handwalking tips?

[high ho silver]

I am having terrible trouble hand walking my horse during his rehabilitation period, he rears and strikes me without warning and also tries to take off and bucks with his back legs almost touching my face... he also bites me really hard (has drawn blood).... I have tried using a stud chain round his nose ( out of desperation for his own safety as much as mine as if he takes off he could damage the healing bone)... I was wondering if anyone has any tips for how to hand walk him more safely?! Thanks for any ideas!!

[JstPAM]

Didn't you say your vet offered you tranquilizers?  Sometimes that is the only way to go. 

Also a good way to put the chain on, you need a long chain, go thru the ring on the nose, across the nose and out the ring on the other side, then bring the chain under the jaw and hook it to the ring higher up on the cheek (where the throat piece snaps).

 I do this when breeding, it gives better control, and does not pull the halter sideways on the horses face and into his eye.  It also tightens when you pull on it, and then releases when you are not pulling on it.  Some horse chains are not long enough, I use a dog collor with a snap, they are longer, and the chain is finer and not as likely to tear the horses skin.

You just need to be tough and keep him close to your shoulder.  If he rears up, let the rope out, and then reel it back in so he can't turn and kick you.  If he keeps biting you may need to muzzle him.  Cut the top off of a plastic bleach or milk bottle.  Punch four holes in it on each side, punch many holes in the bottom and lower sides, or cut long slits for breathing holes.  Then use shoe string or twine to tie it to the noseband and chin pieces of the halter. 

If you need pictures let me know.

[Freedancinfilly]

Oh no guys! Thats not very nice, here is my advice, please keep in mind I have been working with wild thoroughbreds who have some of this same behavior going on. If it was me I would use a lateral lounging technique, I am not sure what its called, but its essentially disengaging the hindquarters to regain control and establish respect. it will bring his feet back to the ground, and restore his respect for the handler. it is hard to explain without pictures, essentially if the horse is traveling to the right, with your right hand leading him you reach over with your left hand and take hold of the rope and then pull his face around and "point" at his tail, you are trying to get him to cross his inside back foot in front of his outside back foot and step away from you with the hind end. I would do this repeatedly, on both sides, then anytime he acts up YOU direct his feet, only do this at a walk, if he speeds up, point his head around to his tail or "double" him, and make him disengage those hindquarters. If you own the book "Problem solving" by marty martin these exercises and in the goundwork chapter. I cannot remember where you live at but if you are not far from me or if I have a client close to you I would be more then happy to stop by and show you. Please eliminate the chain, its probably just making things worse.

[high ho silver]

Thanks Jst Pam but the tranqs were only for his first time on turn out not for every time he gets hand-walked or I might be agreeing by now...I have been using the chain almost as you suggest but not going under the nose as I read that can make them rear more....maybe a grazing muzzle would work instead of the plastic to stop him biting but be more comfy?

Thanks for the offer to come over free dancing filly but I am pretty far from you sadly....I think I know what you are saying but I am supposed to minimize his activity so cannot lounge him - the vet has specifically prohibited lounging and sharp turns... I do hate using a chain on him....I will see if I can get a copy of the book you suggest to see if there is any thing that will work for him....

Am hoping my trainer will have some ideas when I see him next week....but I have to handwalk him another 6 times before then.... honestly he is so dangerous right now... usually he is sweet and mild mannered but the stall rest is driving him crazy....only another month to go of it I hope....

[Colspal]

Highho- I am sorry, that is hard.  Especially when they KNOW that they are misbehaving but they just can't control themselves!!  You are at a disadvantage because your are not able to work him like suggested, which does work, but you are not able to do this at this time.

Honestly, I would not take away the chain, but be sure that you are not hanging on it when you do have it on him.  That could be just pissing him off, causing more of an irritation to him.  Make sure also that it is not pinching him as well. 
Hugs
Cols

[JstPAM]

I have sent you a PM

[high ho silver]

Thanks everyone... also he is BIG and strong... Percheron x friesian with muscle....I don't think its pinching and it has not marked his fur or anything....I keep it lose but when he bolts forward bucking or rears up at me then of course it does go tight....and I try and kind of jerk it sharply v quickly and for as tiny amount of time as possible....

[2manyhorses]

  I'd put him in a snaffle.  Carry a crop so you can correct him immediatly when he goes to bite you.

[PonyRidesUSA]

Ask your vet if you can use weight bags on his legs. Some time this adds a distraction and he will be concerned with what is on his legs. Maybe put them on the two legs where he didn't have the injury. Making it really annoying to him but allow him to walk out but not too quick because it is weight. We did this to race horses. If they injured the front we weighed out the back.You can make the bags yourself. Make a couple bags that will wrap around his legs, making about 3 to 5 of them layered( 10 lbs each) ,( you can actually get these at sport stores) . Use a piece of velcro or duct tape to stay on.

Or you can use 3 inch styrafoam,foam for the bottom of his feet , using duct tape to hold them on. Trust me he will walk slow and look funny. He won't dare run away. I had to do this my big percheron gelding I had, He was 18.3 hh and 2500 lbs and a farrier trimmed him WAY to short. I called a vet and this is what they told me to do after making a visit and saw that he couldn't do any thing but pain killers. The horse had no hoof wall to attach a shoe too.  I had to do this 2 times a day for 3 weeks and every time we oput a new set it was as if he had them on for the first time. It was instant relief on his feet but he still looked goofy walking. I was 6 month s pregnant with twins and a friends husband helped me on the night shift and he was  alergec to horses.When I sold the horses they ended buying him. The family got so attached to him.

Any time we had horse that kicked. We used single hobbles attached to a thick (two inch thick) chain 6 inches or 1 feet long. So when they kicked out the chain would come back to hit them. The only bad thing about that is not sure what kind of injury your horse had, it could come back and hit that. We did this also with horses that were hard to catch. They have a hard time running with a 2 to 4 foot chain attached to their back legs. 

Now as far as the biting. Make a pen cushion. Make it where the pens stick out and won't slip through. He goes to bite you you stick out your hand. He will only do this once.  I use to have a horse that bit and I did this once, he got a nice sting and learned quickly never to do that again and he was not afraid of me. I stuck my hand out when I saw his teeth.

Just idea's. Things that have worked for me with out harming a horse or getting them afraid of you.

[high ho silver]

Thanks 2many horses, I too had thought about a snaffle but he has never worn a bridle before and I was worried he may not understand the pressure... maybe I should just give it a go tho in a smaller space... am definitely going to start carrying a crop today, I can at the very ;east fend him off with it when he rushes me...

Ponyrides USA thanks for all your ideas - but I very much doubt I can use weight bags as the injury is on a load bearing bone, same would apply for anything that makes him walk funny I think cos i am not allowed even to pick his feet up either for 30 days....he tends to bite me very sharply and v fast on the arm then withdraw his head just as quick!!

[PonyRidesUSA]

get a feeder mussel then. Put it on before you take him out. That will at least stop the biting.


What about a breaching/breeding straps??. Like the ones they use for breeding young mares. It keeps them from kicking the stallions. It seems to keep the mares in control and with a mussel you might have both problems solved.  I have to use that for my donkey. I got her at the age of 5 and boy can she be stubborn and I just don't like fighting with my horses. It just puts enough pressure to her back legs to make her go forward.She was never taught to lead and teaching them is at time impossible. Well now I just use a long rope. I tie it to her halter , then go all around her body and back to the halter, she stops I just tug on the rope and she goes forward. This is a huge step with her. We use to have to use shoes stocks to get her feet done but she now let my farrier do her feet with out them.

Good luck with your horses.

[high ho silver]

Just wanted to say thanks to you all again... am now using a chain, grazing muzzle and carrying a whip... and it seems to ave worked! No drama handwalking last 2 days... long may it continue.....

[PonyRidesUSA]

Thats good. 

[JstPAM]

Great news....I was wondering how you were doing!