Bolting And Field Antics

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MitzyMoo

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I have ridden all my life as a pleasure rider and happy hacker. I have had horses on and off, losing my last one 4 years ago to old age. I have had 4 horses through out my life, one being a younger one which I brought on but he was on loan. Since then I have been going for lessons so I can keep riding. I decided I wanted to own a horse again so i have purchased 6 year old gelding. I just wanted a horse to hack alone and maybe do a bit of jumping and low level competing if I wished, but mostly hacking. The one I purchased was suitable for hacking had done a bit of jumping which I was happy to bring on if I needed to. I have had him a few weeks, in the few weeks I have had him he bolted when we was hacking which resulted in me falling and hitting my head on the pavement and having stitches. I haven't been on him since as I have been recovering, however I have been every day spending time in the field poo picking and just grooming him etc. On Sunday I was in the field with my husband we was poo picking and he tried to nip and spin and kick me. My husband shouted no he stopped didn't think any more of it. Monday was doing my usual routine, was poo picking and he came up to me and started trying to nip and kick me. I was firm said no, but the more i told him off the more he did he and he just kept coming at me. I got out the field which in hindsight I maybe shouldn't o done, but i am still recovering from fall. Yesterday tried the same again but with my husband. He is fine at the gate but when we went down the field he did it again, even with my husband being there and he has no fear of him. Since the fall, I have gone in with confidence with him but now I am scared of him and he clearly knows it. I am told it could be because he isn't worked but I just don't understand why he is acting this way, I have never been aggressive towards him or wacked him. I am worried that I am going to bring out more bad behavioural problems. I am not the most experienced rider in the world but I am not a novice but i have absolutely no idea how to do deal with this. I don't know what to do with him in the field and my main hacking route is the way I went and I am worried that the next time I go that way he will react the same. I just don't have the time to do more schooling with him. Has any one ever been in a similar situation? My family are telling me not to give up on him however they are not the ones who have purchased him and spending time with him and riding him. I am trying to think of it as what is best for him and maybe that isn't me. I am sorry for the long message but any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I think you could do with an experienced pair of hands on the ground. Can anyone near you recommend a good instructor who can work through this with you. Safety is paramount, I think you do need to spend time schooling him. I've had my horse for years and still do regular groundwork and schooling, it is part of our routine and helps cement the mutual respect in our relationship.

I think the question you need to ask is are you prepared to invest the effort & time to resolve the issue. He is new to you and of an age where they do like to test the boundaries. You both need time and clear guidelines to move forwards IMHO. I am not comfortable with horses that like to up the anti. But from my personal experience, it is generally because they are either insecure and want some guidelines to help give them confidence or they are sore/uncomfortable. I'd start off with the needing guidelines bit first.

Best of luck, it's a tricky one if time is an issue, but it's worth paying for quality advice. Look at the intelligent horsemanship trainers for starters as they are great at groundwork.
 
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He spun round and tried to kick you and all you did was say no? This is going to turn into a massive problem if you don't change your attitude right away. Take in a schooling whip with you and if he does it again give him a proper smack on the arse and chase after him! At 6 he's in the age bracket of seeing what he can and can't get away with and with who. Kicking out at you is really not on and a huge safety issue.

I wouldn't let him near you in the field at all at the moment. You need him to think that being around you is a privilege.
 
He was getting to near when I was poo picking so I asked him to step back, he knows this. But he wouldn't move, so I pressed the rake of the pooper scoop into his chest asked again. He wouldn't he then tried to nip me I said no and he spun and tried to kick. Came to me and then tried the nip again said no and he kept going at me. I didn't know if carrying a whip might resort in him being more aggressive or trying different approach. I am scared of him which he can sense I am still recovering from my fall so I am a bit cautious of my head but I go in with confidence it is only if he displays bad behaviour that he puts me on edge. I need to do something but I don't want to make him more aggressive.
 
The thing is if you're scared of him he knows that he can take the mick. You don't need to beat the living pulp out of him, but you do need to let him know that spinning on you and trying to kick you is totally wrong and something that there will be a consequence for. I bet if you cracked him one at the right moment and gave him a fright he'd never do it again.

A horse who's bolshy enough to nip and kick isn't the type of horse who's going to immediately become fearful of all humans from a one off smack for bad behaviour. There's a really big difference between creating a fearful horse through using force at the wrong moments, and giving a deserved punishment.

Horses need boundaries. If I were you I'd get someone in there who's confident with this type of thing. Don't scare yourself in the process!
 
If you present the wrong attitude and he thinks he can get away with stuff then he will push boundaries. If a horse had done that with me while poo picking he would have had what i was using to poo pick thrown in his direction. You really only have to do it once. If a horse is kicking at you in the field and catches you its a very serious thing, retaliating is not being aggressive its establishing your position and how you should be treated. My young gelding tried this and got the poo picking bucket aimed at his general direction , as he took off he aimed a kick back at me and the small metal fork bounced off his rump. My actions did not hurt him in anyway but established I was not fair game to be abused or play with. After five minutes he came back and has never been a problem again. You don't have to hurt them but you do have to be firm.

about the bolting episode , if it was a true bolt, rather then a bog off, I would be investigating if there were issues with saddle or horse before I got on again. My horse "bolted" recently while i was mounting, it turned out to be a saddle issue , which had caused back pain. A horse that really bolts is a dangerous thing and in 40 years I have never ridden one, if my new horse had bolted without reason....Pain.....spook where i lost control.......bitten, I would have returned him to the dealer for a reassessment or even pts , as those sort of horses are not for the average rider.
 
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If ours try to do that ever, I will shout and wave and throw something at them (clods of earth generally!) If I don't have anything else more BHS approved to hand. This is mainly for our mule, who kicks with the intention to make contact. And it hurts. He's a work in progress!
 
He had his saddle checked the week before and refitted. He was a bit spooky on hack but rode him with leg and confidence and he was fine, was quite happy and proud of him. I keep replaying in my head what happens and I cannot recall any noise nothing apart from the smell of pigs. He napped but turned him and he walked on, he then just spun and bolted no warning. If it was in a field I wouldn't have shook me up as much because it was on a road it did as that what I do and want a horse to hack. It is the only way to hack the other way goes onto a main road.
 
You don't mention a companion/ other horses, is he living alone? many horses will behave out of character if they don't have other horses with them, they can lose confidence or become bolshy if the only contact they have is with people. If he is with others then ignore that and my best suggestion would be to get a pro involved to get him working regularly so he gets on with doing a job, they can assess his suitability and help you make a plan of what to do with him longer term.
 
At the minute he is by hisself , I was looking at getting a companion for him. However we other horses I have suffered with seperate anxiety and not being able to ride out by their selves. I was looking at vetting companion however when he started this behaviour in the field i wasn't sure if I would be enough for him so put it on hold. He has some sheep in the other end of the field with him fenced from him which I know isn't the same. I have had horses kept alone before and they have never behaved in this way, if anything they are more happy to see you.
 
They my be more happy to see you but it is not what most horses need, having 2 can cause issues with separation but very few horses are happy alone and it can lead to unwanted behaviour such as how he is in the field, it is not acceptable to be kicking out at you but it is understandable as he has no other equine to interact with so sees you as the only option for play, he is probably bored now with the lack of exercise and no company, not an excuse but certainly a reason and may be in part why he took off with you on the road.
Lack of confidence, being unable to fully relax in the field as there is no one to keep watch can mean they are always slightly on edge so when something does upset them they overreact and take flight, again not really acceptable but having a reason makes it understandable.
 
be positive said:
They my be more happy to see you but it is not what most horses need, having 2 can cause issues with separation but very few horses are happy alone and it can lead to unwanted behaviour such as how he is in the field, it is not acceptable to be kicking out at you but it is understandable as he has no other equine to interact with so sees you as the only option for play, he is probably bored now with the lack of exercise and no company, not an excuse but certainly a reason and may be in part why he took off with you on the road.
Lack of confidence, being unable to fully relax in the field as there is no one to keep watch can mean they are always slightly on edge so when something does upset them they overreact and take flight, again not really acceptable but having a reason makes it understandable.
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All of this. The nipping etc. now makes more sense. He's only a baby really still, he's probably bored stiff on his own bless him. He needs other horses around to interact and play with.
 
Some horses are fine alone, others aren't. Just like people, they all have different tolerance levels. In general, even horses that are 'ok' on their own prefer having company if given the choice.

Has the horse been hacked alone before you got him? Some horses start off ok and progressively more nervous hacking on their own...then something spooks them and their instinct is to turn and run for a 'safer' place.

You need to enforce your personal space bubble in the field. Do not ever carry treats, nor treat him from the hand (even when not in the field, put treats into a bucket if you need to give them) - it encourages nipping.
I would be carrying a lead rope. If he comes up to you and won't move away, you swing the leadrope around you - the idea is that he only gets hit if he steps into your space, you're not being aggressive towards him. If he tries to kick or rush at you, wallop him with it. The key is that your response must only be in reaction to his actions (i.e. he makes the first move, you're defending yourself) and it must be swift, so he associates it with his own behaviour. Him kicking out and you telling him off after a few minutes teaches nothing.
I would suggest you get some professional help with this horse.
 
If I can understand it that's fine, I know he is still young. The bolting I think is a confidence issue I don't think he is happy being hacked on his own even though previous owner said he was
 
The personal space has been an issue which is way I thought him to go back when he was too near. He learnt that very quickly but wouldn't do that the other day.
 
MitzyMoo said:
He had his saddle checked the week before and refitted. He was a bit spooky on hack but rode him with leg and confidence and he was fine, was quite happy and proud of him. I keep replaying in my head what happens and I cannot recall any noise nothing apart from the smell of pigs. He napped but turned him and he walked on, he then just spun and bolted no warning. If it was in a field I wouldn't have shook me up as much because it was on a road it did as that what I do and want a horse to hack. It is the only way to hack the other way goes onto a main road.
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pigs are most likely to have been the reason you had the problem. loads of horses hate the smell sond and sight of themso it could easily have been what caused him to run off with you. In the field get a headcollar on him and teach him to step back away from your space. when you poo pick and cannot have someone hold him you really do need to put him in his place. no need to beat him but carry a schooling whip or better is some blue pipe as that makes a nice noise and bop him on the chest or shoulder when he tries to nip but be aware that he may spin round so you may have to step back. also look for somewhere else to keep him where he has company and preferably where there is someone who can teach you how to handle him and train him to respect your space
 
Can recommend rehousing from WHW if you need a companion. I got a BOGOF deal as the mule was pair bonded with the pony. The pony is fantastic, just being backed, the mule, well - see above! :D
 
How do you over come the fear of the pig smell? That is my only way to hack out. Will look at companion issue and getting some professions help, thank you for everyone's comments
 
☺️ I was at Bransby Horse home at the weekend as they are local and was speaking to the girls there about having one as a companion pony.
 
Given I got properly bucked off my horse this morning I'm not sure I should be commenting on anyone's horse behaviour - but mine was a brat like this when she first came to me. She was hand reared as a baby when her dam died and her horse vs human boundaries were never clearly set. What was cute as a foal is dangerous at 560kg.

I can now poo pick safely, but I still always watch where she is and keep the barrow between me & her. That's because she used to think I was part of the herd and she could play with me. Her playing involved rearing, biting, kicking. Using a whip to assert yourself is not everyone's choice of training (& I did a lot of groundwork and desensitising outside of the field) but I watched a small Section A put my girl in her place once and it was short, sharp and to the point.

I just happened to be carrying a schooling whip once when the teeth came towards me and instinctively cracked her across the neck with it - hard. That was in the stable and that behaviour stopped immediately and she's never tried it again. So I took the lunge whip into the field and when her bottom came towards me and she ignored the shout of NO she got a crack across her bottom - hard. So long as it is in the moment then the behaviour is being corrected as it would be in the herd. What you can't do is go back to the yard, get a whip and then smack them minutes later - its meaningless to them. Mine got a lot better when she was turned out with fat welsh ponies over winter. They may have been half her size, but they were a lot older and she was absolutely at the bottom of the pecking order. For once she couldn't get her own way.

I should also say that I reward with lots of 'good girl' when the behaviour is good before everyone thinks I'm a complete dragon!
 
His previous owner had him since a baby aswell, it is a compete change for him. If there is an aggression problem there I just don't want to add to it that is what my main concern is. But if like you all say he is pushing boundaries my simple no is not enough to stop him and need to be harsher. I purchased a hacking horse which I just don't feel safe riding atm and with him being young he needs working which could also be the problem.
 
I agree that the smell of pigs may well have been the icing on the cake, but if he is by himself I agree with Be Positive, he is probably exhausted from having to look out for problems the whole time as he has no one to guard him whilst he has a rest.

Have you thought of taking him to a livery yard for a few months whilst you sort out some help/companion. That way you would be able to see how he interacts with other horses and have people around you to help as you are getting to know him. Might be a good solution in the short term. I think he is reacting to his circumstances - probably not his fault although there is never an excuse for him to be aggressive so he does need to understand the rules.
 
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