doglike

Question
Hi! I was hoping you could help me about my filly. She is very sweet,trusting, and gentle. She nighs when she sees you, and follows you EVERYWHERE. I have been trying to get her to lounge in our 50ft round pen, but she wants to be near me, or stopped. She won't go but about 5ft away from me, and, on the lead rope, and lounging she won't hardly do anything but walk, or stop.(she's kinda lazy)  I don't really want to pop her with the whip. (I don't like hurting animals, and I'm afraid she might get spooky around me(she was terrified of everything when we first got her)) I think that she respects me pretty well, becouse I can press her anywhere(chest, sides, rump) and she moves away as far as I ask her to. She is exellent on a lead rope too.
I hope this is the info that you need. Thank-You very much, and I can't thank you enough. California

Answer
Hi California!

Great question!  It is kind of hard sometimes to do the right thing with the sweeties.  When they want to snuggle, we want to snuggle right back!  However, this behavior is just the horses way of taking over and being disobedient.  She is slowly training you and taking control.  YOU need to be leading the dance.  One day you will get into a difficult spot and what your horse comes up with as a solution may not be the best solution for you.  She may think the  answer is to bolt or buck, when you just needed her to follow your directions.

You have a great round pen.  Take off the lounge line and work her loose but first I want you to change some things before you start.  The first thing I want your to do is become a leader that your horse can believe, trust and follow.  Be direct, confident and very business like.  Once you put her halter on and head to the pen, it is time to work and snuggle time is later.  When you rub and praise her it is with a touch that says good job, well done, not kissy, huggy, sweetie pie, save that for later back in her stall when she is not working.  

Always offer your horse the best deal first.  If I am working a horse in the round pen, the presence in my body, my demeanor says it all.  If you watch horses in a herd, the lead mare rarely has to kick or bite a herd-mate to move them out of her way.  All she needs to do is pin her ears and snake her neck.  Any semi-intelligent herd member knows that behavior means move, and NOW.  I want you to become that lead mare, period.  A flick of your finger is all it should take to move your mare off at a good clip.  Have some intensity in your body language, in your eye and in your walk.  Practice this.  You can step toward your horse with a feel that says move your feet and I mean NOW or a feel that says lets cuddle.  Try it but MEAN it.  You may have to come in with the tail end of your lead rope and give her a nip on the fanny to let her know your are serious and that if she does not take the good deal there will be a price to pay.  

If you have to give your horse a nip with the end of your lead rope, your horse will not become spooky.  You asked her to move, she chose not to, you enforced your will as that of herd leader.  Horses are looking for a leader.  They don't want to come up with a plan on their own.  They get spooky when they feel alone and without a herd leader they can trust.  So don't be afraid to come in with clear direction and support.  DO NOT PICK ON YOUR HORSE and DON'T GET MAD.  Get in, get the change and then get out.  Horses do not carry a grudge and they are very forgiving.  We humans have to be the same way.

Be clear.  If you say with your body language, off you go at a trot, get the change, get it done, do what it takes to get the change and no more.  Pretty soon your filly will be moving around the pen walk trot and canter soft and smooth.  When you want her to stop and come in to you, step towards her head and then back up to draw her in.  When she faces up on you, add pressure with your body language, pushing on her eye to get her to change direction and mover her off again.  Don't allow her to change direction by turning tail toward you.  This is defensive and evading behavior and can lead to a kick.  Always have her face up on you to change direction.  This is respectful and you know you have her attention.

Work on this, and let me know how it is going.  Keep asking questions, I'll help all I can.

Smiles and Miles!  Denise