Personal Space & Safety

I have a yearling - Glory... we did a great job in imprinting...but I would like to know what kind of exercises we can do with her to teach her about her space.vs ours... not being pushy, bumping into us...and curbing typical toddler behavior...

Little traumas maybe... sometimes she just drops and rolls when she doesnt get her way...that seems to be curbing more now...but I dont know if it was an early age thing that she's just growing out of...

Many thanks! Patty

Hi Patty ... Well, I'm sure you did a good job in imprinting and I'm sure Glory is just being a normal yearling. They all, just like human toddlers, have to test to see what they can get away with and what's safe and what's not. PLUS ... Increase the attention span and focus so she'll know just where YOU are and she needs to watch out for you! *grin*

There is a simple exercise that is very effective and non-aggressive at all. Understand, however, that until the pony reaches about 3 or 4 years old that she will be testing you on a regular basis! \

Stand on the near side of the pony (left side) and face the opposite direction from the pony. Hold the lead rope in an overhand hold in your LEFT hand while the right hand either holds near the end of the lead (I like to work with a 10 - 15' lead) to swing towards the hip as "pressure" or hold a crop with a tassle on the end (also to use as "pressure"). While you walk back towards the pony's hip (focus your eyes and your own hips on the pony's hip) bring your left hand up towards the withers so the pony's head has to go around back and up a bit. As you do this you are walking towards the pony's hip, focusing on the hip and putting pressure on the hip with your presence/energy or swinging the end of the lead rope. (or tapping on the hip with the crop lightly, annoyingly.) You're asking the pony to step his inside leg (one closest to you) in FRONT of the outside leg and pivot right around on her front hooves. You don't want the pony to go in small circles .. You want the pony to do what's called a "hind-end disengagement" ... Or, turn on the forehand. A quick one. Once the pony steps over, RELEASE THE PRESSURE and praise her! Give her a little treat (A Cheerio or piece of grain)and tell her what a GOOD pony she is! Then, ask again ... Repeat this several times until you've made a complete 360 then switch sides and ask her the same from her off side (right side). You'll notice as you do this with assertiveness and kindness that she will begin to blink her eyes. This is good. This is what you want. A blinking horse is a thinking horse.

Now, you've completed a 360 from both sides of the pony, now, ask her to step back. Give a gentle pressure backwards on the lead rope while you focus your hips on her chest ... Putting pressure into her chest so she'll step back. One step back, release the pressure and praise her/treat her! Good! Next ask for another step back. Release and praise/treat again. Next ask her to step back 4 steps ... Release/praise/treat. You're not only exhibiting YOUR higher rank by getting her to step backwards but you are also praising her for the "right" answer/"right" behavior. Don't be afraid to escalate the pressure if she, instead of stepping back the first time, pushes into you. With an ASSERTIVE demeanor, increase the pressure but at the same time make yourself a bit bigger and say, "ExCUSE me! I think I asked you to step back. Now ... Step back!" EXPECT her to step back. Your demeanor will send out a "feel" to her that will either say "I'M YOUR LEADER and you must follow" or, "I'M THE BOSS NOW GET MOVING!" or ... "I'm sorry, I know you don't want to step back but I'm asking you to so you have to! Please?" You want to assume an ASSERTIVE ... "ExCUSE me! I believe I asked you to step back, Young Lady ... Now move those peanut hooves!" rather than a demanding, dictorial "I'm the boss now MOVE!" or the insecure, unsure, "Awww, please step back?!" By stepping back when YOU ask her to, she'll understand, through design, that YOU are higher ranking than she is and she must do what you request. You want to be fair and considerate at all times ... Never aggressive (VERY few instances where one needs aggression with horses) but ASSERTIVE ... *** expecting *** her to move just because you're her leader and you asked her to do so. Horses and ponies will not move backwards or sideways or spin around to face any other horse UNLESS that horse is higher ranking in the herd. If the horse is not higher ranking then that horse will risk getting kicked if encroaching on a higher ranking horse. Make sense?

Our attitudes/demeanors mean more to our ponies and horses than our voices or tools or even body language. They can sense our demeanors and sense our expectations as part of their survival instincts. So, be considerate yet assertively firm. As the "Dog Whisperer" would say ... "Use calm assertiveness." *grin*

Hope that helps a bit.