That is brilliant. My horse doesn't go anywhere because usually we do a simple clicker behavior (like lowering his head or backing up) before he goes off. He will initiate the behavior -- whatever he picks -- and rather than running off when he gets his treat, he'll try something else (or the same thing over again) just in case we're still playing. So that works too, but I like learning a method that doesn't involve treats! I love that Warwick always gives the horse the benefit of the doubt -- treating it like a habit that just needs to be broken -- or a cycle that needs to be interrupted -- not some sort of attitude that needs to be dealt with.
Used this method this morning with my 23 year old retired reiner that has decided in the last couple of weeks to run off when I barely have the halter unbuckled. This worked like a charm! Thank you so much!
This is the only one I've had that would pull away, and I had most of it fixed by the time we videod. But really it wouldn't look much different than this video, except the horse would pull away a bit more. there wouldn't be any "corrective methods", like I said at about 3.07 , "I would just do this over and over".
I'm definitely going to try this with my mare, she has a terrible habit of running off, sometimes I've barely got the halter half off. keep up your wonderful work!
Thank you for sharing. It is so stressful to turn your à horse who pulls away violently. I have tried your technique today and it improved. I will do it again and again till my mare has lost the habit. Thank’you
Never thought of the idea of using two halters, such a simple idea idk why I never thought of that but I will be trying this with my boy. He RIPS AWAY the moment the halter comes off when turning out, sometimes he will try to rip away before you even get the halter off, sometimes even when you just barely get your hand on the halter he tried to pull away and take off. He ONLY does this when turning him out. You can take his halter off at any other time/place and he is fine. My horse is an odd ball though, the most sensitive horse I have ever owned or even ridden or known. He grinds his teeth when nervous, trembles when nervous, extremely ear shy and also hard to get a bit in his mouth (clamps mouth shut and raises his head high or ducks his head away from you) I love him to pieces tho. He was this way when he was given to me. He was a kill pen rescue as a yearling by my barn owner/best friend. He was ridden first at around 4 years old for about 5 or 6 rides then sat and did nothing until he became mine 2 years ago (hes around 10 now) and I have put about 30 rides on him (have health issues so riding often is hard for me) but mostly walk and trot and some light canter work. He has days where he can be calm and amazing under saddle and other days where he just loses his mind. But anyways I am gonna try this using two halters technique and work with him next weekend.
I think if people would actually spend time with their horse when it's turned out, just grazing or just doing w.e and not actually working their horse, their horse might not run off either when you let them loose. I've never specifically taught my horses to not run off after I take the halter off, and I've never had them run away from me. I just spend time with them occasionely without actually making them work.
1991lightning1991 I’ve seen people who think it’s a good idea to encourage their horse to run off like slapping it on the rump as they leave I’ve always thought it’s the sort of thing that will come around to haunt them
My horse is very green and has had this habit since he was a yearling (came from the killpen with this habit when rescued) and he didn't get ridden or worked AT ALL until he was around 4 years old (he is now 10 and has only had about 30 rides) but he has always had this habit, he will rip away from you before you even get the halter off when turning him out, he is just SO EXCITED to get out in the paddock and run around and play. Even at 10 years old all he wants to do it play and run around every time he is turned out. So no, your theory is not always correct or the reason why some horses rip away when being turned out.
I imagine doing things like walking them into their field, walking a circle or two then leading them back out, and leading them to the gate then away again teaches them not to associate being led to the field and gate with being allowed to run off.
OMG funniest thing....just clicked the cc button as watching on a computer with no speakers! Hilarious....I'm not sure how the closed captions work but perhaps you need to have a check of them....for example at 1:37 "the idea you just all that thing off like the Unilever like you gonna leave you a quick and then you stop lever"......
Thanks for the great advice! I'm nervous that my horse will still try to spin around and take off bucking when I try the two-halter training technique. I guess I will just be prepared to step back as usual if he tries to do that.
Warwick, would it be possible to catch these moments with a horse that hasn't been worked on yet? Like that video where you started the black Warmblood? So that maybe we could see corrective methods for horses that are more than happy to take right off? I know there's making the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy, and applying pressure, but I'd like to see it in person. Since my so called "trainer" doesn't teach me and she's the only trainer in my podunk little town. >
That is brilliant. My horse doesn't go anywhere because usually we do a simple clicker behavior (like lowering his head or backing up) before he goes off. He will initiate the behavior -- whatever he picks -- and rather than running off when he gets his treat, he'll try something else (or the same thing over again) just in case we're still playing. So that works too, but I like learning a method that doesn't involve treats! I love that Warwick always gives the horse the benefit of the doubt -- treating it like a habit that just needs to be broken -- or a cycle that needs to be interrupted -- not some sort of attitude that needs to be dealt with.
Used this method this morning with my 23 year old retired reiner that has decided in the last couple of weeks to run off when I barely have the halter unbuckled. This worked like a charm! Thank you so much!
This is the only one I've had that would pull away, and I had most of it fixed by the time we videod. But really it wouldn't look much different than this video, except the horse would pull away a bit more. there wouldn't be any "corrective methods", like I said at about 3.07 , "I would just do this over and over".
I'm definitely going to try this with my mare, she has a terrible habit of running off, sometimes I've barely got the halter half off. keep up your wonderful work!
Thank you for sharing. It is so stressful to turn your à horse who pulls away violently. I have tried your technique today and it improved. I will do it again and again till my mare has lost the habit.
Thank’you
Never thought of the idea of using two halters, such a simple idea idk why I never thought of that but I will be trying this with my boy. He RIPS AWAY the moment the halter comes off when turning out, sometimes he will try to rip away before you even get the halter off, sometimes even when you just barely get your hand on the halter he tried to pull away and take off. He ONLY does this when turning him out. You can take his halter off at any other time/place and he is fine. My horse is an odd ball though, the most sensitive horse I have ever owned or even ridden or known. He grinds his teeth when nervous, trembles when nervous, extremely ear shy and also hard to get a bit in his mouth (clamps mouth shut and raises his head high or ducks his head away from you) I love him to pieces tho. He was this way when he was given to me. He was a kill pen rescue as a yearling by my barn owner/best friend. He was ridden first at around 4 years old for about 5 or 6 rides then sat and did nothing until he became mine 2 years ago (hes around 10 now) and I have put about 30 rides on him (have health issues so riding often is hard for me) but mostly walk and trot and some light canter work. He has days where he can be calm and amazing under saddle and other days where he just loses his mind. But anyways I am gonna try this using two halters technique and work with him next weekend.
I think if people would actually spend time with their horse when it's turned out, just grazing or just doing w.e and not actually working their horse, their horse might not run off either when you let them loose. I've never specifically taught my horses to not run off after I take the halter off, and I've never had them run away from me. I just spend time with them occasionely without actually making them work.
Agreed.
1991lightning1991 I’ve seen people who think it’s a good idea to encourage their horse to run off like slapping it on the rump as they leave I’ve always thought it’s the sort of thing that will come around to haunt them
My horse is very green and has had this habit since he was a yearling (came from the killpen with this habit when rescued) and he didn't get ridden or worked AT ALL until he was around 4 years old (he is now 10 and has only had about 30 rides) but he has always had this habit, he will rip away from you before you even get the halter off when turning him out, he is just SO EXCITED to get out in the paddock and run around and play. Even at 10 years old all he wants to do it play and run around every time he is turned out. So no, your theory is not always correct or the reason why some horses rip away when being turned out.
I imagine doing things like walking them into their field, walking a circle or two then leading them back out, and leading them to the gate then away again teaches them not to associate being led to the field and gate with being allowed to run off.
OMG funniest thing....just clicked the cc button as watching on a computer with no speakers! Hilarious....I'm not sure how the closed captions work but perhaps you need to have a check of them....for example at 1:37 "the idea you just all that thing off like the Unilever like you gonna leave you a quick and then you stop lever"......
Lol it doesn't understand his Aussie accent.
Thanks for the great advice! I'm nervous that my horse will still try to spin around and take off bucking when I try the two-halter training technique. I guess I will just be prepared to step back as usual if he tries to do that.
Excellent 🎩🎩🎩
Warwick, would it be possible to catch these moments with a horse that hasn't been worked on yet? Like that video where you started the black Warmblood? So that maybe we could see corrective methods for horses that are more than happy to take right off? I know there's making the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy, and applying pressure, but I'd like to see it in person. Since my so called "trainer" doesn't teach me and she's the only trainer in my podunk little town. >
I've only ever had one horse do it and he will do it regardless of if he has been worked or not.
What if you're turning out into a field with other horses and they're crowding round?
Move them away with a flag first