Bolshy horse - advice please

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Stroppy Mare

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How would you control (and iron out) bolshy behaviour?

Ie getting aggressive with feed - will pull faces only
Will attempt to head nod (in an attempt to scratch on you)
Will cross paths with you cutting you up when in the field
Other little bits

Horse isn't nasty enough to aim to hurt but something needs to be done!
 
Fella used to do the third one - not because he is nasty but because he is nosy!
What I did was when he did this just carry on walking, don't talk to the horse, stroke it, make eye contact, really pretend like it isn't there. The first few times I just walked into him and the shock of this and pressure of me made him move out the way, it didn't take him long to realise to get out of my way!
 
Thanks, unfortunately said horse went out on loan a year ago, came back lame and with serious manner problems too. Really want to curb the behaviour asap now!
 
Could you maybe try the whole join up thing with him? Might remind him that your the leader and not to step over the line!
 
Personally I don't have heaps of problems with horses asking for a scratch, as long as it is asking not taking.

About the food I'd make sure that you always ask for horse to move back before you give the feed (also check horse isn't anticipating too much of a sugar-rush, concentrated feeds are like sweets for horses and some don't cope v well with the sugar highs and lows, forage based diets can make everything calmer).

Similarly with the walking into behaviour.

No big drama to escalate the situation but a clear expectation on your part that behaviour will be polite. And lots of praise when you get the good behaviour (even if it is incidental.)

Doesn't sound like you have too much of a disaster on your hands manners-wise. Good luck with the lameness.
 
Get him out of your space. If he tries to walk over you elbow him in the chest/butt him under the chin with your shoulder. I cannot stand horses that are all over you, apart from the fact its dangerous, its bloody irritating.

Completely ignore him if he's pulling faces, if he goes towards you assert yourself and get him out of your space. Mine will stand politely and wait for feed as long as I am stood there. I can go in and move their quarters/shoulders over while they're eating their feed if they're in my way and they never even pull a face. I'm in charge and that's that.

With the scratching, again get him out of your space, as cute as some people seem to think it is, rubbing on you is really rude. Shove his head away. You've got to mean it, don't let him do it ever.

In the field, take a rope with you and chase him away, just like another horse would if he was in their space.

You've got to be strict, they'll creep and try to get away with it, he has to understand boundaries. Even if he takes one step into your space send him straight back. Definitely worth doing some groundwork with him.
 
My mare was turned away and came back alot like this. So i took her in the school and free lunged her, but i must admit i was being a bully(ish)!!! I was using my voice very harshly and making her change direction alot. making her stop. then asking for canter from halt etc. I did carry a lunge whip, but only to keep her out as she actually tried to kick me the first time around. Worked a treat though and i had respect again almost instantly. Ive got a dually headcoller that id back her up in lots and ask her to walk on etc. I personally would do more groundwork than carry a stick with me all the time. I want respect not to be feared. If that makes sense!!

My friend at my yard carries a water spray with her for her youngster. Seems to be working quite well for them. I wouldnt do it as i use a lot of mane and tail and show shine spray so dont want them to be nervous of the spray lol but it works really well for her :)
 
I bought a horse in January, exactly how you describe. He came to me in a bad way he was very ribby and was nasty and protective over food. He also became impossible to handle on the ground and would drag me everywhere. I spent the first 6wks doing lots of ground work in a rope halter, lunging and long reining. When he gets bargy, goes ahead etc I am now quick enough to send him backwards, by just a couple of tugs on the leadrope. We have now almost got there. As for the stable I have worked on asking him to go back before open the stable door with feed, (when I got him he would lunge at me and also kick out) he now happily lets me walk in and isnt nasty. Unfortunately its just going to take time and patience. Hope you manage to sort it though :)
 
LouS said:
Get him out of your space. If he tries to walk over you elbow him in the chest/butt him under the chin with your shoulder. I cannot stand horses that are all over you, apart from the fact its dangerous, its bloody irritating.......
In the field, take a rope with you and chase him away, just like another horse would if he was in their space.
You've got to be strict, they'll creep and try to get away with it, he has to understand boundaries. Even if he takes one step into your space send him straight back. Definitely worth doing some groundwork with him.
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Ditto, I wouldnt do join up unless you know what your doing, as it can make things worse, and its never advisable with any aggressive tendences, unless a pro!

I'm not really a rope twirler ; ) , but when he's loose, carry a leadrope, and twirl it infront of you to make a barrier, if he walks into it, he will punish himself, I'm not condoning hitting at all! but its worked for me, on really aggressive, chase you out the field horses. They learn quickly, your space is Your Space, and that you have a boundary, that they can't enter.

Ground work is another really good idea, just with a headcollar and rope, get him moving away from your pressure, walking back, forwards when you ask, sideways, turning on the forehand / haunches. And he'll learn its easier to listen, or more pressure / work is added
and get persistant, dont put up with 1/2 a step backwards, 5 seconds after youve asked. He'll then get more sensitive to your body language /small asks, so you wont need to nag for what movement you want.

With feed, we have a mugger, who will try to stick his nose in the bowl, before your even in the stable. He will not get his food unless he backs a step away, then he'll be given his bowl, and if he pulls nasty faces, he's backed off again. Consistancy is the key, know what behaviour is acceptable for you, as we are all different. The fact he used to have manners, is a positive as he knows, what he should and shouldnt do, so as long as you consistantly correct his behaviour, he should get the idea pretty quickly
 
Mine is really bolshy, not nasty just over-enthusiastic and gets in your face all the time. He totally ignores a tap of a shove, and has done too much groundwork so it doesn't work any more, so I sort of flick my hands at him if he gets too close. It's more like an annoyance to him, so he backs off. Also flicking the lead rope is good. I prevent mine from walking in front of/over me by waving the end of the lead rope in front of me to remind him that is my space.

You have to catch them being good and praise them too. I didn't realise I needed to do this a couple of years ago when I got my horse, and I THINK that is why he never really learned what he was meant to do, he just got upset and stressed about what he wasn;t meant to do!!!! It is amazing what saying 'good boy' and giving a genuine pat will do. But that is my opinion and it may not work for all horses.
 
He's 13 this year. He isn't aggressive per se, just pulling faces. I walked in the field the other day with a barrow of hay and he immediately clocked onto it and was following me trying to nip at the hay. Sent him off before he touched the hay, he came back, sent him off again. Then got fed up with him so made my body language quite threatening and really sent him away.

My main trouble is that it isn't only me feeding/handling him. Often my inexperienced dad does - he allows scratching etc.

From these replies I'm thinking that some groundwork might be key (lunging/loose schooling etc) he loose schools really well.

Tonight I took his feed in to him, he pulled faces so I turned my back on him, waited for him to relax before giving it him. Probably won't work everytime though - we tend to feed in the field btw.
 
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