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My Join-Up® Experience

horse being more stubbon

Hello!

Hi
they say things get easier the more you do things but thast not the case with my horse and join up. everytime i try to sent him away it gets harder and harder to do he just gets it and stands there, eathier that he bcks or rears sometimes he squares up to you. Its starting to get nearnly impossible to sent him away now. can anyone help?

richandi
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

Hi Paddyluv123,
That sounds like a scary situation. A couple of things come to mind- perhaps you could provide me with more information, specifically how many times have you tried to join-up with him? amd what are using to send him away (long- lines, lead rope..)Are there distratctions around- other horses... do you try to Join up at feeding time? Look at the things you are doing that might contribute to situation in a negative way- because they can be fixed pretty quickly and easily.
Additionally, it sounds like he is challenging you-the first thing I do when a horse will not move away from me, I put a single plastic bag on the end of stick-it doesn't take much to get them to go away from that. But really, a little more info would be helpful.
Good luck I am glad you keep trying, but try smarter not harder, and as Monty says- slow is fast.

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I would like to continue the comment of "richandi"...
My impression is that you are very fixed on one only thing: sending away. Maybe the horse is bored to be sent away. After sending him away must follow something interesting: turns, obstacles, saddle and so on and the session must finish with a positive feeling that the horse can remember. To the question of "richandi" for more information: Do you use long lines?

paddyluv123
Hello!

Thanks for that.
The thing is though he isnt scared of plastic bags and we have cured him of carboard boxes, i try with the lundge line i hit it accross my shoulders and he just wont go, when he is going he is great and will. Though however we do have a problem that we have no round pen or a arena so we have to use a filed, he seems fine with it and always gets reworded after he has done what he is told. We only have one other horse at the yard and its a mare shes in the filed beside his.

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Long lining without a roundpen is much more difficult. Maybe you could mark the circle (for you and for the horse, do you know both were to go?) with whatever objects you have. "Shaping" may also be an idea: start with an easy thing (just walking in both directions, only ten minutes with a big "comfort time" at the end), next day a bit more (trot), canter after week or so. Don't look too much on the details. The basic idea is "shaping" and creating situations where you can tell him that he is a "good boy" or give him a rub.

paddyluv123
Hello!

yeh it is alot more harder we can do it with the other pony she is well easy but he gutes worse and worse, we changed what we have been doing and then he still wont go out away he knows though if he does what he is tol,d he will get praised

rowan tree
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Hi Paddyluv - have you tried a rattle bottle or something loud and really scary to send away - like a big heavy duty plastic feed bag taped round to form a handle and the cut at other end from about half way down to form a kinda long pompom - this makes an excellent noise if you hit it off yourself (a waterproof type jacket helps with the noise making) - I think some kind of enclosed area that is not the field he lives in may be an idea, I have seen round pens made from electric fence (if the horse respects it and is used to it!) or some straw bales - it has to be tall enought hey cant jump out - but the circular shape helps immensly as does a safe enclosed working area away from the normal living area - even if its in your field but just becomes the bit you work in ;0)

paddyluv123
Hello!

Hi. no we havent tried that thanks but he seems fine with noises like now. we dont realy know much about his past and we only know he is scared of cardboard boxes, but my dad cured that now. well we work him in a filed next to but we havent in a while since well hes quite ill now and we just want him to get better