Trouble Starting

[Goat Song]

I have a small pony that I’ve been training to do small chores around the farm, and wouldn’t mind teaching her to pull a cart someday. She’s a fast learner and knows the voice commands I’ve taught her (get up, whoa, gee, haw, etc.), but we’ve hit a snag in training and I’m not sure what to do… She was doing excellently at first with stepping out when I told her to “get-up”, but for some reason she’s taken a stubborn turn and now will only step out when she feels like it. :-/ Or she’ll walk for maybe 5 steps and then either stops, or tries to turn around. I’m getting frustrated with her, feeling like I’m being outsmarted here, and there’s got to be a simple solution to the problem, but meanwhile I’m stuck with a harnessed animal in front of me that absolutely will not go forward!! Leading her sometimes won’t even work, unless we’re headed to the barn. I think there’s a bit of barn sourness going on here, but only a little… She just doesn’t seem to have any desire to work, and is more than happy to stand still until kingdom come! Any suggestions?

[Does’ Leap]

I had a halflinger who exhibited some of those tendencies and I had success doing the following….  I suggest getting a long light twitch or, better yet, a driving whip.  Try working with her in halter a lead rope getting her used to the twitch.  Rub her all over, etc.  Next, try getting her to move away from the twitch when you ask her slowly increasing the pressure until you get the desired result.  When you do, stop and praise her.  For example, if you are leading her with your right hand, hold the twitch in your left and reach around the back of her (and you) and tap her on the rear.  You should be able to walk or run and have her with you.  If she charges out in front, swish it in her face and, if necessary, bump her on the nose.  Eventually, you should be able to move her in all directions with the twitch (back, front, side to side) aiming for the lightest touch possible to accomplish the desired result.

This should set you up to use the twitch while she is harnessed.  If she doesn’t go, give her a little tap (be ready, b/c she might jump the first time).  It is helpful if you drive with one hand and hold the twitch in the other.  Hopefully this will help.

George

 

[Carl Russell]

Just for repetition, try to step back mentally, and realize that while it may seem like you’re getting out-smarted, it really comes down to her not understanding the purpose for your command.

I believe that it is really important before we start looking for tricks that we really think about how we put together our series of commands, and try to get a picture of how the animals are interpreting them.

I  do not use a switch, twitch, or whip, as there are too many other physical cues that accompany them, like reaching out toward the body, or the swishing in the air, for the horse to get accustomed to. There is also the challenge of maintaining consistent line pressure while using it in harness.

My preference is to use a marshmallow stick…. about 3-4 feet long, with a short fork, slightly sharpened. It can be easily held in one of your driving hands, at just the right distance so that a slight angling of the hand will prevent accidental touching.

I will hold the stick just above the tail-head, and as I give my command, a kissing sound, I touch the horse lightly just at the point where the hair lengths change. I do not snap, or tap, or whip them, just a slight touching. It is important that it occurs exactly as the command is issued. This is not a correction, this is a clarification. This area, and this type of touch will touch an instinctive nerve, and virtually no horse will be able to stand still.

Of course if you outright poke them, then they will really move, and that is not the point. Just Like in George’s exercise, once the desired action is given, reward them by stopping.

Again, I will reiterate that proper preparation is really important, and that comes from the messages of line pressure. Does the horse know the difference between moving, stopping, and standing in terms of line pressure? Think about the cues you are giving the horse. Sometimes ( most times) when a horse is being stubborn about performing, it is because they are unclear about how this command is different for any others.

Good luck, carl

 

 

[Donn Hewes]

I think the answers above give a lot of good advice.  As Carl says “It is not corrective” because we are not focused on what the animal didn’t do, we are focused on what is going to do because we are going to ask it.  essential you are using the basic pressure and release training.  In pressure and release we start with the light pressure (getup or kiss), we quickly add a slight increase in pressure ( The voice, the extra touch, etc) as a means of helping the animal figure out what we want (what we will insist on really).  This is a common problem for green animals and beginning teamsters.  I often ask folks to take a second to think about the technique they have already used with their hands and voice.  I only say this because there is an opportunity for the teamster to advance their skills a little from learning from the reluctant pony.   How well did they make contact with the animal before they asked it to go?  smoothly?  Did they follow through until the animal felt the contact?  When I make contact on a green or reluctant animal I will try to turn their head alittle.  Just a little more pressure on one side that the other.  Was there a sense of timing between the contact and the voice command?

Carl is right, that many signals ( the lines, whips, etc, can be difficult to control).  It is easy to start out intending to send one message and end up sending another.  The light touch with the twicht or straight stick. can help avoid this.  The energy that I am channeling at this point is important.  I am calm and relaxed, While I am in no great hurry; I also know exactly how this will end.  It is never in doubt and my working animal will learn to read that.  Good luck.

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