Halter training

Question
I have just purchased an 11 year old Warmblood.  He is Half Irish draft/ half thoroughbred. He is 17 hands and I am a 5'9" female. He has very good manners apart from a habit that he needs training out of.  He is big and he knows it.  He pulls ahead of you when walking him in his halter consistently. I have recently been trying him with a rope halter and he is pulling with that as well.

Can you advise me if he can be broken from walking ahead of me and how.

I really need some help.

Answer
Hi Greer!

Hmmmmm, you have a very naughty boy here.... he knows very well how to walk at his age!!  Not respecting you on the lead is just the beginning of a downward slide.  You want to stop all this nonsense now and establish your dominance immediately.

Take the rope halter and give it away to someone else.  Buy him a good leather halter or a strong nylon one with a leather break-away piece in it.  Leave it on him 24/7 so that you can always have a "handle".

Buy a long leather lead line with a sturdy stud chain on it...and use it!!  Walk up to his stall, put the chain over his nose and just to make it clear who is now in charge, give him a good shank on it to get his attention before even walking out of the stall.

Now, every time you walk him anywhere, the chain is over his nose and you have pressure on it.  Ask him nicely to walk a pace behind you at the speed you select.  If he does not comply, shank him, say "NO!" (or your choice of corrective wording) and back him up to the original starting spot and ask again.  He must do as you ask.  No rushing or passing you is allowed ever again.  When he complies, release all pressure and walk normally, acting for all the world as if this is the most normal thing ever.

You must have a nonchalant attitude of leadership backed up with the use of a chain if needed.  Abuse is not the goal here...you must speak to him in a language that he understands or you have set yourself up for larger and more dangerous problems in the future.  You say you have just purchased him.....he needs to quickly learn that you will not stand for these shenanigans any longer while you have time to still make a good impression on him as the new "Boss Mare" in his life!

Good Luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange