Hi,
I have had my 12 yr old TN Walker for about 6 mos. I am a first time horse owner and this is all so very helpful! I was having trouble with him walking me instead of me walking him. Then I found Monty and you all and everything changed. I got the Dually halter and I had a different horse on a lead in very short order. We are stuck with backing, however. I can send him away in a round pen, but on a line I can’t get him to back away. He backs when I get into his space. If I stand in front of him though, he always comes to me. I can square up, make aggressive eye contact, here he comes. I don’t even have a chance to pull on the Dually, he is already coming. I am trying not to back up myself. I have tried making him stand, stepping away, then asking. I can pop that halter until my arm is coming off! He just looks confused, and comes up to stand by me. Without backing away from him, I can’t keep any pressure on the halter. If I try to tighten it up as he tries to come to me, he just comes faster. Clearly, I am not asking correctly. He is also not a good backer when I ride him if that matters. Our trainer feels he has maybe been used for Dressage a bit and taught not to back. We are making headway in the saddle, but I feel that they are probably connected and both would get easier if we could get it on the ground.
I have had my 12 yr old TN Walker for about 6 mos. I am a first time horse owner and this is all so very helpful! I was having trouble with him walking me instead of me walking him. Then I found Monty and you all and everything changed. I got the Dually halter and I had a different horse on a lead in very short order. We are stuck with backing, however. I can send him away in a round pen, but on a line I can’t get him to back away. He backs when I get into his space. If I stand in front of him though, he always comes to me. I can square up, make aggressive eye contact, here he comes. I don’t even have a chance to pull on the Dually, he is already coming. I am trying not to back up myself. I have tried making him stand, stepping away, then asking. I can pop that halter until my arm is coming off! He just looks confused, and comes up to stand by me. Without backing away from him, I can’t keep any pressure on the halter. If I try to tighten it up as he tries to come to me, he just comes faster. Clearly, I am not asking correctly. He is also not a good backer when I ride him if that matters. Our trainer feels he has maybe been used for Dressage a bit and taught not to back. We are making headway in the saddle, but I feel that they are probably connected and both would get easier if we could get it on the ground.
.
I'm a little unsure of what you're asking this horse to do - from your description it sounds like you want him to move backwards away from you standing still in front of him. If he doesn't back up with you then he definitely won't back up calmly away from you. The 'ART' of getting cooperation is to make it easy for the horse. When something fails to work it is trainer who MUST change. You need to create the situation where backing up is the logical option & then hugely praise all, even the tiniest attempts, this horse makes. Set him up to succeed. Stand square in front of him, asking him to stand. Move your shoulders off square & take your eyes to his chest/shoulder level then move backwards a couple of steps. He will follow you so keep the line loose. Stop, praise & wait for 2 or 3 seconds then stride forward a single step having closed your hand on the line. If he stands his ground you will be at his shoulder & the line will be making the lightest of contact. Pause for a couple of seconds & if the horse stays put, a single, gentle bump on the line whilst your hand is at the same height as the Dually training ring. So a single direct pull horizontally. Wait. If he still stands his ground do not pull harder but use rapid little bumps on his nose, maybe 6 or so. This is an irritation to the horse that should cause him to move back. If he does then stop the pressure & praise hugely. Repeat twice more & then end the session, making sure he knows he's an absolute star. Remember to always use the least pressure first for each attempt. Only revert to multiples if he fails to see what is being asked. It is crucial that your body language is correct & your calm throughout. You can increase the incremental beginning by opening a gate wide to create a closed space where, once lead into it he has no other option than to back out. Hope this helps you. Relax, have fun learning together. Cheers, Jo.