Horse Training: Horse Pulls Ahead

Every equine that is handled by humans must learn ground manners. Ground manners is training that keeps the horse or pony from biting, kicking, charging, stepping on you or leaning on you. This includes letting your horse rub it's head on you when haltering or bridling. Ground manners enables your horse and you to have a better relationship. It won't move around when you saddle, brush, pick it's feet or do other chores that require you to handle your horse.

Your horse has probably learned a few lessons from when you halter broke it. If you haven't done that first step, you should go back and read the first article in this series - Halter Breaking, and also Ground Manners for the Young Horse. This article deals with the horse that pulls ahead of you while leading.

Things You Will Need

• Halter
• Lead Rope
• 8 - 10 foot soft cotton rope
• Lounge line or Long line
• Lounging whip or dressage whip
• Fence post in an enclosed area
• A print out of this lesson (you may print one (1) copy for personal use)

Pulling ahead of you while leading

Horses are so big and much stronger than us. That means you can't force them to do what you want. The horse has to be willing to do it. Jerking, yelling, hitting and other such tactics only serve to make the horse afraid, nervous, and resistant. It is important to teach the horse how you expect it to act by taking your time and building a foundation one lesson at a time. Is your horse halter broke? If not, refer back to the article Halter Breaking.

The horse that pulls on you or drags you to a choice patch of lawn is not responding to your wants, obviously! So, you want to train it to respond, to give to you. The best place to do these exercises is somewhere that is NOT grassy and delicious looking to your equine friend...like a round pen or arena.