered by the whips.
I know it's only early days just wanted to get over this hurdle so we can start enjoying each others company and have some fun.. Iv tryed talking to her telling her how much fun we could have if she only walked that 10mtrs out of that darn gate but will she listen lol
Ps also done the pressure release but dosnt move an inch!!

[Keiley]

Forgot to say she's been good as gold previous to this.. This has been happening for the past 2 weeks with the feild business.. But has never liked going in her stable. I can't think of anything that's changed

[sarahp]

Have you tried reversing her until she's fed up of going backwards and so agrees to come forwards instead? Leave yourself plenty of time at first as you may have to keep putting her in reverse every time she stops dead until she decides to leave the field with you. And I'm not talking a few steps, a friend of mine, who is magic at handling ponies, reversed one of hers the whole way round the circumference of the field once. You can't afford to give up, because then she's won, you have to be prepared to go on for as long as necessary.

[junetimp]

I bought a foal who did just this - planted and refused to walk on. She is now 4 and has just started her riding career and again she planted and refused to move when first mounted.

Both times I was successful at getting her sorted by something I read on the Internet. Have with you a lead rope and with the rope end (not the catch end) hit her on the shoulder.
Don’t do it hard - just strong enough to be an annoyance and keep on doing this non stop and by annoying her she will walk on away from it.

It works a treat, my horse now after one tap with the rope end and she has the attitude I’m not staying here with that going on.

It does work if you get it right. Good Luck

[CarolineNelson]

Aug 30, 2013 8:48:15 GMT sarahp said:

Have you tried reversing her until she's fed up of going backwards and so agrees to come forwards instead? Leave yourself plenty of time at first as you may have to keep putting her in reverse every time she stops dead until she decides to leave the field with you. And I'm not talking a few steps, a friend of mine, who is magic at handling ponies, reversed one of hers the whole way round the circumference of the field once. You can't afford to give up, because then she's won, you have to be prepared to go on for as long as necessary.

I'd completely agree with this. Many years ago (long, long before it became the 'in' thing to do!), I was sent numerous ex-race animals to re-train, many of whom were only used to going in a string, never alone. The reversing tactic proved a very good way of getting them out of the 'planting' and not wishing to go anywhere forwards thing. At home, we didn't have a school and, like you, I was regularly on my own and, to be honest, would need to get on with the hack and work another horse - and another!

One thought - once you HAVE got her in from the field, what do you do next? ie: is it always - put her in the stable? Is she on her own in the yard?
What if you caught her up, put a bridle on her with a good length of lead (and, as advised by JuneT, then use a pair of useful, comfortable, working gloves) DON'T put her in the stable.
Take her somewhere else (it's difficult, not being able to know your circumstances) but, perhaps, a walk down the lane to a safe field and then perhaps a good walk there or sensible lunging there, a graze in hand and back to the field. Stand her for a few minutes. Don't let her bomb off when you let her go.

Might a friend with one quiet, obliging horse accompany you and your mare so that she learns to do what you want but thinks she's doing it with the companion, however, you will be conning her into learning your way.

She needs breaking of the habit of not wishing to leave the field; she also really needs re-breaking (re-schooling from the begining) - right back to her foalhood, when learning to walk away from her dam.

Remember who pays the bills and it is not your mare!!

Good luck, you sound very patient, but winter is coming and you need an easy-to-do horse as you can't be faffing around like this in the dark months.

[sarahp]

I think lots of the techniques we now think of as IH were around in this country for years with the old horsemen, we just hadn't collected them together and made a cogent whole of them. Am I the only one to have followed non-catchers around the field for hours (my record was 4 1/2) until they gave in and greed to be caught? I now think an early form of join-up long before MR came over here.

I'd start with her as I do my weaned foals - work from the ground in a rope halter, teaching them to lead forwards, backwards and forehand turns both ways until they are very light and obedient in hand. I use the reversing technique too if they pull when going forwards, I don't want youngstock that pull and fight with me, I expect good manners at all times and for them to walk or trot politely by my side on a loose rein. And not to barge me or tread on my feet either! But you need total consistency at all times to get this - what is it the police say - zero tolerance! You may need to work in a bridle, which of course I wouldn't with my foals, and in a safe area and safely dressed too.

And remember it's the praise when they do what you want that's important and that they remember.

[Keiley]

I am 90% of the time alone, so it's not always easy to have someone there when I am.. Only 3 of the 20+ horses are worked regular, Getting the timing right when someone else comes up bit hit and miss we are all on full summer turnout now until October.. I'm just fretting because what will I do then when it's really time to go in the stable for the night? I will go try the reversing tomorrow. Wish me luck! Il post an update on how we got on
When she was coming in from the field easily a few weeks back we didn't go straight to the stable she had a good graze on the way back from the field and is usually tied up outside her stable, there has been a few occasions where iv put her in when iv forgotten tack from the car or going filling a net ect but only for a few minutes tops! When she does agree to come out I make everything fun full of praise scratches face rubs ect.
She's only 4 so just been backed this spring, is she telling me she's had enough learning for now and wants to be turned away lol

[Keiley]

2 days of trying to walk this girl backwards round the field and she still won't come out.. Oh well they move into a different field next week so I suppose she will come to the gate when the others are being taken across

[sarahp]

Back to my original suggestion - sounds as if you need help from an IH person (that's as in Intelligent Horsemanship!) person to me, I'm sure kellymarks on here would give you a list of them in your area.

[zetasmum]

One thing to check is how light is it in the stable - going from light to dark is spooky for a horse so maybe extra light in there might help.

Also try feeding closer to the stable every day and not giving in to moving the bucket towards her. Don't try to get her in the stable. Eventually she will have to get in the stable to get the feed.

Reverse psychology may work. Stand as close as you can get her to the stable, let her eat some food from a bucket, but send her away and then ignore her. She then has to choose to come to you for food. You can then try sending her off again and moving 6 inches closer to the stable. Keep repeating this without actually trying to get her in the stable.

Basically you have to find a way that makes it her choice to do it because she has got you beaten physically.

Hope the suggestions on this thread help.