Teaching An Older horse to stand Quietly while tied

[Red Ryder]

The Pinto mare I purchased Saturday seems to have never been taught anything but to lead and then she will walk all over you.

First I need to teach her to stand quietly while tied. I've taught many yearlings but never a horse that's 6 yo.

Those of you with experience with an older horse do you do any thing different than with a foal/yearling??

She thrashed so much in the trailer that today her right eye is swollen and milky.

I haven't tried to do anything with her yet, didn't want to stress her too much, just let her get use to me and the surroundings.

Thanks in advance

[Cindy]

Just do it gradually. A little bit at a time. Tie her and brush her. Touch her all over, handle her legs. If you can pick up her feet. If you can't just work your way there gradually. Try to make her feel comfortable. An older horse who has never been taught confinement is very dangerous to itself as I am sure you know. So just take it slowly and don't ask for too much at one time. DO NOT just leave her tied alone.

[motorgypsy]

Our almost 4 year old filly has never been tied and didn't lead a couple of months ago. The first thing I did was put her in a 35 foot square pen with her mom next to the pen and worked her like in a round pen - gently but firmly for three and half hours to get her to walk beside me without any lead. She was really defiant but finally would walk beside me. The next day it only took about 15 minutes to get her to do the same thing. The third day I was able to slip a leadline on her while holding her food bucket up to her face. I just dropped it and let her eat with it on and move around and learn not to step on it. It's the stretchy fat nylon type that won't yank on her rope halter if she steps on it. I watched her and would have been able to release it if necessary.

After a couple of days I was able to hold the leadline and walk her around the pen at a distance of three feet from me. The next thing I'll do is loop the lead over a fence post next to her food bucket so that she's not tied but is restricted. If she yanks I'll release and let her move back but I won't let go of it unless she really panics which I don't expect. If I have a horse that I do think will panic on a lead I'll use a 25 foot longe line so the horse can move far enough away to be comfortable but not be released. I've done this before with a spookhead.

Finally after I'm convinced she won't yank hard I'll tie the lead (stretchy fat braided nylon) to the post and let her eat and hold her there after she's finished for a few minutes. I'll then give her a carrot and let her go. All our horses are tied for eating and it makes it so easy to catch them and tie them if we ever need to.

So anyway Hollis it takes me at least a week to get one that is peoplefied but had never been led or tied, to lead and tie without a fight. I'm sure a pro is faster but I'd rather go more slowly and get it right since I don't know all the tricks and can't read a horse like they can.

If the horse isn't peoplefied - and I have one who wasn't despite a lot of training - probably a screw loose or some other developmental problem - but I restricted hay or hand fed hay and hand fed grain totally. I forced one mare to eat from a bucket I trapped between my feet. She hated it so much and would try her best to pull it away from me but little by little she accepted the arrangement. She now is caught, leads and ties very easily although she's still quite suspicious and will pull away on occasion. That one took a year.

I think the older ones remember better but you have to take them slowly.

[HotShotLC918]

Hey,

You have a new mare who is 6 years old and a bit squirlly if you will... She does not realize that she is not to be kicking at the backs of ur feet when walking and might even just walk you around if you arent paying extra attention? She is not to great at leading and may be a little difficult to catch? This is what I have gathered so far. :cool:

You have a round pen. I would personally keep her halter on her for at least a week so it is easier for you to catch her.

I would start feeling her out by putting her in the round pen with the halter on and let her run around you as it sounds like she will being that she wants to step on your feet. So let her run run run. I dont know if wrapping her legs is out of the question at this point in time but if now. please do.

Let her run and work her with a lunge whip as to not get kicked or what have you, just for the re assurnace for her as to where to go.

Once you feel she has ran ran ran.. and works up a sweat.. I am not talking chasing her around and running the pee out of her, just a steady canter or fast trot allowing her to walk or stop for breif moments to gather her mind.
then asking her to canter again.
Also play with changing directions as to make her more aware that you are the coach there to organize her workout not the other way around.

Once you feel like she may want to stop, of course she would need to have been lunging for at least 10-15 minutes before hand. stop . turn your back to her... and wait a few seconds and walk away. see where she is looking... then turn another direction but keep your back to her... take a carrot or cookie with you and she ought to come towards you. if not let her canter around some more

she is young sounds like she is sound it wont do her any harm. then stop her again and walk to the side of the rail and turn ur back to her.. work with her like Monty Roberts.. Just work off her energy.

This may be stuff you already know and do, but this is how I would start her.

I would also put a stud chain under her chain if she is really running over you, if not then the moment she starts trying to lead me... I would yank the rope a couple times, stop her, back her up, wait , wait, wait. and then walk off again. and of course repete. This may be another thing you already know. but it sounds like she just really needs the re assurance as she probably has had none from us humans!

Great start of a horse where you are at... Post some pics! :cowboy_cool:


Let me know what you think!

[CarolU]

I get older horses in here with minimal handling quite often. I spend a lot of time getting them used to me in their coral first, then work on haltering/unhaltering a lot, then giving to pressure just like teaching a young colt to lead. I work with rope halters and back them away to teach them to respect my space. I wouldn't tie her until she gives to pressure in all directions, leads, stands for grooming, farrier, etc., just relaxed.