halter training and leading a green horse

Question
Hi I am working with a bunch of horses that are green. They have been in a pasture in a herd of about 18 to 20 head. I am trying to get a coupleof them halter broke and able to lead them. I managed to get a halter on two of them. My question is how do I teach them how to be lead with a halter and lead.

Thank you for your time and ideas
Gail

Answer
Hi Gail!

Here is what you can do...Start by hooking a horse on.  They will know who you are after.  Keep working on this horse until you can approach and they will stay with you.  Then work on getting them to track up on you, that is follow you.  You will do this with the halter in your hand.  When you can approach this horse and have him stay and you can rub and pet him, then work on rubbing him with the halter.  I have several detailed answers on how to approach a horse with a halter, go back and read those so I can keep moving on here.  I also want you to be using a good rope halter with a 12' tree line lead.  Double Diamond makes one I really like.  Check out the links on my website, Houlihan Horse gear carries the double diamond.

I need to back up a bit here.  You have some homework that you must get done and some basic learning and understanding that you must do in order to offer these horses an education of quality.  I need for you to read Buck's Ground Work book and watch his DVD.  This will give you the raw basics of the concepts and ideas that I use every day.  You have to know about hooking on, soft feel, how to get to the horses feet in order for me to explain some of the other things that you will not find in books and DVD's.  But, you also have to be willing to search out some of this information as well.  So, get busy!  Get your homework done and the rest of this answer will make a lot more sense.

Once your horse is haltered, you will put a "feel" on the end of the lead rope.  It is a feel that says come towards me.  Do not yank or tug.  It is a feel that holds a consistent pressure.  Just enough to be uncomfortable, but not so much that causes your horse to run away from you.  The instant, the exact second your horse TRIES to come toward you, and that try can be as little as rocking his weight forward, RELEASE the pressure!!!  This is SO important.  You have to get the timing right here or you will never teach him to lead with quality.  Then ask again.  Reward the smallest effort and the slightest try on your horses part.  Keep building on these small steps and pretty soon you will have him following a soft feel every where you go.  

Gail, you have so much to learn.  I have a resource list on my site that I want you to start working your way through.  To become a student of the horse and a horsewoman of real quality requires that you put in effort into your education and that what you do is of real quality.  My wish for everyone that wrote me here is for them to attend a colt starting and foundation horsemanship clinic with Buck Brannaman, Ricky Quinn and Ray Hunt.  These guys are my teachers and they can help you offer so much good to your horse.  I also have links to all of them from my site.  These are not shows.  These guys teach real people with their own horses in a quiet and supportive atmosphere.  It is nothing to be afraid of.  If you can't take your own horse, go and watch.  This is clinic season for the northern parts of the US and I know there should be a clinic close to you.  Please, check it out.

When you have done your homework, and worked on a few of these things, give me a shout and I will help you.  I know the more we learn the more questions we have!

Smiles!  Denise