[Shellex3belle]

any ideas for groud work.
my gelding doesnt really have bad manners on the ground,
he just is a little pushy at times when you're just walking him in a halter.
he's not bad, bad,
he just needs slow down sometimes and not be so pushy, thats all.
any ideas for groud work that could help him?

thanks in advancee.
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[Roxy93]

walk him in circles and make him stand/ back up. basically keep his attention on you. he's probably just distracted with being in a new place and still settling down and all. gain his respect- he's still getting used to you.

[prairienights]

Be consistent. Decide where you want him to lead, I like them to keep their throatlatch at my shoulder, and *always* correct him if he gets too far ahead of that point. No need to really pick on him, but don't let anything slide either. You can't just think "eh, I don't want to deal with it today" and let him drag you to the pasture or something, then all the other times you have corrected him will be thrown away.

As for corrections, whenever he gets pushy, turn him in a full circle or two away from you. Or, you can turn and face him and back him up a few feet. Again, don't pick at him, go ahead and correct him full out if he's doing something wrong.

Also, I'm not sure what other training/groundwork he's had or that you've done with him, but you can do some other excersizes that will help him understand that he's not to come into your "bubble" and that he needs to walk at your pace. Try just messing with him on the ground...disengage his HQ's, get him pivoting on his back feet, various showmanship things. Anything that moves him around and makes him move his feet.

[katylynn06]

When Bonnie would try to walk faster then me I carried a short stick/crop with me and would tap her nose with it if she got in front me. Now she walks where she is supposed to and I don't have to carry the stick/crop any more.

[pittmd]

If your horse is pushy its a sign that it does not respect you. Your ground work should get him to move his feet. Yeild the hind quarters, fore quarters, sending exercises, lunging for respect (changing directions often), lateral flextion, and backing.

[Kar]

The backing, and making them do turns etc is good.
I use a round pen, but I use it at liberty. So my horses respond, and respect me without the lead line. Most of my work of voice commands.
I dont believe round pens should be all about work work work.. They are a tool, like your reins, or a crop. Dont over use them.

While your in the lunge corral, use voice commands, which ever ones you choose. When you send your horse out, use the commands constantly. He will pick up on the words, and will settle into the program quickly I'm sure.
Then have him start walking with you. Giving the same commands. Don't use a lead line. Just allow him to make a few mistakes and dont get frustrated.
Learning to walk with you at liberty, will increase his acceptance and respect of your personal space. Then graduate out to a arena, or pasture.
He will get better on the lead, just be patient, and above all, enjoy yourself and your horse

[bnttyra]

Originally Posted by Matt Pittelkow

If your horse is pushy its a sign that it does not respect you. Your ground work should get him to move his feet. Yeild the hind quarters, fore quarters, sending exercises, lunging for respect (changing directions often), lateral flextion, and backing.

This is exactly what I was thinking too. My new mare was doing the same thing when I was leading her the first couple of days. After a few times in the round pen, making her move "out" of my circle, both in the hind end and front, she is much better. Hope it helps.

[Shellex3belle]

thank you all,
i hope it worrks.
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[welshysaint]

Originally Posted by Matt Pittelkow

If your horse is pushy its a sign that it does not respect you. Your ground work should get him to move his feet. Yeild the hind quarters, fore quarters, sending exercises, lunging for respect (changing directions often), lateral flextion, and backing.

exactly my thoughts..

try parelli NH i use the seven games with my horses and it works for me.. teaches manners and respect within your relationship

[Bruce Wiley]

Teach him that your requests has important value.
You want to control his feet in every direction, gait and your request to do this, that and go over there, here etc...
This is the key to his mind, behavior & his performance.

Teach him, to move in this fashion, having him to do it in a hustle and this is your call/request & not his.
Request him to move in a lunging movement to the east, doing it slow and then requesting him to speed up & then slow down again... don't allow him to stop on his own.
Request him to change direction in order to do the others- west, north, south directions manuver.
Later you can add the request of disengagements in the same formation- east, west etc...
This is an exercise that will get his attention & respect.
This should cause him to want to be release of all pressure and to take a break & relax.
He should only get to rest when he has perform those requests correctly.
Give him a few moments to rest when he has perform the task correctly and then send him off doing the other tasks.

He may make mistakes but it is your job to help him to win, learn.
You will need to be clear, consistent, fair, firm without any negative humans behavior.
He is a student of yours and it is always clearer to the teacher than the student, so be patient.
I hope ths helps.