I have a 10 month old colt that won't lead. I've tried everything I can think of. Sweetfeed, buttrope, leading him beside his mother when he was three weeks old, everything. We're having him castrated Wednesday. Will he be any easier to lead? He's very gentle, he's just stubborn. Any ideas on how to teach him to lead?

-- cookie (jaywig86@psknet.com), April 11, 2002

Answers

An old timer method was to place a lead on the colt that he could not slip out of and attach the other end to a steer who could escape the lead. In about 7 to 10 days the colt was very lead trained. This was done in an unobstructive pasture where they were not out of sight.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), April 11, 2002.

Get an inner tube, Car tire size. put a well fitting halter on your colt. Wrap the tube around a sturdy post or tree. tie the colt to the tube, not the tree or post. Leave him there for about an hour. Keep an eye on him and make sure he is not out in the hot sun or around anything he can hurt himself on. The tube takes the strain off of his neck. He will fight for a while but then he will get tired and stand. Make sure the rope is short so he cant hang himself. Do this every day till he no longer fights being tied and will stand quietly. Give him lots of praise when he does things right. Next, Stand to his side towards the rear and pull the lead rope towards you. He will turn his head. Tell him "Good boy!" Pull harder and steady till he takes a step. He will be off balance so he should do it. When he does, praise him again. You should soon be able to turn him in circles.When he does this well start over and turn him the other way or you will have a one way horse and those are a pain. When he does this well inlarge your circles. Don't work him too long at a time as you and the colt will just get tired and frustrated. When he is doing bigger circles well then it is time to try a straight line. There will be set backs. Just turn him in circles a couple of times and try again. Continue to tie him to the tube sometimes. This is something he will be ask to do a lot in his life. Take it slow! Training mistakes are hard to fix.

-- corky wolf (corkywolf@hotmail.com), April 11, 2002.

There are MANY ways to teach a colt to lead. One way is to use a drag line. It's a thick cotton rope/lead line that is long enough to drag on the ground (about 2 feet or so - no longer as you don't want it to get wrapped around his legs, but you do want him to be able to step on it) when attached to the halter. He'll step on it and be "stuck". Pretty soon he'll figure out how to give to the line and figure out where to move his feet to get "unstuck". What he is teaching himself is how to first give to pressure and then that moving his feet "releases" (or gets rid of) the pressure on the line/halter. In a couple of days, you simply pick up the line, give a gentle tug and release the pressure when he steps even one foot your direction. Praise him. Turn your shoulders/back to him and gently tug again (to follow) and release when he gives a step. Basically, it's a slight tug from you, a step from him, release. Releasing the pressure is the key. After a couple of times he should follow you. After he has "following" you down, then move your hand up the line closer to the head and begin leading him at your shoulder. It won't be long and he'll lead at the lightest tug on the line and will learn to "follow" or lead at your shoulder. Clear as mud?:-) If at first he stetches his head/neck out and doesn't step toward you, step aside and pull him around - gently. He will be forced to move his feet toward you or risk being pulled off balance. Release the pull and praise him when he does. You get the idea. Good luck.

-- Lee S. (trainrx2@swbell.net), April 12, 2002.

My family has been horse trading, breeding, racing and showing for over 100 years. My grandfather taught me a way to lead or load any horse, and it's never failed me. Try it! Take a lariat and pull the rope out of the hole so you have one long piece of rope. Put the rope around the horses gut, about where a cinch would go, and put the end back thru the loop so now you have the loop around the baby's belly. Take the loose end and run it betwwen the front legs and thru the lead ring on his halter. Now you have a pressure point that they won't backaway from. Now lead the baby. Everytime he stops or pulls back, use firm pressure forward on the end of the rope. You are actually pressuring him to go forward or with you. Good Luck! Arizona

-- Arizona (Arizona24@aol.com), May 12, 2002.