Fear of leading big horses?

Please, don't use a stud chain on a horse that is not yours and does not need one. If you feel that it needs the stud chain, ensure that the owner of the horse is alright with you using it and that you know how to use it without harming the very delicate cartilage of the nose. I actually had a farrier use a stud chain on my horse and yank hard enough to create calcium deposits. The horse did not need the chain and the farrier was promptly fired.

Also, please ensure that the steel in your boots is highly rated and thick enough to withstand a horse stepping on it. Well made steel toed boots should be perfectly safe (except in the unlikely event that the horse steps on precisely the right point), but cheap boots with cheap steel can collapse and trap your foot. I do actually know someone that had that happen to him.

Anyway, on to your question. First and foremost, take a deeeeeep breath. You'd be surprised how well it works. Second, if the horse is well trained, he should be able to walk calmly without you having to pull on the lead rope. Lead him as you would any other horse...with one hand slightly below the chin (a few inches below the metal clasp of the lead rope) and the other hand farther down, with the excess rope folded over but never coiled around your hand or wrist. Walk at his shoulder, never his head. Walking at the shoulder ensures that your feet and body are not where he needs to go, which means that he will be unlikely to step on you (doing so would require him to step over instead of out). You may also find that you're more comfortable while holding a crop or bat. Do not hit the horse with it, but if you feel him moving too close and invading your space, you can give him a soft tap to ask him to move away. You really should not need to use it, and you shouldn't use it every time you lead him, but it may help you feel like you have more control. I've included a link to a video which will demonstrate how to lead the horse properly. I'm sure you know this, but watching someone walk it through may help.

I find the biggest thing that helps me is to remember that very rarely do horses actually WANT to hurt us. He has absolutely no interest in stepping on your foot if he can avoid it...it feels weird, you make a loud sound that scares him and hurts his ears, and more often than not it results in him not getting where he wants to (food) as quickly as he wants to. As long as you keep your feet under you, and out of his way, you should have no problems at all. It also helps to remember that large horses in general move slower than small horses and are often more grounded, and the big hooves are scary but actually help distribute the weight better than small ones.

Good luck, and remember to breathe!

Hey ;) Well this might be a different story but my mare is quite big but she is soo cheeky!! She tries to run away every time I lead her in the field and I just don't have enough strength to keep hold of her sometimes. My trainer told me to use the chiffney on her as it puts more pressure just like the bit and so you have more control over the horse. And now she's just perfect to lead :) This is just for training purpose only, I will stop using it when I feel she will be ready :) So maybe you can use the chiffney on her if she's used to it or has one? Good luck :)

Also, you have more control over the horse when he is near to you so I wouldn't lead him at arms length or something like that as they then feel that they can control YOU instead of the other way round. And also the horses know whether you are scared, so be brave and don't show any fear :) I'm sure you'll be fine :)

You just have to relax an remember big horses tend to be way safer then small ones and also getting stepped on by a big horse hurts less becouse thier hooves are wider so the presure evens out more, not sure if i explained it correct but getting your whole foot stepped on hurts less then just 1 toe getting stepped on and if your really worried about it you could ask him to walk further away from you. Also i it makes you feel better you could bring the steel toed boots and change your shoes when you walk the horse

I absolutely know how you feel! my grandad has his own yard, so i've been around horses from a baby, and also have 4 of my own - 13.1hh, 15hh, 16.3hh, and 17.3hh, an absolute beast!

I've had Bentley (17.3) the longest, therefore trust him a million percent, yet he is so so clumsy! when i lead him, he looks everywhere but infront of him so i'm always looking back to see how close he is, and it is because i'm scared of being trodden on too.. it's not stupid, i completely know what you mean! make sure you have the lead rope the longest it can be, so he shouldn't have reason to come too close that you're scared! Trust me it's something that's normal, i've had Bentley since a kid, and even I still make him walk away from me rather than on top of me basically. good luck you'll be fine haha x

Round up a stud chain and use that. I have a large Percheron cross gelding that is very pushy and likes to try and pull me around. But as soon as you put a stud chain on him and give it a couple small yanks to let him know he has it on he walks like a perfect gentleman. Even if the horse is perfect it might make you feel more confident as you have a little more control of him with a chain. And if he starts to run you over do not be afraid to give him a few good yanks.

hope this helps.... good luck

I've found the bigger the horse or mule the more they try not to step on you. If you get out in front of them they'll follow. You don't need to hold them right at the halter. 4-5 ft down the lead rope is ok. That big horse probably knows routine better than you do. Big horses know they're big, it's the little ones that seem to be a problem. They want to prove something.

I've worked and shod big draft horses and mules.

If you can still fit your feet into the boots, wear a couple of pairs of socks.

Lead him at arms length. You can lead him from the side, hold his halter and extend your arm. This will give you at least a 2' gap between you and the horse.He'll have to walk the path that your arm allows him to. If at any moment you feel panicked or are feeling uncomfortable, stop take a few deep breaths to calm yourself, then continue.

Really the only way to get over a fear is to go out and expose yourself to it. I used to get nervous when it came to getting on a new horse. I shared this with my grandparents who own a horse back riding facility and they helped me. They lined up a few of there calm trail horses, who where used to people of all different levels riding them so nothing fazed them, and i took my time getting on each one. My grandma stood with me so if i began to panic she could remind me to take a few deep breaths. Within a matter of days i was getting on horses of all different levels without having a moment of panic and the nervousness got much better the more i rode. Now i'm able to ride any horse without even thinking about it. Its always nice to have someone there to support you. Maybe have a friend accompany you?

my friend had an issue close to that what we did: write down all the things you are afraid of the horse doing then get a horse person tell you why they couldn't do that to you or if they could how to keep it from happening then go spend time with the horse

lol i have to bring out a 18HH out every daz (not mine) and I at first didnät like the idea but you get used to their height.

If afraid of stepping on you, you simply walk beside them and whenever it brings it's right foot out your bring your right foot out to take a step.

whenever it brings ist left one out then your take a step Forward with your left. That way you decrease the risk of being stepped on

Once you hook the lead on him keep your arm stretched out so that he has to keep an extra step away from you. Wear steel toed boots!