Can someone help me....?

Question

I bought a mare 3 months ago.She has a problem where when you try to lead her around...she will walk with you for a momment,but then she stops and wont walk forward anymore until you pull on the lead rope to encourage her to move forward again.

You basically cant walk her from one place to another without her stopping and just standing there.Its stop and go and stop and go all the way from one place to another.

Any advice on how to break this habit?

Answer 1

Umm dont use treats...it will make them nippy....My youngster did this when we got him...the guy just let the horses out by opening the stalls and letting them run to the pasture so he hardly ever got led anywhere.....I just used a long lead rope, and if he stopped while i was walking him i took the extra rope in my free hand and swong it backwards while i was still standing forwards ready to move and i would hit him on the flank or the rump with it and then continue our walk....it made him think that when he stopped when he wasnt supposed to, something hit him on the bum...he doesnt do it anymore...he didnt think it was me bacause I didnt move abrubtly into any large movements...i said "ah, ah" and he got a smack with the rope, not my hand...now if he stops (which is rare) I say ah,ah and he keeps going...

Answer 2

TRY USING A BUM ROPE WHEN LEADING HER FOR A WHILE UNTILL SHE STARTYS WALKING GOOD FOR A LONG PERIOD THEN TAKE IT OFF A BUM ROPE IN CASE YOU DONT NO IS A ROPE WITH A HOOP IN IT WHITCH YOU PUT OVER HER RUMP AND BEHIND HER BACK LEGS THEN BRING THE OTHER PART UP THREW THE HEAD STALL AND LEAD HER THAT WAY FOR A WHILE WHEN SHE STOPS PULL ON THE ROPE AND LEAD IT WILL PULL HER FARWOOD AND ,MAKE HER WALK . LEAH

Answer 3

First when she does stop don't look at her try and keep walking.  Does she have a favorite treat.  My horse loved peppermints.  When she stops, use the treat but to encourage her to follow you, but give to her till you reach where you want to go, and don't forget to praise her to, like rubbing her or patting her.  She learn that following you is good.  

Answer 4

She sounds like every baby I ever trained.  I just bring them into a circle and and then walk off until they do it again.  They seem to be willing to move sideways and around the direction they came from so a circle makes them happy and then they keep going forward again for a bit, then start worrying and stop.  The key is to pull sideways instead of forward...it throws them off balance so they have to move.  So, you do it again.  It doesn't take that long before they just keep going forward with you, because they realize that all those circles still ended up getting them where you wanted to go in the first place.

Answer 5

Don't pull on the lead rope. She's learning that by doing this she's making you do work. Instead, swing the lead rope around at her hind quarters, or get someone to move her from behind. This should make her move hopefully.

Answer 6

Many people used different methods to solve this problem.  I noticed that someone said not to pull on the lead rope.  In my experience, I've had horses with the same problem, but they learn with pulling on the lead rope.  You just have to do it right...if that makes sense.

What I do is I pull on the lead rope to put pressure on their head.  The horse will outstretch their head.  Keep that pressure and don't let the pressure off. Once they step forward the pressure will release.  Eventually they will learn to keep walking because they don't like that constant pressure.  I've seen a lot of people pull the lead then let the pressure off, pull, let go etc.  This way the horse just learns to  extend and contract his neck with your pulls and releases so make sure you keep pressure.

When you do this make sure you ground yourself too.  Some horses will try to pull back to get away from the pressure instead of step forward.  If you're well grounded you will actually being in a position that is stronger than the horse.  So basically have a wide leg stance and kind of bend your knees so you're slightly lower.

Answer 7

get something she likes to eat in your hand.

hold the lead rope in your hand and the food in the other.

look where you want to go and carry on walking.

everytime she listens to you reward her.

try small distance at first then make them longer

hope this helps

Answer 8

I would go about it by carrying a dressage whip and when she tries to slow down, tap her with the whip. Also, be sure to reward her when she listens to you!

I hope this helps :]