Halter training problem

[Riverrose28]

I have a yearling filly that has been halter trained for months now. I moved her into the indoor to continue her training and get her used to being cross tied and worked in the round pen. when I say worked in the round pen I mean only free schooled at her will, no lounging or hard work, just lead her in and let her do her own thing, as she is still young. Well the last two days she doesn't want me to put her halter on, she turns her rear to me and evades my advances. She has always been hard to catch after being in the pen for an hour so I have been going and offering her some feed every 15 minutes or so and then catching her and putting her in her stall with a small amount of grass forage as a reward for going back in. The last two days have been so different, I can't get a halter on her and the only way to get her out would be to put up barriers and herd her into the round pen, but I feel that it won't teach her anything. Does any one have an idea as to why she is evading me? I have never hit her or worked her. ONce she is caught she is an angel, you can cross tie her, brush her, clip her, trim her hooves, etc. Is she just being stuborn or bad? Help

 

[weebiscuit]

Are you taking her away from the other horses and bringing her into the arena? That could be one reason she's not happy about it. I also am not quite sure what you mean by schooling her "at her will." You're the boss! LOL! She should be doing what you want her to be doing. Perhaps just being put into the arena and left to her own devices just doesn't make much sense to her?

I guess if it were me, and remember, everyone has different ideas on things, I would lead her into the arena and keep her on her lead rope. Walk her around, make her whoa, and praise her when she behaves, even offering her a treat if you like. (I don't use treats, but that's just me). And keep the sessions short.. ten or fifteen minutes, and then put her back outside. If she's evading you at this point, you may need to use a treat to get her haltered. If you have to do that, I would simply get the halter on her, give her a treat, stand there and hold her for a few minutes and then remove the halter. She's got to learn that getting the halter on is a "good thing" and it really shouldn't take much time before she's standing still for it. I'd do this on and off. Put halter on, treat, wait a few minutes, remove halter, then start the process over again, even if you have to keep a lead rope around her neck to keep her from running off.Even if you have to put her in a stall to get this done, I think it's really the first step in getting the other issues ironed out. I think that once you've got the halter problem solved the other stuff will fall into place a little easier. And, after a while, stop giving the treats when you are haltering her.

 

[Riverrose28]

The last two days when going into her stall this is what happens. she turns away from me, turning her rear to me, I have the halter in my left hand, and I start petting her rump and progress up towards her withers at which point she runs away. I am trying to remain calm and talk to her softley. should I be more agressive. I have had horses since 1977 and never encountered this problem before. Should I herd her into the round pen and work her with a loung whip? Maybe until she joins up with me? You are right in maybe she doen't respect me, shoud I work on that?

 

[ohmt]

I have a lot of older mares who were never touched by a person as a foal that are like your filly. They will let me pet them and come for treats as long as they don't see or even HEAR a halter! If they do, they're gone. Once I catch them, they're little angels

I would definitely try round penning and joining up with your filly. Keep doing what you're doing otherwise-it sounds like you are doing a good job loving up on her and giving her feed once she's caught so she associates it with good things. Does she go in a stall at night? If she does, can she see other horses? When we put our younguns in stalls we make sure they have a buddy with them otherwise they get lonely. My older horses don't mind being alone, but the young ones do. If this is the case, maybe she is just not wanting to spend the night alone.

 

[Riverrose28]

Oh she is not lonely, there are six other horses in there in training, and another yearling filly stalled right beside her. Everyone can see each other. I think she has a respect issue, but I am not going to reward her by herding her into the round pen and letting her have freedom without letting me get the halter on her. so maybe I need to rethink this and herd her in and work her hinny into the ground until she joins up. I usually don't have any problems with the yearlings, but this one is a challenge. Maybe she thinks she can outsmart me!

 

[ohmt]

She is definitely just pushing her boundaries then. Make her understand that if she does not let you halter, she's going to have to work. Don't work her hard, but do get her to join up with you. She'll figure it out pretty quick.

 

[Riverrose28]

Today is a new day. I will work her in the round pen and let you know what happens. Thanks for the advice.

 

[wcr]

Not being there and seeing what she is really doing, a couple things come to mind.

First would be the turning her rump to me. Not acceptable at any time. Period. If she does it you can smack her with your hand or flick her with the lead rope. Be consistent with this and the problem will go away pretty quickly.

My horses think they are wild after being out for the winter so it takes a few lessons to get their head screwed back on again. This is a break time for all of us. I'm not showing any more but I worked hard during show season so to turn them out and for me to get away from them also gave a much needed break. I know we have the work ahead after a winter break and this is the kind of thing that usually comes up especially with young horses.

Second is the idea that round pen time is just for exercise. You can turn them out and go away so they have free time, but if you are working them, that is a work area and there are goals to be accomplished in a time period. Round pen time is an art that the majority of people that do it don't understand. Even though they are "free", you should be able to control their every movement and speed with the position of you body. Proper round pen time will make them respect you more than most other exercises.

 

[bfogg]

Please don't punish this horse, she is in pain. If you want to call me I can tell you what is going on with her. 603 74 4 5054

Bonnie

 

[Riverrose28]

Rome wasn't built in a day, this little filly was doing some what better today. I did use more patience with her and learned that even though she is still young she does know her name and the word come. She also kept her eyes on me practically the whole time. As for being in the round pen for work only, I sort of agree. The round pen is not only for work but also for teaching. I do not lounge my young horses until they learn the words, walk, trot, whoa in hand. I do not attach a line to them and proceed to chase them around at what ever pace they like. To me that is not training. So at the present time we are working on learning words and walking together as a team. As soon as she gets that down we work on whoa, and then trot. I will keep up her other learned lessons as well, such as standing in the cross ties to be brushed have her feet done, etc. Praise, praise, praise for all that is well done.

Thank you Bonnie, Bless you and get well soon. I will keep everyone updated.

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

Agree with WCR on turning their butt. I don't like or tolerate that, as I don't want to give any of them the opportunity to think kicking might be an option and have to deal with worse habit.

But if Bonnie Fogg says call her - do it! She's fabulous.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Extreme sudden changes in behavior like this usually mean pain somewhere. Call Bonnie, call the vet, or do your own very careful inspection of her but don't ever arbitrarily punish until you've completely ruled out a physical cause. I've done it, losing my temper over seemingly "stupid" or "senseless" behavior changes, and invariably feel awful afterwards when I find out what was bugging the horse because something almost always is. They don't wake up in the morning and think "I'm suddenly going to be disrespectful today. How can I make her life harder?"

Leia

 

[Riverrose28]

Thanks guys, I have called both, the Vet is coming out later this week to check teeth. As for her turning her rear to me, I can read body language as I have had horses forever. She is NOT showing aggression she is turning her rear to me and putting her head down and chewing, as if to say I am a horse and don't want my head touched. Her ears are not pinned nor is she lifting a foot. I usually would not find this acceptable either, but she is trying to tell me something else. Today when I was with her she was lovely. I have also switched her from a hard alittle tight halter to a soft one with a larger nose band, I think that has helped. Will let you all know how this comes out. Thanks for the advice. Terry

 

[AnnaC]

You may have your answer in your old halter? A tight noseband can cause the cheeks to press on the teeth and cause pain, even if there are no sharp 'bits' on the teeth, especially when using the halter to control the horse. Just as a low fitting noseband can press on the end of the horses nosebone and cause pain. It doesn't take much to make a horse prefer not to have its halter on.

Will be interested to hear whether your new softer halter helps, once she gets used to it, also to hear what Bonnie and your vet have to say - and well done you for realising that it is quite likely she is trying to tell you something rather than being deliberately naughty!

Anna

 

[HGFarm]

Young horses are like kids, and some of them learn to 'push your buttons'. Some seem to go through phases.

My friend had a riding gelding many years ago- they could not get him to go down a little road behind their place into the wash to go out riding. They were somewhat novices and he got their number that he didnt have to. If I rode him, he was fine and never balked. Same thing with my husband- no problem. We could take him up and down the road 20 times. The moment they were back in the saddle, he was not going to do it and took total advantage of them.

After gaining more confidence and getting him to mind, he was fine for them- but he certainly knew what he could get away with and with who.

One of my Mini weanlings one year decided that she just could NOT go through the gate of her pen. She was not leaving friends or anything traumatic. She flat sat and refused to go out. She did this for a few weeks and finally got over it. She had been fine before, but one day just decided she was going to try me and see what she could get by with. (It didnt work)

Just be persistant, confident and patient. I feel she is also trying to establish who's going to rule the roost there.

In regards to teeth... I had another friend who had a nice young stallion she was showing. He did fine with his lessons at home in his barn halter, but in the show ring would flip over backwards and was just awful to handle- very nervous. We found out why when the equine dentist came!! Even at his young age (2), he had points and spikes on his teeth that the stud chain on the show halter was apparently putting pressure on that the barn halter did not... omg, poor guy. Nobody had any idea!! He hurt. What a difference after the dentist floated his teeth!!! That was when I learned a Mini doesnt have to be 'middle aged' to need a float and have teeth problems!