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Ground play and won't tie.


I could use some suggestions on some ground games and I will start lunging as soon as the weather cooperates with me. As far as the tying she jerks on the line until she either breaks something or gets hurt herself. I appreciate the time you have taken to help me.
Katie

[follow up from a previous correspondence]

I could use some suggestions on some ground games and I will start lunging as soon as the weather cooperates with me. As far as the tying she jerks on the line until she either breaks something or gets hurt herself. I appreciate the time you have taken to help me. Katie

Hi Katie,

Assuming you know how to lung your horse, you can practice lunging her over low jumps (using very short uprights or cavaletties) and then stop her as soon as she jumps it and have her jump back towards you and go back again. On a long line have her stop in front of you, back up a few steps, come forward a few steps kind of like a yo-yo. Practice sending the horse different places kind of like having her go over the jump and then stop and come back. You are actually sending her over the jump and calling her back. You can send her around trees part way and have her come back, in and out of gates and stalls, trailers and any other places you can think of that are reasonable and safe. Get her used to scary objects like tarps and rubber balls moving at her and rain coats and saddle bags, whatever. Shovel snow with her in hand. I used to mow the lawn holding a horse that was afraid of mowers and motors. All these things build trust and confidence between your horse and you.

As far as pulling back, one method is to put a rope halter or a special 'pull back' halter on the horse (either will do) and wrap the rope around a VERY STURDY hitching rail or snubbing post. Sometimes I'll put tire in line between the rope and the rail or a very strong bungee chord. Stand behind the rail to the side a bit in case the horse jumps forward, take two wraps around the rail so you can let the lead rope back off without burning your hand (wear gloves anyway) if the horse goes down. Then set the horse to pulling back. What generally happens is the horse pulls hard a moment or two and then jumps or just comes forward. Set it up again several more times and what will happen is after the second or third time the horse will not want to pull back. Generally, if you reinforce this a few more times if the horse pulls back again the behavior will be modified.

Good luck and let me know how it all goes.

Sincerely, Franklin

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