Flighty horse esp in hand

[B.F.G]

I have a horse that will just run over the top of anyone or anything that gets in the way if he wants to go. Occasionally he is scared but to be honest it's more often the case that he thinks he's going to miss out on something, kind of like FOMO. If my other horse goes slightly ahead to the field he just rushes off and we can't hold him.
If we leave him in the stable while we turn the other one out he kicks off in there and there charges out to the field and he's the same to come in if left to last.
If brought in first he will throw a huge tantrum in the stable until my other horse gets in. If he's in front and my other horse goes a slightly bit slower or different way to him he gets a bit on his toes and either charges off or we can hold him until my other one is back with him.
Even side by side he will just charge off if something unsettles him from behind.
I can take him out for a hack alone and in company with no problem at all, he will have a moment but that's normally understandable and manageable.
Any ideas on how I can stop this behaviour as it's getting more and more dangerous. I know he is slightly attached to my other one but we dont encourage it so to speak but we can only do so much when he is being led. In the stable he is given his tea, we've groomed him, we've ignored him, we've tried many things but nothing makes a difference even when he has several other horses for company.

We have tried so many things in different ways and times etc but now it is getting to the point of using a chiffney on him which I don't want to unless last resort. I'm seriously thinking about putting a roller and side reins etc on to lead him in and out of field but it's such a faff I was hoping someone had ideas as I need to teach him he can't break free when he does try to charge off and then hopefully break the cycle. Bribery doesn't work with him either.

 

[milliepops]

Imo you need to use whatever tool is effective to break this cycle. When a horse learns it can pull away from you in hand I personally think you need to nip that in the bud, and fast, because it only ever escalates from there.

Can you start with some in hand work just with him, in a bridle, work on teaching him just to lead in a civilised way without pushing into you, getting distracted or pulling. If you can't do that when he's on his own you won't improve it when there's another horse involved.

If you don't feel able to achieve that yourself as a starting point then you need to bring in an instructor or trainer.

Can you get a helper in the meantime so he has a handler on each side?

I'm pretty hot on ground manners. I lead my horses in and out together, the first thing they learn is that they have to walk where I say, when I say and if I get a bolshy one then I'm prepared to use the equipment that gives me the upper hand in training which might include a chiffney. Remember you don't have to be rough to be effective. But you do need to be quick and decisive to break a habit like pulling away. Pulling away needs to become something you never permit again.

They all have different things that set them off. Tbh it's a bit irrelevant because the cause is generally a lack of basic handling training. My latest project is nervous and spooky, but it's the same root cause with him, he prioritises his reactions over my instructions and has had to learn to turn that around. I can't stop him being nervous in some circumstances but I can teach him to remain polite despite that.

 

[Ratface]

We have a lovely little horse at our yard. He is, and has always been an anxious soul. He's been there the whole of his life. He's handled very calmly by people he knows. His routines never vary. He's led in and out of his field in a chifney. If he becomes anxious due to an unexpected noise, a bird or rabbit getting up near him, one of the other horses playing silly whatsits, he's marched steadily forward in walk, spoken to calmly and all remains under control. All four feet move in rythmn as they should, neck is not raised, neither are voices. Calmness, expectation of compliance, no direct looks at the horse's eye, no raised hands, horse's head at one's hip/shoulder line. Briefly praise/pat horse on successful completion of exercise No problem.

 

[ImmyS]

It sounds like that 1. This horse doesn’t see its handler as a ‘leader’ and 2. This horse has never learnt to yield to human space. As said above even if a horse is anxious or scared they should still respect human space. It sounds like he would really benefit from some groundwork sessions with yourself in order for him to gain trust and respect in yourself and also to yield to pressure and ‘disengage’ the hind quarters. It’s very hard for a horse to tank off if you can disengage the hind quarters.

I know everyone has different preferences of training techniques and horsemanship, but I have recently been enjoying Steve Young’s videos. He actually worked with a horse recently that looked to have similar issues, either barging straight through the handler or tanking and pulling away. He makes some very interesting points about ‘yielding’ in this video and explains it well. Worth a watch.

 

[maya2008]

It’s about respect - he has none for humans at the moment. I would recommend getting in touch with a trainer who specialises in issues like these and can show you what to do. I have trained lots of youngsters to lead nicely and respect humans, but a horse who has learned the behaviours you described would be best off in the hands of a professional.