leading question

theloneappy · 12-15-2006, 07:07 AM

I know I should have worked with her more but, hey I was pregenant and VERY restricted on what I could do.

I know excuses excuses.

Anyways, the question.

How do you get a turning 2 filly to lead better. Right now she will only follow on the lead if someone is leading my mare Phoenix in front of her.

She will lead a few feet on her own and the plants her feet and looks at me like I'm stupid.

I do make her move her feet. (making her back and move her hinny around, cant seem to get the front feet to move much unless backing)

What can and should I be doing to fix this. (I never had this problem with Phoenix, even though she hadn't ever been handled straight from the field). I know I just need to work with her a lot and I can NOT depend on my parents to help me (shes my mothers horse).

What can I do to help get her butt moving?

dodib · 12-15-2006, 07:33 AM

Have you tried using a butt rope on her? wrapping a lead or lunge line behind her butt and holding that as well as the lead while you are trying to lead her that way some pressure is being put on her hind quarters. That is what I did to get my foal to lead--but I started it when he was like 2 weeks old.

JoAnne · 12-15-2006, 07:36 AM

Maybe carry a long training whip and tap her hocks/back legs when she slows down. try to get her before she stops and plants her feet.

**gbarmranch** · 12-15-2006, 07:46 AM

I would carry a crop with some white material in it - and a rope halter with a longer lead line - ask once - she doesn't follow, she does circles - then ask again. If she is smart, as frustrating and time consuming as it is, she will catch on very quickly... and I would work with her alone... she needs to learn to listen just to her handler, and not seek safety by having another horse around.

Good luck - she will come around (or along...

)

NChase · 12-15-2006, 08:02 AM

Here's another hint I learned from from my trainer sister.

Once the filly knows WHAT you want her to do, you can make her lead even easier by giving her an incentive on WHY she wants to follow you.

Hide feed dishes in several locations around your property, with several handfuls of grain or other treats in them.

Lead the filly (using the good advice the other folks on here have already posted) to the first dish. Let her eat a couple mouthfuls. Then make her leave that one and lead her to the next one and the next one, etc.

The idea is that she gets rewarded each time she follows you. But also, it teaches her that even if she thinks she has everything she wants right in front of her (and so has no desire to go anywhere with you), you might actually be leading her to something better.

It's kind of a "boss mare" thing: she learns to follow you as her boss horse, because she learns that you have really good ideas. You lead her to the feed and you drive her away from the feed. You're in charge.

Once she's accepted that general attitude, you can phase out the treats.

--Nancy

Faceman · 12-15-2006, 08:12 AM

I'll tell you what works for me most of the time, but not always.

Most people tend to stay way out in front when teaching a horse to lead, which leads to the old planting the feet we all know so well. I get out in front once, and give a yank or two just to get their attention focused and let them know what I want, then I back off to their shoulder and walk forward very slowly. They are more comfortable and willing with you in that position and are more apt to walk "with" you.

Once you have them doing that, it's much easier to transition slowly to a true leading position.

This works on maybe 3/4 of my youngsters and I prefer this method over swats on the butt, circling, or other methods because they do it on their own without being forced. On the 1/4 or so that don't respond to body position, I usually use the circling method, which I hate doing, but hey, you've got to do something...

Kendra · 12-15-2006, 08:37 AM

Put some carrot slices in a plastic bag in your coat pocket.

Once you halter her reach in your pocket and give her a piece of carrot (make sure she can hear the plastic bag crinkle)
Then step forward about 2-3 steps with your back to her ~ keep the lead slack and then just kiss or cluck and crinkle the plastic bag in your pocket(don't pull the lead or look at her)
As soon as she moves forward even a step or two to see what you are doing (and she will because she knows you have carrots) turn and fuss over her (give her a piece of carrot)

Then turn your back to her again and step forward a couple steps and kiss/cluck/crinkle again ~ wait until she steps forward on her own and then reward again.

The trick is to turn your back to her so she does not feel defensive and want to lock up. Then curiousity takes over.

Eventually she will follow you when you cluck to her (you won't even need the lead)

**gbarmranch** · 12-15-2006, 08:59 AM

Faceman, I like your idea - I think I am going to try it with some of our foals this year - anything to make it easier on them and us! Thanks

**Orchid** · 12-15-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faceman

I'll tell you what works for me most of the time, but not always.

Most people tend to stay way out in front when teaching a horse to lead, which leads to the old planting the feet we all know so well. I get out in front once, and give a yank or two just to get their attention focused and let them know what I want, then I back off to their shoulder and walk forward very slowly. They are more comfortable and willing with you in that position and are more apt to walk "with" you.

Once you have them doing that, it's much easier to transition slowly to a true leading position.

This works on maybe 3/4 of my youngsters and I prefer this method over swats on the butt, circling, or other methods because they do it on their own without being forced. On the 1/4 or so that don't respond to body position, I usually use the circling method, which I hate doing, but hey, you've got to do something...

That is what has worked well with my baby too - she would rather have her head right at your shoulder than be behind you.

12-15-2006, 07:07 AM
theloneappy Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: North Dakota Posts: 712	leading question I know I should have worked with her more but, hey I was pregenant and VERY restricted on what I could do. I know excuses excuses. Anyways, the question. How do you get a turning 2 filly to lead better. Right now she will only follow on the lead if someone is leading my mare Phoenix in front of her. She will lead a few feet on her own and the plants her feet and looks at me like I'm stupid. I do make her move her feet. (making her back and move her hinny around, cant seem to get the front feet to move much unless backing) What can and should I be doing to fix this. (I never had this problem with Phoenix, even though she hadn't ever been handled straight from the field). I know I just need to work with her a lot and I can NOT depend on my parents to help me (shes my mothers horse). What can I do to help get her butt moving? __________________ Life isn\'t like a box of chocolates . .. it\'s more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

12-15-2006, 07:33 AM
dodib Started Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ravenna, MI Posts: 2,671	Have you tried using a butt rope on her? wrapping a lead or lunge line behind her butt and holding that as well as the lead while you are trying to lead her that way some pressure is being put on her hind quarters. That is what I did to get my foal to lead--but I started it when he was like 2 weeks old. __________________ Dorthy www.freewebs.com/brownranch/

12-15-2006, 07:36 AM
JoAnne Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,442	Maybe carry a long training whip and tap her hocks/back legs when she slows down. try to get her before she stops and plants her feet.

12-15-2006, 07:46 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	I would carry a crop with some white material in it - and a rope halter with a longer lead line - ask once - she doesn't follow, she does circles - then ask again. If she is smart, as frustrating and time consuming as it is, she will catch on very quickly... and I would work with her alone... she needs to learn to listen just to her handler, and not seek safety by having another horse around. Good luck - she will come around (or along... ) __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

12-15-2006, 08:02 AM
NChase Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,114	Here's another hint I learned from from my trainer sister. Once the filly knows WHAT you want her to do, you can make her lead even easier by giving her an incentive on WHY she wants to follow you. Hide feed dishes in several locations around your property, with several handfuls of grain or other treats in them. Lead the filly (using the good advice the other folks on here have already posted) to the first dish. Let her eat a couple mouthfuls. Then make her leave that one and lead her to the next one and the next one, etc. The idea is that she gets rewarded each time she follows you. But also, it teaches her that even if she thinks she has everything she wants right in front of her (and so has no desire to go anywhere with you), you might actually be leading her to something better. It's kind of a "boss mare" thing: she learns to follow you as her boss horse, because she learns that you have really good ideas. You lead her to the feed and you drive her away from the feed. You're in charge. Once she's accepted that general attitude, you can phase out the treats. --Nancy

12-15-2006, 08:12 AM
Faceman Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Ozarks Posts: 7,260	I'll tell you what works for me most of the time, but not always. Most people tend to stay way out in front when teaching a horse to lead, which leads to the old planting the feet we all know so well. I get out in front once, and give a yank or two just to get their attention focused and let them know what I want, then I back off to their shoulder and walk forward very slowly. They are more comfortable and willing with you in that position and are more apt to walk "with" you. Once you have them doing that, it's much easier to transition slowly to a true leading position. This works on maybe 3/4 of my youngsters and I prefer this method over swats on the butt, circling, or other methods because they do it on their own without being forced. On the 1/4 or so that don't respond to body position, I usually use the circling method, which I hate doing, but hey, you've got to do something... __________________ Read what I said, not what you THINK I said...

12-15-2006, 08:37 AM
Kendra Coming two Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 1,587	Put some carrot slices in a plastic bag in your coat pocket. Once you halter her reach in your pocket and give her a piece of carrot (make sure she can hear the plastic bag crinkle) Then step forward about 2-3 steps with your back to her ~ keep the lead slack and then just kiss or cluck and crinkle the plastic bag in your pocket(don't pull the lead or look at her) As soon as she moves forward even a step or two to see what you are doing (and she will because she knows you have carrots) turn and fuss over her (give her a piece of carrot) Then turn your back to her again and step forward a couple steps and kiss/cluck/crinkle again ~ wait until she steps forward on her own and then reward again. The trick is to turn your back to her so she does not feel defensive and want to lock up. Then curiousity takes over. Eventually she will follow you when you cluck to her (you won't even need the lead)

12-15-2006, 08:59 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	Faceman, I like your idea - I think I am going to try it with some of our foals this year - anything to make it easier on them and us! Thanks __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.