leading

Question
HI..... my eight month old colt is not really well halter broken by me... I did a great job on the filly but he is stubborn about leading forwards and tries to get away from me... today I had to move him and his mother and had quite a tussle with him ..... he threw himself on the ground... he just doesn't trust me to walk forwards.....he is stubborn and sometimes leads well and other times puts up a fight....
today I put his lead rope through his mums and led him off the off side of her but when we got to the paddock tried to get him to lead after I let her go and he as nervous and stubborn again....

Answer
Hey there! Let's see if I can be of some help --

Between fillies and colts, I tend to see more problems in colts than in fillies. Surprising right? Mares tend to be the touchy gender in the equine world, but not when they are young. Colts have the habit to be extremely ignorant. They will be very resentful to most matters, and even more if they are pulled away from their mother. Ever heard of the term "Momma's Boy"? Perfect example. So at first if he is being stubborn, take his mother first and then allow him to follow. This may take two sets of hands. Have someone else take the mother, and you take the colt. While the mare is being led out, put on the colt's halter and start leading him. If he is hesitant, try turning him in a small circle once or twice. (Usually with full-grown horses, if they are hesitant to walk forward, the handler will turn them in a circle to throw them off to where the horse thinks it is going.) He should begin to follow the mother. Once he begins to follow, allow him to walk directly next to his mother for like 10 - 15 minutes. Then start to gently space them out. This might be the point where he will get stubborn and throw a fit on the floor. If not, continue walking. Enforce using treats as rewards. Tell him, good boy... good boy. Keep giving rewards if he is following. Once he starts being hissy, back him up and turn him in circles again. This technique is a simple one that helps me EVERYTIME. It's a very basic law to a baby, "Follow = Treats!  ... Refuse = Back away/Turn away from Mom"

Thankyou for the question! Best of luck to you and your horses.