2 year old problems

[Fran68]

I'm in desperate need of some help. I acquired a 2 year old fresian X when buying my mare. He is a lovely horse at 15 hands but he is so strong and barges me as if I didn't exist. He has broken metal fences, head collars, walked through hedges as if they didn't exist and walked through electric fences. What can I do to stop this behaviour. He is so strong there is no holding him. Is he too young to be sent away to be trained by someone as I don't have the experience or strength to hold him. Any advice, help will be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Hello, welcome!

Don't worry, there are lots of very knowledgeable people on here to help you.

To start the ball rolling, have you had him gelded? Where does he live - what space/ system/company. Roughly what area are you in?

 

[vhf]

Hi, I'll also say hello while you wait for the experts. However, I will say that a two-year old is not too young to learn manners and to be safe to handle. If that can't happen where you are, it needs to happen elsewhere before something nasty happens.

Most people will say that at 2, we should not be expecting them to live the mature horse lifestyle, they need time to be horses, and that turnout in a juvenile herd is the best thing for them, ideally with an older 'nanny horse' to teach them horse manners. Others will say that as they will spend the bulk of their lives living under human rule and not horse herd rule, learning our rules and ways is actually more important!

Personally, I think safety and wellbeing of caregiver (you in this case) and horse trump all, and after that I go by the individual horse and situation. I've done both the above at different times and with different horse-types.

If he's still entire (I'm guessing not if he's living with the mare) then that will impact his behaviour and response to handling.

Oh, and I've found even the nicest youngster often has a 'thug' phase at 2, so don't blame yourself, just deal with the situation!

 

[Fran68]

He is gelded and he's got a great heart, very loving and very intelligent. He lives out with my 19 year old ex race horse who has the manners of a saint but he's just lacking in any manners whatsoever. I'm not experienced with youngsters I'm the first to say that but the barging and the strength of him is getting quite dangerous. I've got a small yard and paddock and im in the Leicestershire area if anyone can help I really don't want to part with him.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

What's the AH level thingy of the electric fencing, if powered by a battery, and what energiser are you using? Perhaps there's a more powerful option that he would respect. We had to switch ours out to successfully deter the neighbouring cob from trashing our fencing. Also, what height is the fence, and how many strands, etc.

Another thought, what is he eating? Anything with soya, alfalfa, etc? Soya turns my roan into a horrible version of himself, so that might be worth checking?

 

[Glitter's fun]

OK, don't worry, its fixable.

Thoughts-
He'd benefit from some (a lot actually) play time with other youngsters. Is there some way you can do that?
He certainly isn't too young for training. You need a trainer who would also teach you, so you can carry on with it afterwards.

I'm not in your area but there are others on here who will recommend someone.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Just bumping this up the list.
OP needs help with ground work, in Leicestershire area.

 

[chaps89]

Honestly, if you can I would turn away on youngstock livery with a couple of older mares thrown into the mix to teach him some manners. When I bought him back he’d be spending a good few weeks at a trainers yard to reset boundaries with humans.
I’m not sure if Vicky Johnson at Stubble Hill Farm is still around, it’s a few years since I was in that area but she’d be my starting point for boot camp.

 

[Orangehorse]

You need help from someone to teach you how to teach him, like a Michael Pearce or Kelly Marks, Intelligent Horsemanship person. They will have seen it before. However, your horse is a very strong breed, so he has obviously found out that he is really, really strong and he likes showing it.

Two bits of advice I learned when going to clinics is that "the boss horse will move the other horses' feet" - i.e. the others have to move out of the boss horse's way. It sounds as though he is the boss at the moment.

But also, some young horses are bargy simply because they have never been told where to put their feet! I think help from someone, not force or roughness, or beaten up just simply to show him how he has to behave. Is there a local Facebook group that would have recommendations?
I would think in Leicestershire there would be several people.

 

[ihatework]

2 things:

1 he is probably bored out of his skull out in a paddock with an old horse … bored horses become naughty horses

2 they need good consistent handling from the outset. That is generally easier to do if they aren’t in position 1.

Send him away to a young stock herd, at this stage pref one with an older brood mare or two in the pack. They will do 90% of the work for you. Then pay for some additional handling from someone experienced in parallel.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I’d definitely get help with him.

Also agree with those who say you need a decent zap from the fence. Good grounding and a good amp is needed to discourage them from going through the fence. I’d your ground is very dry then dampen down the area round your earth stake. Also Make sure your earth stake is long and right into the ground.

Make sure your rope or tape isn’t touching any vegetation or any other wood or metal posts and fully insulated. I’ve had to do these measures to keep other peoples horses out of my field as they can’t be bothered to see to their own electric fencing

 

[Fran68]

You need help from someone to teach you how to teach him, like a Michael Pearce or Kelly Marks, Intelligent Horsemanship person. They will have seen it before. However, your horse is a very strong breed, so he has obviously found out that he is really, really strong and he likes showing it.

Two bits of advice I learned when going to clinics is that "the boss horse will move the other horses' feet" - i.e. the others have to move out of the boss horse's way. It sounds as though he is the boss at the moment.

But also, some young horses are bargy simply because they have never been told where to put their feet! I think help from someone, not force or roughness, or beaten up just simply to show him how he has to behave. Is there a local Facebook group that would have recommendations?
I would think in Leicestershire there would be several people.

Thank you I do need the help as well you're completely right, I also don't want to ruin him. I'll put the feelers our around the area .

 

[IrishMilo]

You need help from someone to teach you how to teach him, like a Michael Pearce or Kelly Marks, Intelligent Horsemanship person. They will have seen it before.

Alternatively, a good wallop on the chest with a long rope the next time he barges into you! You'll save hundreds using that tried and tested method FWIW, being a stallion isn't an excuse for being a little bugger. Most stallions are better behaved than your average Joe Bloggs horse as they haven't been allowed to get away with murder.