follow up on previous post (i feel like giving up)

K

katieibiza

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 September 2007
Messages
195
Location
lowestoft, suffolk
Visit site
hi all i have come to the conclusion that he is just seeing how far he can push his luck and get away with, this morning and last night was a nightmare again. yet when i first got him he was good as gold let me wash his legs and do his boots and everything so that is the only reason i can think of . if he had of been mistreated in the past he would of always been like this right?? bloke i work with who owns horses has said need to harden up and shout at him when he's naughty but i feel if i do he will turn against me even more and he will never ever bond with me??? Also havn't ridden him since he's been like this so now as petrified as i am of getting on him as it is really worrie now that he will go mad??
 
ok, be bold and not affraid, lunge him first be it for a while to tire him out a little, set a small goal, even it it means you get on and walk round the school once on each rein and then get off. Finish on a good note, so the next time you get on you can do say 2 laps of the school on each rein.. just keep working away like that you'll be fine..

My mare generally is very good, however if you give her an inch she will take a mile, stand your ground but be safe, chin up chest out etc.. you are the dominant one in the relationship remember, being dominant isnt being nasty, its what would happen in a herd and this is YOUR herd not his.. good luck..
 
I didn't read your previous post so I apologies in advance if this is completely off the mark. My horse occasionally takes a wee notion to himself that he's going to be naughty and over-react to every situation. Sometimes he will quite happily stand and let me wash his legs and sometimes he decides this is the scariest thing every and rears up, shies away from me etc. Sometimes he'll stand quite happily in his stable and allow me to brush him - other times he does circle after circle around me shying away from the evil brushes. Sometimes he will allow me to ride him on his own in the school - others he naps at the gate everytime and rears up stamping his feet on the ground so hard I think he might snap his leg clean off! I have gone through the whole - he's going back to where he came from anger stage, what am I doing wrong and why doesn't he like me stage, crying stage, beating myself up about being a crap mummy stage the lot. I've learned that being firm with him when he mucks about is the only way - this does not mean I resort to physical violence but I will raise my voice and generally just be a bit firmer with him when he's chancing his arm because I know he can do it perfectly well. If he's getting really wound up I just leave him alone for half an hour or so then try again - after all he's not going to drop dead if I don't manage to get that last leg washed or the small stable stain out of his neck. He's a funny beast but I wouldn't change him for the world and I'm sure with a little patience and perseverence you and yours will get along just fine.
 
I don't know if this is any help, but I have been reading 'Perfect Manners' by Kelly Marks and it has a lot of really sensible advice in it, things like: he keeps moving and fidgeting when you are grooming so you stop and inadvertently you have taught him that fidgeting gets the reward he wants, so as long as it is safe you need to keep going - then if he stands quietly, you can stop and tell him he's good and carry on. I've found it really helpful (not that George is naughty of course, but he can be a monkey sometimes!)
 
What are you feeding him? Is he on hay/haylage? Is there much grass in the field? Is he on hard feed? How fit is he? He could well be still settling in - my horse that I had owned for a year turned into a lunatic for the first 6 weeks after I moved him to a new yard - he was terrible. It has taken a while for me to adjust is routine and get him happy again.
 
Mac would run rings around me given half a chance. He is 16.1, which isn't that tall, but he is 3/4 Suffolk Punch and built like the proverbial brick ****house. When I first got him, he would lead me a merry dance. Would snatch his feet away when trying to pick them, tanking off when bringing him in from the field. (For some reason never did it when turning out). I soon learnt to put the bridle on to bring him in. I have never beat him, but boy have I shouted at him and threatened him with all sorts, McDonalds being the favourite. Obviously he doesn't understand what I am saying as such, but he certainly picks up on the tone and knows when I mean business. I can now lead him about quite happily in a headcollar 90% of the time, and he will pick his feet up for me as I work around him. He still has moments, and was a complete git at the weekend, but part of that is due to the fact that we are quarantined because of Strangles on the yard and he has far too much energy.
 
Not connected to above but just noticed end of TheresaW's post - says you are quarantined coz' of strangles - I'm in Essex & we've not heard anything concrete yet just rumours - can you let me know which area you are in (pm if you'd rather) as we have a very old horse on yard who could be a bit of a worry.
 
Also think of your body language around him. If you walked up to a human with a kind of defeatist, hesitant attitude what would the person think of you on first impressions?
I had a horse once who literally threw my friend out of his stable. It was because she was a kind of nervous, lively kind of person and he didnt like her energy much. Horses prefer calm confident people around them.

Really question how you walk up to this horse, he knows from your body language how you are going to react to him and what he can get away with. Subtle changes in you will work wonders! Good luck
 
I echo the bit about confident body language. Sidney is 17.2HH of attitude and he picks up on the slightest thing - give an inch and he'll take a mile. Hovis (my 15.3HH baby) is learning the same thing.
When I first got Hovis in October I couldn't get him to lift his feet for me. I had so many battles with him usually ending up with me in tears. It took my farrier giving me an utter b*****king to make me see I was turning the situation into a self fufilling prophecy. I was trying to pick up his leg already "knowing" he wouldn't let me. So I was relaying that to him. Now I go to his leg "knowing" he'll let me do it and he always does. Its easy to say but it does make such a difference. Give it time too - a month is no time at all and with you not knowing his past he may take longer than most to settle.
 
I echo the words of advice on body language and it sounds to me like you are not being herd leader for your horse and he is confused and taking the decisions upon himself because he cannot look to you for help. When you approach your horse you need to be assertive, put your head up high and shoulders back and be positive around your horse and maintain thsi stance. If he is threatening or bolshy, make yourself bigger by raising your arms up high and bulking yourself out...he will soon back off. I would do some ground work with him and ensure he leads, stops, backs up and moves over first time of asking and in a nice way before doing anything else.
But if you constantly worry about it your horse will pick up on this and get worse I am afraid. I have been there and been told this advice and it does work. If you cannot control your horse in a headcollar in the short term, put his bridle on or get a chifney so at least there is no argy bargy. Good luck.
 
I have to agree with everyone else he is looking for leadership you dont have to be mean but be srong and assertive.The perfect partners tip does have some good advice but anything you do with him on the ground in hand will make a huge difference.Horses dont feel love to bond they dont feel the same way as us its respect and leadership that ticks their box if you have his attention in that respect he will improve.If you are nervous get a good qualified instructor she will help you on the ground and then in the saddle.good luck
 
[ QUOTE ]
What are you feeding him? Is he on hay/haylage? Is there much grass in the field? Is he on hard feed? How fit is he? He could well be still settling in - my horse that I had owned for a year turned into a lunatic for the first 6 weeks after I moved him to a new yard - he was terrible. It has taken a while for me to adjust is routine and get him happy again.

[/ QUOTE ]

he is on hi fi and quiet cubes morning and night and hay, i would say he is resonably fit.
smile.gif
 
i have just been over to do his bed and feed etc and he came over to see me and put his ears back i stood with my shoulders back head up high and i suppose i wont really know untill bed time thats when he can be a bit of a pain, and like i keep saying i am not nervous around him on the ground it's just when i ride him
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top