CAUTION!! Young Horse in Training! HELP

[mustang_hope22]

Well, i know he isn't THAT little, but he is not done growing. I have been working with my 2 year old gelding Tuck on desensatizing and leading quietly. But when i lead him around the arena, he pulls on the lead rope and is causing me to pull back ALL the time. Tuck just won't calm down when I lead him. He puts his head up and his ears up sometimes and that gets me nervous because i dont want him to just all of a sudden take off because that has happened before when i was taking him to the arena.

I need to ride Tuck but last time I rode him was about a week ago and he bucked for a while. I don't know why tho because he had never bucked before while i was riding him, so im a little scared. He also needs to let me hold his feet when i clean his hooves. He always just slams his hoof back on the ground after i have had it up for about 2 seconds...

Basically i just need training tips for younger horses. I do not have a round pen but i have an arena. Thanks!

[gbarmranch]

He needs to respect you on the ground before you climb back in that saddle..

Get a rope halter with a longer lead.. when he pulls back, or acts up, go to his middle (like the girth area) and make him move around you like he is on a lunge line.. when he starts to shift that ear and eye in towards you, ask him to stop - facing you - and then try walking off again.. Each time he doesn't do as you ask, you basically lunge him.. He will get the message eventually..

If you have a round pen, I would work him in free lunging as well.. If you can get a hold of Clinton Anderson's dvd's or books on round penning for respect, I would.. the information in there will make a big difference in this horses attitude very quickly..

Just remember, he is still immature at 2 - so you need to keep sessions short, goals simple, and not work him too much as it is hard on his legs..

I am a big believer in tying horses as well - they learn patience, and learn to give to pressure.. so a combination of things should help..

Stay calm, but confident.. It won't happen overnight or with one session - but it will.

[Crookedblaze]

I went through the SAME exact thing with Mac. Walked all over me, wouldn't let me pick up his feet...

The first thing that I learned is that I need to be pushy/agressive with the horses. Don't be afraid to hurt his feelings. Enforce the rules. I let Mac get away with stuff because "Ohh, he's young!" but they are coming back to (literally!) bite me in the butt. It's not being mean, it's being safe.

I'd start carrying a crop with you. A dressage whip has a little more sting, but a crop will do. Everytime he walks on you, tap him on the chest. Instead of using a stud chain I got a Monty Roberts halter for Mac for when he was being really naughty, and he worked very well in it. I still use it for working Rocket and surcingling.

And for the feet, just pick up his feet ALL of the time. And don't do it one foot, two foot three foot four...just walk up to him and pick up a foot, any foot. Don't ask him to hold it up for long periods of time at first, just a few seconds, a good boy, and put it down. Once he lets you hold it for a few seconds, start increasing time slowly.

And last but not least "roundpenning" (or arenaing in your case, it works!) is essential. It builds trust and enforces that YOU are the leader, not him. If he's being naughty, send him off for a half a lap or so, don't want to work him too hard...they learn faster when you show them what not to do.

Good luck with your boy.

(Oops, Gbar posted before me and said a lot of what I did!)

[gbarmranch]

Where are you MH - maybe there is an HTer nearby who can recommend a good trainer to show you a few tricks - or who could help you at your place..

[DoBeSassy]

Do you have much experience in training?

If not, contacting a trainer and/or looking into DVDs/books from trainers is a good investment

[mustang_hope22]

Gbar...i am located close to Central Kentucky...thanks for your comments guys

[nomeanjean]

Have to agree with GBar Clinton Anderson dvd's are great as a learning tool. First off be safe in what you do....A rope halter is a must for teaching manners

[Slim Pikkens]

Leading issues. Give your horse a good 3' of lead so that he can walk his own path and not bang in to you. Carry a 4' stick in your left hand pointed behind and downward. I keep a good hold on the end of the lead (pref. 8' or more). With a horse moving forward I let the rope pay out then turn to my left and give him a tap on the rump. This will surprise him and he may scoot ahead but allow him to circle you and encourage him to do so. After a few circles point the whip down and behind, move toward him, not him to you, and start walking again. Always give your horse at least three chances to catch on. Since you can't explain it he needs to figure it out. When asking for a hoof, start again with him just barely lifting his heel and putting it down before he does. Give him a rub and repeat. You need to build trust and start with tiny gives. A horse survives by being able to suddenly move and move fast. You are asking him to become vulnerable to attack and that is difficult for a young horse. As his confidence grows he'll get much better about holding his foot up. Your patience in this will pay off huge later on.

[XtendedTrot]

I have Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground (Clinton Anderson). It's a 4 disk series and it's amazing. He will show how to work with horses that do things like this. I like his Natural Horsemanship DVDs because he uses different horses each time...some shy, some dominating etc. This way you can get a feel for how to do it correctly. Make the wrong thing uncomfortable. Don't pull back on the lead line if he pulls from you. Make the wrong thing uncomfortable. If he insists on pulling back the only thing you are doing by pulling against him is playing tug of war. Instead when he pulls back you just keep moving back with him and then make him back all the way down a driveway or barn aisle. I bet you'll find out he won't want to back up because he realizes that moving forward with you is much easier. Good luck and try to get that series

[PaintsQH]

Is this the same horse that has the professional training? I remember seeing that from another post on him. I would consult whoever trained him because he is not respecting you. He should know how to lead, tie, lunge, give to pressure, be lunged with a saddle, etc, before ever putting a foot in the stirrup. If you ride him and he bucks, something isnt right. Not all 2-3 yr olds have immature minds, some are more mature. My 4 yr old gelding never bucked with a saddle or rider when he was started at 2.5. He can be immature sometimes, but when handled he knows how to behave. His problem is sometimes he wants to be my "buddy" since he loves his mama, and wants to be all lovey dovey with me, which is fine, but not to the point where he is going to nibble on me or walk all over me.
Be careful Mustang, we dont want you to get hurt or develop a fear. Its a hard thing to shake once you have it. Ive been there.