[doodlebug]

I have a 18 year old mare(Maggie) that needs ground work. she's horrible about always walking behind instead of beside you when you're leading her she's even worse with backing I don't know if she knows lunging (I'll get around to trying one of these days ) I don't know how to ground drive so that's out. other than backing she's pretty good under saddle. she's a real sweety just lazy. what could I try???

[Goonhorse]

When she's lagging behind you when you're leading her, I take a training stick (a dressage whip or anything that's about 6 foot will work) and hold it in my left hand. The lead rope is in my right hand. When you want her to speed up, point forward with the right hand (or cluck or whatever you want your "speed up" cue to be). If she doesn't speed up, reach behind you with the stick and give her a little pop on the behind. Make sure you aren't turning your body when you reach behind yourself.

If she learns to swing her body away to avoid the stick, practice it along a fence so that she can't get away from it.

[doodlebug]

my 11 yr old sister who is really small for her age(more the size of an 8 yr old) is the one who works with her most of the time. is there anything she could try to help get Maggie's respect. I mean don't get me wrong Maggie's really not a bad girl (matter of fact she's better than my Dandy) but Shynese is so small I don't think she really has control over her. I think the only reason Maggie listens to her is because she is such a sweety but when she gets carried away Shynese can't do anything with her. What Ya Think???

[iridehorses]

Personally it sounds like your sister may be over-horsed. She may need to have someone there with her to keep her safe until she gets a little more assertive and grows a little too. She may also find it helpful to have a training whip with her to give her arms a little extension and power.

Having her be the primary handler can be giving your horse the idea that anyone can be bullied if she decides to be that way. Most likely the reason your sister can handle Maggie at all is because of her disposition in general.

As far as your horse walking behind you, the advise given above is what I would do. Personally my mare likes to follow just inches behind as opposed to being right at my shoulder and I have no problem with that. I know others may but it is a personal thing with that particular horse.

[EqUeStRiAn]

Here's a thread I made a while back. Just some exercises I do with my mare... who was once EXTREMELY pushy, i might add....

Having Problems With Your Groundwork? *READ!*

[doodlebug]

Thanks I'll try that by the way the only reason I have a problem with her walking behind Is she has almost crunched my heel a couple of times I'm always there when Shynese is working with her and if there is something she's having problems with I help her I guess the biggest reason I have for being worried about her is sometimes we ride near the road and I'm afraid she'll run out into it so lately I've been keeping her out of the road. not to mention shynese is getting very cocky since she was allowed to finally ride her. once she got mad because she was trying to mount(maggie's all of 15 hands) without a block and Maggie tried to walk off on her and our brother(now sometimes he can be obnoxious) tried to help her. sometimes she just makes me mad

[pittmd]

What I found that works with my horse who liked to lag behind is using my "handy stick" (4 foot anything stiff would work). hold the stick vertical close to your body in one hand and the lead rope in the other. If he lags on you simply tilt the top of the stick forward (long end behind you) and wiggle a little. They see "that thing" back there and move up. When they get beside you bring the stick back to vertical. Basically you are walking around with them on a loose rope showing them where the "comfort" zone is. That is beside you but not to close. My horse learned very fast this way but he is a sensitive type so your milage may vary.

[Tatooed Lady]

yep, to keep Queen from planting her feet or lagging behind, I bought one of the cheap whips...about 4' long with maybe 6" worth of pop on the end. I'd hold it in my left hand, dragging the end on the ground behind me....if she'd stop or stall, I'd lift the dragging end just to wiggle it in the air behind me, or if she was REALLY stuck, wiggle it a bit closer to her butt. Her reaction was generally to move sideways (away from me, so that was okay), and then walk with me. I found I never had to smack her with it.

Something to consider, though, is that even though my mare's 17+ hh, I'm an adult and am physically capable of controlling some of her outbursts...your 8 year old sister, however...even with a smaller horse, isn't going to have the same ability as a smaller adult. I think that even though the horse might need training, it needs to be training the entire family is included in. That way, your sister learns what to do, as do the rest of the adults surrounding her, and she is more likely to learn SAFELY and CORRECTLY what to do to keep things moving.

[luvs2ride79]

Originally Posted by Goonhorse

When she's lagging behind you when you're leading her, I take a training stick (a dressage whip or anything that's about 6 foot will work) and hold it in my left hand. The lead rope is in my right hand. When you want her to speed up, point forward with the right hand (or cluck or whatever you want your "speed up" cue to be). If she doesn't speed up, reach behind you with the stick and give her a little pop on the behind. Make sure you aren't turning your body when you reach behind yourself.

If she learns to swing her body away to avoid the stick, practice it along a fence so that she can't get away from it.

Yup, that's what I was going to advise.

Just be consistent with your work, do not let her lag behind or do anything that you find unacceptable. Lead her from BOTH sides, work on walk and trot in hand (once you fix the lagging behind problem), and taker her on "walks" in hand on the trail. Walking in hand is a great bonding experience and training exercise.

[HoneyTheQH]

Yeah using a stick like everyone else said will get her walking up next to you. Also, holding your hands out in front of you like you're carrying a tray will naturally bring them up closer because if your hands are farther back, then they have an easier time staying farther back.

Just stay repetitive about it and she will catch on quickly

Also, I bet if you search for showmanship tips on the forum, you will get a ton of helpful tips. SMS really works wonders on a horse's ground manners!