Bolshy, Ignorant 5yo, Help needed.

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My 14.2hh 5yo cob mare has become very bolshy and has always been ignorant, She knows the boundries but pushes them constantly, she is not scared of anything as i've had her since she was 3.5yo and did lots of de sensitising with her, But this summer she has become difficult to lead to and from the field and throws her weight around when asked to stand still be groomed/bathed and have feet handled. HELP??? She is out in the field 12 hours a day and regularly worked, is fed a handful of chaff and 1/4 scoop of nuts. 3 sections of hay whilst she is in.
 
You might find that if she is easier to lead then she will realise that she can't pull you around and be easier overall - I think you need to start by investing in a control headcollar (the Eskadron one with the chain has been brilliant in helping me to set boundaries with my strong 7 y/o WB gelding); it doesn't look pretty but they do respect it and of course if they aren't pulling the chain isn't acting on them. You can't tie them up in it so it won't help when you're grooming her etc, but like I said you might find that if she realises that she can't get away with being bolshy when she's being led she might be better when tied up as well.

She could be going through a stroppy 5 y/o stage which isn't uncommon at all; if she was a sweet 4 y/o then you might find that she returns to being nice when she's 6! I think lots of consistency, being patient but firm so that she respects your presence and your commands. I don't really believe in smacking horses but I wouldn't tolerate bolshy, potentially dangerous behaviour either.

Good luck :).
 
I use a dually on my young horse it works a treat! if she pushes past you, just back her up each time, she will soon learn that its harder work and takes 10 times as long to get anywhere! the dually helps back them up if they are taking the mick, as it applies pressure, so they learn to step away from it!
 
Thank's guys. I will invest in one. she does back off after a fight, but i don't want to have to fight her all the time. Little monster.
 
Tash88 said:
the Eskadron one with the chain has been brilliant in helping me to set boundaries with my strong 7 y/o WB gelding); it doesn't look pretty but they do respect it and of course if they aren't pulling the chain isn't acting on them. You can't tie them up in it....

Good luck :).
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Actually, you can. Attach the leadrope to the headcollar, not the chain.
 
An old fashioned rope halter is just as effective as a dually.

It is so common for horses not to be properly halter broken as foals, the end result being a bargy young horse. Get it right early and the horse will be set up for life.
 
AdorableAlice said:
An old fashioned rope halter is just as effective as a dually.

It is so common for horses not to be properly halter broken as foals, the end result being a bargy young horse. Get it right early and the horse will be set up for life.
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Just what I was thinking! (And much cheaper!)

Get one and a schooling whip, hold the whip in front of the horse, tap the chest if it moves too far forward. I've never met a horse that method doesn't work with, if the handler is determined. If the horse plants the whip can be used to move it forward, as well.
Please note - I am not recommending beating the horse.
 
VFS Lady Grey said:
Thank's guys. I will invest in one. she does back off after a fight, but i don't want to have to fight her all the time. Little monster.
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You might have to, for now. Cobs seem to have this lovely laid back reputation but they still go through the pushy youngster stage and they are big horses, even the little ones. Be firm, keep the boundaries, nip everything in the bud, and perhaps stop feeding her
 
Good advice, I use a piece of blue pipe rather than a schooling whip. It can be poked into the chest of the ignorant beast as it attempts to mow me flat. I bought in a very rude mare last year and she did end up with a big smack. Half clyde and 700kg of rudeness. Rope halter and my trusty blue pipe sorted her out.






Op, you won't get a quick fix, but firm, fair and consistent handling will get the horse mannerly.
 
Get some help, timing is everything with this sort of problem. Someone who knows what they are doing will sort this in seconds and show you what to do. Forum advice and gadgets like dually head collars will be of no real help and make things worse.
 
my lad was the ultimate in bolshy and aggression when I first got him. He wasn't just bolshy through the typical youngster stage but because he thought people were all out to hurt him and intended to get in first before that could happen. In some respects I do agree with Pale Rider as it is about timing and I know in the case of my lad dually's, rope halters etc were of no use at all. You need to be firm remain calm and be very consistent in everything you do with him. We have a lad at our yard who is rather bolshy and has a habit of walking through people if he can get away with it. At 16h he is no lightweight cob either. As a consequence he isn't handled by novices
 
Work ,
Work stops 90% of horses being bolsy at five a horse is ready to work.
Bolsy horses here get worked twice a day and kept on a bare paddock.
I also used blue pipe when my clydie cross arrived he was very rude and bolsy.
 
Pale Rider said:
5 isn't very old, often people expect a lot from young horses, and knacker them pretty quick.

Bolshy horses are horses that just haven't been handled right.
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Horses need exercise if we keep them in paddocks and smallish fields, they simply just don't get enough mental simulation and exercise.
We need to provide that a five year is well able to to do two lots of hacking a day mainly walking exploring the world and working the brain or one hack and one session of suitable schooling using pole work and exercise to keep them interested and happy.
Horses vary so much some are never rude and bolsy horses are born with their character you then work with what you have got and the experiances they have had before they come in to your care.
It's not always 100% of the handlers fault when stuff goes wrong some horses are are much easier than others.
But a young strong horse at an age where it would be exploring the world in the wild needs more than a small field while some cope fine with this restricted existence others dont so well .
These ones need us to provide them with physical outlets for their energy and as most people can't turn out in a group on 100 acres we have to provide exercise and stimulation as best we can.
 
Goldenstar said:
Horses need exercise if we keep them in paddocks and smallish fields, they simply just don't get enough mental simulation and exercise.
We need to provide that a five year is well able to to do two lots of hacking a day mainly walking exploring the world and working the brain or one hack and one session of suitable schooling using pole work and exercise to keep them interested and happy.
Horses vary so much some are never rude and bolsy horses are born with their character you then work with what you have got and the experiances they have had before they come in to your care.
It's not always 100% of the handlers fault when stuff goes wrong some horses are are much easier than others.
But a young strong horse at an age where it would be exploring the world in the wild needs more than a small field while some cope fine with this restricted existence others dont so well .
These ones need us to provide them with physical outlets for their energy and as most people can't turn out in a group on 100 acres we have to provide exercise and stimulation as best we can.
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I don't see rude or bolshy, I see things quite differently. I agree pretty much with what you say, pehaps our terminology is a bit different.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Good advice, I use a piece of blue pipe rather than a schooling whip. It can be poked into the chest of the ignorant beast as it attempts to mow me flat. I bought in a very rude mare last year and she did end up with a big smack. Half clyde and 700kg of rudeness. Rope halter and my trusty blue pipe sorted her out.








Op, you won't get a quick fix, but firm, fair and consistent handling will get the horse mannerly.
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Blue pipe also has the added advantage of making a noise when it is moved but schooling whips are easier to get hold of, ime.
I agree with Pale Rider that timing is everything, along with consistency. I have a 2 yr old cob who is testing the boundaries but, although she hasn't been here long, consistency is teaching her what is expected. I also reward the behaviour I want her to exhibit.
 
There would not be any problems if all foals/weanlings were correctly handled and halter broken at the beginning of their lives.

It is not rocket science, yet so few are halter broken correctly, why ?
 
AdorableAlice said:
There would not be any problems if all foals/weanlings were correctly handled and halter broken at the beginning of their lives.

It is not rocket science, yet so few are halter broken correctly, why ?
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That's a good question .
I sometimes think that while not handling foals and yearlings makes life harder than it should be I also think young horses can be over handled and sometimes they learn ( or are taught) their own strength , some don't seem to have a respect for human space.
I don't like the concept of bonding that people talk about I think it muddys the water often and horses are left without a clear set of rules they must obey.
 
I totally agree with you Goldenstar.

All I do is foal slip on and off without a fuss and hands over body/legs. This amount of handling allows me to deal with any injury or issues to the foal if they occur and my farrier to keep feet in shape. Adorable Alice was born with a dumped foot and was trimmed every 14 days from 2 months of age, plus I had to do physio for several months on her foot/pastern. The first couple of sessions was a struggle and my farrier was wearing Alice as a necklace at one point, but all was peaceful by the third session and now, 18 months on she still picks up her 'bad' foot and puts into the farriers hand. I prefer the word 'respect' to 'bonding' and I also think people make fools of foals and are not quick enough to stop nipping etc.

AT weaning I use a rope halter, instil the halt, step back and sideways, lead without pulling or hanging back and do gates properly. They are also taught to step back from doors and gates. In my view that is all they need and that sets them up to be polite, mannerly and have a future.
 
We are all ignorant until taught what is expected. The quality and consistency of that teaching is the important point as to how well we learn our lessons.
 
AdorableAlice said:
There would not be any problems if all foals/weanlings were correctly handled and halter broken at the beginning of their lives.

It is not rocket science, yet so few are halter broken correctly, why ?
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I totally agree with you. I'm blown away by the amount of people on this forum alone who have so much trouble with bolshy, barging horses. Yes it helps tremendously if foals have been halter trained from a young age but it's also not rocket science to teach an older horse to stop being bolshy either. So many people seem to have such problems with the simplest things like leading a horse :confused:
 
Spring Feather said:
I totally agree with you. I'm blown away by the amount of people on this forum alone who have so much trouble with bolshy, barging horses. Yes it helps tremendously if foals have been halter trained from a young age but it's also not rocket science to teach an older horse to stop being bolshy either. So many people seem to have such problems with the simplest things like leading a horse :confused:
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Any horse can learn what you want him to do and how to behave when he is in company with you. I've had some late teen early twenty year olds in for some help and education, horses I mean, in high numbers, as well as the youngsters.

Basically, there are people with horses, and there are horsemen, and women. A huge difference.
 
I notice lately that there are many horses who have never been taught to lead and to behave in a civil manner. Not the horse's fault at all, but a failing on the part of the person who had it in its earliest stages

Another part of education that seems to be missing is to teach a horse what a bit is for. So many seem to bung them in their mouth and expect them to understand. A short time teaching would make their life so much easier.
 
Spring Feather said:
I totally agree with you. I'm blown away by the amount of people on this forum alone who have so much trouble with bolshy, barging horses. Yes it helps tremendously if foals have been halter trained from a young age but it's also not rocket science to teach an older horse to stop being bolshy either. So many people seem to have such problems with the simplest things like leading a horse :confused:
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Well said. It's really not difficult to drum some manners into a horse, regardless of age.
 
I have worked with horses for the last 12 years and do know what i'm doing, however she is my first youngster and I wanted to be sure I was doing the right thing, after being told off for kicking me on sunday and using the old fasion rope halter she is being more respectful of me. Yesterday she had her Flu and Tet vaccination and was micro chipped, She stood beautifully for the vet and was a total sweet heart. so things are on the up. Just will be more strict with her and make sure she really know the boundaries.
 
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