ridecamp@endurance.net: head pulling

head pulling

KIMBERLY PRICE (PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com)
Fri, 2 May 1997 19:39:37 -0500 (CDT)

Hello again,
I inadvertantly taught Mystery if he pulled while tied he would be
free! When I asked about how to fix the problem, I had many replies so
be sure to check archives... But this is how I retrained him.

First, I bought a "be nice halter". It tightens when pulled,
putting pressure on the poll with knots, and loosens when the horse is
not pulling. It is VERY IMPORTANT to teach the horse this before you
tie him with it. Lead him with it until he realizes if he yields to
the pressure, it will loosen.

Of course, you can do this with a regular lead and rope too following
the basic John Lyons round pen exercises. The point is the horse
learns to respond to pressure by yielding to the pressure, receives
immediate reward of no more pressure on the poll etc...

Mystery learned quickly not to pull back while tied with this halter.
Of course, he also knew the difference between it and a regular halter.
But since I used it a lot in the beginning, plus worked with him
yielding to the pressure in a regular headstall and lead, the "habit"
(taught in 5 seconds) disappeared and we no longer have this problem.

I'm glad all your horses are working out for you Cheryl. Good luck!

I hope this helps tooo...
Kimberly (&Mystery the Morab)
soaking up the rays at Pt.Reyes National Seashore, CA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 07:23:01 -0700 (MST)
From: Cheryl Newbanks <horsetrails@inficad.com>
Subject: Puller
M
This is sorta of endurance related because if you can't tie your horse,
thenit is hell camping with them! I have a horse who has justed
started pulling when tied. I use an unbreakable rope halter on him,
and I've tried the truck tire intertube, but that freaks him out too.
He is an arab who is just getting over a traumatic life. Sometimes I
think his eye sight is screwy because he isn't too jazzed about shadows
either and their are a few other sight related things he does. Anyway
I think my hitching post may be too low, and I was wondering if I made
a taller one if that would help, I read somewhere that a low hitching
post will make a puller pull. Also are there any training tips you all
use to solve this problem? This is the horse I was going to sell, Kidd
Dynamite, and have decided to keep because I fell in love with him!
(Darn, now I have to many horses:} He is doing great though, in fact
he may go to our first endurance ride with us if I can
solve this pulling problem.

Cheryl Newbanks

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