How do I get my 6 month old filly to slow down when being lead?

[Hayley0413]

Hi I have a 6 month old Oldenburg filly who walks very fast when I lead her. I give her little jerks on her lead to try and slow her down, but nothing works. How can I get her to slow down on the lead line? Thanks for your help!

[Waterwitch]

Rather than pull on her head, teach her to back away from a visual aid (jiggling lead rope, butt of a whip, your hand). Then everytime she pulls on you, stop and back up a few steps, using your visual aid in front of her face to reinforce. This is also useful for pushing them out of your space to turn to the right (which helps in preparation for breed shows).

Ultimately they will follow your body language and pace and you will be able to rely less and less on the lead rope. You may find yourself doing this every 5 strides until she gets the idea.

[JenRose]

Put a chain over her nose! I had to do this with my little princess when she was about your filly's age. I used the chain for about a month and really reinforced the words WHOA and EASY. I have not had to go back to it since and now have a 16 month old who leads better than my older show horses!

[SunFire Farm]

Here is what I do:
Use the butt end of a riding crop and when she gets ahead of you bump her on the nose (as if she ran into it).... its not a magic fix and you need to be consistent and bop her harder if she doesn't respond. Be quick about it too. Each time she gets ahead of you make it an instant consequence to that action. Don't allow her to walk circles around you in an attempt to slow her down.... that demonstrates submissiveness (picture one horse circling another in the pasture, who would be the more dominant?)
If the crop doesn't work, you can use a chain or a yearling bit leading bit.

:winkgrin:

[tarragon]

I really hate to use a chain on one that young- if you feel like you really need something stronger you could try one of the "cowboy" rope halters.

I find that circling works well to slow down youngsters that want to rush. I'm not talking about spinning them around you, but rather walking a nice smooth circle or just changing direction- like making a quick 90 degree turn, every time they want to speed off. It will take a little while, but they will realize they are getting no where fast and it also helps focus their little minds on you, since they don't know where you'll be going next. Personally, I think it's much easier to distract a young horse and re-focus them on an acceptable behavior than to pick a fight with them as that generally gets them more worked up.

Another thing I do with my babies (works well with dogs on leash also) is to practice walk-halt-walk transitions in hand, and right before I ask for the halt I scuff one foot on the ground. Over time, with consistent practice, my little foot scuff becomes a sort of audio half-halt, getting my horse's focus back on me. My 2 year old can get very fresh heading out to her paddock but if she starts trying to drag me along I can just scuff my foot and she settles and drops back to my shoulder.

[Ladybug Hill]

Putting a chain on this young of a horse could be very dangerous especially if they got loose from you.

The BEST way to slow them down is to just WALK! LOL I am not kidding. I started taking one of my youngsters with me on my daily 30 minute walks. She learned very very quickly not to be in such a hurry and it was a great bonding/trust experience.

I know that most folks would not have time to do this, but I can tell you that there is no better way to do it. It prevents head shyness, injuries, etc.

[Samotis]

I wish I had this problem with my colt! We actually had to have someone stand behind him to make him walk up for the inspection!

One tip I have that has helped him is when we are walking and I ask him to stop. I say "whoa" quite loud and then hold a crop on the front of his shoulders with pressure.

Now, as soon as I say whoa and even have a crop he stops dead in his tracks.

Good luck! They go through weird leading stages. My guy was an a**hole at 4 months, but is fab now at 8 months.

[winsmorefarm]

When I have had this problem, I use the end of the lead rope to spin around in front of the horse. Start off slow, so not to cause them to freak out, but if they get closer to it (as you are walking with them) speed it up a little. If their little noses hit it, it will startle them a little (it doesn't hurt them) and they usually figure out after a few times, not to get close enough to hit the rope and slow down so they are in line with the leader.

[amdfarm]

I'm short and walk slow enough as it is, and to be rushed by a horse drives me nuts.

I agree w/ everything said except the chain over the nose (YMMV.)

I've been known to jam my elbow into their chest/shoulder to get them to slow up, pop them in the chest, circle into them, stop and back them, etc... anything to keep their minds focused on me. Attention span of a gnat doesn't help, but they will learn eventually. It takes time, persistance and patience.

GL

[YankeeLawyer]

Good God, NO chains on the nose of a 6-monther. Yikes.

Do you have a friend or trainer who can help you with the basics of handling a baby?

[Hayley0413]

Thanks for your help everyone! I will try to mix and match suggestions and see what wroks best for her, I'll let you know! I think all your comments were very helpful and thank you so much!! And also yes I do have a trainer who's started tons of babies, but she's busy/out of town for a little and I just needed some advice. I'm only 5'1 and pretty skinny so needless to say this is something I can't fight with her on! :)

[YankeeLawyer]

Thanks for your help everyone! I will try to mix and match suggestions and see what wroks best for her, I'll let you know! I think all your comments were very helpful and thank you so much!! And also yes I do have a trainer who's started tons of babies, but she's busy/out of town for a little and I just needed some advice. I'm only 5'1 and pretty skinny so needless to say this is something I can't fight with her on! :)

I wouldn't suggest fighting with a baby, or any horse for that matter.

My understanding is that you just got this baby. Do note that it is common for youngsters to be a little "up" or more excited than usual when they first arrive at a new farm, and it can take them a while to settle in -- some settle in fast, others may take a few weeks.

Do you have a tried and true old buddy type that she can follow? I have a mannerly gelding that I like to pair with the weanlings; they tend to mimic his good graces when leading, and during turnout he is very good about keeping them in line diplomatically.

[Wind]

I watched somebody trying to lead their 1 1/2 yo filly away from her two pasture mates. The filly planted her feet and would not budge. The owner was standing directly in front of the filly face to face, pulling and pulling on the lead with all of her might to no avail. No sharp tugs or trying to move the filly from side to side, just pulling. The filly just planted them even firmer. The owner just sat down on the ground very upset and waited for her mother to come down the end of the pasture to lead one of the pasture mates up the hill to the barn... I just kept walking on by myob.

[Fairview Horse Center]

At 6 months if barely weaned, she may be very insecure, and just trying to get someplace she feels safe. I basically ignore that, and just let time give her some confidence, slowly extending the time she is away from her group. Distractions help - treats, exploring, etc.

Once they are weaned a bit, if they are rushing, and getting quick with their steps, I halt, pat, walk, halt, pat. etc. Sometimes I will circle back and walk the other way for a bit if they are rushing to get TO someplace.

OTOH, if a youngster is staying relaxed, and just has a big, forward, swinging walk, I stay with them. The last thing I want to do is ruin their walk. I encourage them to drop their heads, and swing forward on a loose rein. Some times that means I scramble to keep up.

[siegi b.]

Darlyn - I was waiting for somebody to mention that it's not smart to discourage a foal from walking BIG. I never try to slow my foals down unless they want to run, and I always end up with horses that have good walks. And yes, sometimes it's hard to keep up with them.... :-)

[tri]

For Pete's sake, don't put a chain on her and DON"T "bop" her in the nose - unless you want a head shy horse who flings her head up every time you move your hand.

Let her walk big as siegi says - learn to walk big with her. Its good exercise and God knows most americans need more exercise!

If she is running, stop her and back up a couple of steps, pet her and walk forward again.

[Home Again Farm]

Another ditto for Darlyn. You want a nice big walk. It is a very easy gait to wreck.

[VirginiaBred]

Another way is (if possible) have another person on the other side with a lead rope snapped to it's halter on the side (so both people have the ropes snapped to the side if the halter - not underneath). It's a quickly learned experience when you can't go any faster than the person on either side of you. Stallions are frequently led that way, but they have the chains over the nose.
Don't do that!