Running away while doing ground work

mftowner06 · 11-09-2009, 04:12 PM

Chief my 3 year old MFT has learned that running away from momma is pretty fun until she catchs me!

I need suggestion, when I'm working with him on the ground with longing stage one and stage two, or the c-pattern or backing up etc. (CA groundwork exercises) he'll swing his head to the outside and turn his whole body to jerk the lead rope out of my hands and run to the other end of the arena

. Which is scary because he's dragging that 14' lead rope with him and I'm afraid that he's going to step on it and flip himself over.

Last night I had him all tacked up including his bridle/bit and he got away from me. So I caught him took him to the round penn so I didn't have to run so far to catch if he did it again, and I took the CA 14' lead rope and strung the end of it through one side of his bit and clipped to the other side (I have him in a loose ring snaffle, so the rings were big enough)...and when I asked him to longe around me I wanted him to hussle and when I even thought that he was thinking about looking to the outside I jerked on the lead rope.

Too severe (I actually got that idea from my Easy Gaited Horse book)???

Any other suggestion that any of you can think of?

Showrider · 11-09-2009, 07:06 PM

If running away from you is turning into a habit for him, you need to put your foot down and tell him thats just not on. A small problem like this could turn into a big one if you don't address it ASAP.

Approach the situation as if you've never met this horse and you expect him to go on the lunge just like any other horse. I find myself always 'expecting' whatever habit my horse has and I just end up making everything more complicated by over thinking and over preparing.

Working him in a roundyard for a while sounds like a fantastic idea to me. If you're not physically able to hold him while he tries to do a runner, then the only way you're really going to be able to begin to address the issue is when you have more control, and being in a more confined space gives you way more control than if you were in an arena.

I used to have a horse who did this aswell, and my method was to just pull him in, shortening the lunge rope (not the jerking action of giving and taking, just firmly PULL) and hold, try your hardest to get his head facing into you, and then encourage him on with a lunge whip. This will push him forward on the circle. Hold him in this tight circle until he settles, then give him a bit more rein and let him relax back into his canter. Then if he tries again to speed off into the opposite direction, pull his head straight back in (at the same time scolding him) and encourage him forward with the whip.

Get stuck into him when he tries to run off. Step forward and stamp your foot at him, put on your scolding voice and tell him no.

I wouldn't jerk. Jerking would probably be fine for once or twice, but after a few times he will begin to run off and throw his head up, anticipating the jerk. Then you will have the problem of him not only doing a runner but throwing his head up all over the place.

Its a good sign if he throws his head up and objects to you telling him he's not allowed to run off. A good bit of arguing will be all it takes before he gets sick of it and just decides he might as well go round nicely instead of fighting with you.

Good luck!

FleetFeet · 11-09-2009, 07:16 PM

I think you should keep him in the round pen to work with him until you can get rid of this habbit.

If it were me every time he pulled away and took off I would make him work in the round pen. You wanna go? Fine go! Once he turned away I would send him off into a good working trot. I wouldn't be too concerned about the lead rope esp in a round pen. Make him change directions and gaits and then ask him to stop and turn to you. Walk near him and wait for him to follow, give him lots of pats and love when he does. I think its important to teach the horse that being near you is relaxing and good. If they run from you it means they are gonna work.

pittmd · 11-10-2009, 05:13 AM

If I read your post right your not using the right equipment ofr the job. Get a rope halter with the knots that go over the nose. Just give it a jerk and they will give you attention.

mftowner06 · 11-10-2009, 05:16 AM

Thank you both for your suggestions, I will try what you suggested Showrider, and Fleetfeet I did exactly that when he took off from me sunday we went immediately to the round penn and i made him move his feet.

So thank you for your suggestions!

FleetFeet · 11-11-2009, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mftowner06

Thank you both for your suggestions, I will try what you suggested Showrider, and Fleetfeet I did exactly that when he took off from me sunday we went immediately to the round penn and i made him move his feet.

So thank you for your suggestions!

I think you should only be working him in the round pen for the moment. You need to be able to immediately push him away and control him when he takes off from you. Waiting to catch him and then drag him out to the pin and then work him the point is way lost on the horse.

Apologies if I misunderstood your reply.

Luvs Phin · 11-11-2009, 05:47 AM

Work in the round pen. When he turns and even thinks he's going ANYWHERE, YOU send him away. You make him know that leaving is work. (who wants to work?) and if he's going to leave, its going to be YOUR idea, he will realize YOU are making him do it.
Direction changes and work. Then stop, wait for him to approach, if he isn't paying any attention to you, send him around again. Soon he should put it together, and he'll come to you. He simply has no respect.
You=good Leaving=work
Do everything with him in the middle. When he's naughty, send him to the rail.
Work with him in there without the rope. Saddle him and everything. He either stays with you, or he works.

11-09-2009, 04:12 PM	#1
mftowner06 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bartlesville, OK Posts: 364 Images: 9	Running away while doing ground work Chief my 3 year old MFT has learned that running away from momma is pretty fun until she catchs me! I need suggestion, when I'm working with him on the ground with longing stage one and stage two, or the c-pattern or backing up etc. (CA groundwork exercises) he'll swing his head to the outside and turn his whole body to jerk the lead rope out of my hands and run to the other end of the arena . Which is scary because he's dragging that 14' lead rope with him and I'm afraid that he's going to step on it and flip himself over. Last night I had him all tacked up including his bridle/bit and he got away from me. So I caught him took him to the round penn so I didn't have to run so far to catch if he did it again, and I took the CA 14' lead rope and strung the end of it through one side of his bit and clipped to the other side (I have him in a loose ring snaffle, so the rings were big enough)...and when I asked him to longe around me I wanted him to hussle and when I even thought that he was thinking about looking to the outside I jerked on the lead rope. Too severe (I actually got that idea from my Easy Gaited Horse book)??? Any other suggestion that any of you can think of? __________________ Thank you, Brandi - owner of 2 MFT's

11-09-2009, 07:06 PM	#2
Showrider Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,389 Images: 72	If running away from you is turning into a habit for him, you need to put your foot down and tell him thats just not on. A small problem like this could turn into a big one if you don't address it ASAP. Approach the situation as if you've never met this horse and you expect him to go on the lunge just like any other horse. I find myself always 'expecting' whatever habit my horse has and I just end up making everything more complicated by over thinking and over preparing. Working him in a roundyard for a while sounds like a fantastic idea to me. If you're not physically able to hold him while he tries to do a runner, then the only way you're really going to be able to begin to address the issue is when you have more control, and being in a more confined space gives you way more control than if you were in an arena. I used to have a horse who did this aswell, and my method was to just pull him in, shortening the lunge rope (not the jerking action of giving and taking, just firmly PULL) and hold, try your hardest to get his head facing into you, and then encourage him on with a lunge whip. This will push him forward on the circle. Hold him in this tight circle until he settles, then give him a bit more rein and let him relax back into his canter. Then if he tries again to speed off into the opposite direction, pull his head straight back in (at the same time scolding him) and encourage him forward with the whip. Get stuck into him when he tries to run off. Step forward and stamp your foot at him, put on your scolding voice and tell him no. I wouldn't jerk. Jerking would probably be fine for once or twice, but after a few times he will begin to run off and throw his head up, anticipating the jerk. Then you will have the problem of him not only doing a runner but throwing his head up all over the place. Its a good sign if he throws his head up and objects to you telling him he's not allowed to run off. A good bit of arguing will be all it takes before he gets sick of it and just decides he might as well go round nicely instead of fighting with you. Good luck! __________________

11-10-2009, 05:16 AM	#5
mftowner06 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bartlesville, OK Posts: 364 Images: 9	Thank you both for your suggestions, I will try what you suggested Showrider, and Fleetfeet I did exactly that when he took off from me sunday we went immediately to the round penn and i made him move his feet. So thank you for your suggestions! __________________ Thank you, Brandi - owner of 2 MFT's

11-11-2009, 05:47 AM	#7
Luvs Phin Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MN Posts: 215 Images: 45 Blog Entries: 1	Work in the round pen. When he turns and even thinks he's going ANYWHERE, YOU send him away. You make him know that leaving is work. (who wants to work?) and if he's going to leave, its going to be YOUR idea, he will realize YOU are making him do it. Direction changes and work. Then stop, wait for him to approach, if he isn't paying any attention to you, send him around again. Soon he should put it together, and he'll come to you. He simply has no respect. You=good Leaving=work Do everything with him in the middle. When he's naughty, send him to the rail. Work with him in there without the rope. Saddle him and everything. He either stays with you, or he works. __________________ Round Pen Doesn't Mean NH. I will NEVER feed pellets, beet pulp or try nutritionally balancing 9 feeds. I value the health of my horse. Hs35

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11-09-2009, 07:16 PM	#3
FleetFeet Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 533 Images: 47	I think you should keep him in the round pen to work with him until you can get rid of this habbit. If it were me every time he pulled away and took off I would make him work in the round pen. You wanna go? Fine go! Once he turned away I would send him off into a good working trot. I wouldn't be too concerned about the lead rope esp in a round pen. Make him change directions and gaits and then ask him to stop and turn to you. Walk near him and wait for him to follow, give him lots of pats and love when he does. I think its important to teach the horse that being near you is relaxing and good. If they run from you it means they are gonna work.

11-10-2009, 05:13 AM	#4
pittmd Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pine Island, Minnesota Posts: 744 Images: 17	If I read your post right your not using the right equipment ofr the job. Get a rope halter with the knots that go over the nose. Just give it a jerk and they will give you attention.