I got a free companion pony and he came with very bad ground manners. Pushy, willful, wants to drag you around, etc. I think he has mostly been handled by adults and essentially just manhandled. I bought him a little rope halter and have been working on him some with giving to pressure, learning “whoa”, etc. Any other tips and exercise ideas? Thanks!
Watch some horses in a herd and observe how the alpha mare (usually) or gelding manages the bratty, pushy horses who try to get above their station. Treat him like that.
Other horses would respond to his brattiness with teeth and hooves. You don’t need to be cruel, but you do need to be the boss.
I have a little pony who I drive. He is charming and delightful and butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth - until someone new comes along who thinks he is charming and delightful lets him get away with a little bit of pushing - which within a few seconds becomes barging and head butting and nipping.
You could try teaching him the exercises in Bill Dorrance’s book True Horsemanship Through Feel. Also, I used to have a pony mule who was EXTREMELY pushy. Asking him to back up was one of the few ways I found that would eventually get him to pay attention politely to me, at least for a minute or two!
Thanks. Backing up is something we should definitely work on more. I have been able to keep him from charging through the gate when I bring my horse out by twirling the leadrope at him. But I have to be careful because my horse (unlike the pony) is very sensitive and reactive.
Tie him up every day- start with “X” amount 2 times a day and every other day add 15 minutes to the amount of each tie time. The logic- control the pony’s feet and you control the pony’s time which is the currency he gives in exchange for room, board and healthcare with you. It teaches patience and waiting and since nothing has ever been asked of this little guy he needs some time to learn.
Always give him the softest que that it takes to get a response. The next time ask him for a response softer yet. It is amazing how being quiet and soft can really set it up quickly for the horse to look to you for direction. In the case of your pony it may take a hard thwack with a dressage whip to get him off of you today but this afternoon he might respect just a regular thwack and tomorrow just raising the whip might make him back off/stay out of your bubble.
I use a thin, firm rope halter verses a soft rope halter when using it for training or correction. With a super sensitive horse a soft rope halter might but fine from the get go but your little man sounds like a candidate for a nice firm one. One tug on that halter verses several with a soft one lets you not nag him for a response.
Good luck with him!
