HELP!! Weird horse that I don't understand!

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erminstrudel

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I have a lovely - if not somewhat insane - youngster that I just don't get. He is very green & immature for his age (almost 5) & has had some serious respect & confidence issues that we are gradually working through. The naps & rears are getting less frequent & violent & I can now lunge without fear of being attacked! However, when we ride out I have a big problem in that he will nap, rear & bronc when I turn TOWARD home or if he decides he wants to look at something & I tell him we can't (usually because there are little things like walls or fences in the way - although that doesn't put him off trying). Being in company makes no difference at all as he doesn't care how far in front other horses get - if he's decided he wants to go somewhere he'll do his best to get there!
I have tried to explain that most normal horses nap when asked to leave the yard or company but I think he must be speaking a different language to me. Has anyone else had any similar sort of problems & what on earth do I do about it? The books are great for telling you how to get a horse to leave the yard but not how to get it home again when it doesn't want to go!
 
My mare was like this. She would stop out hacking and refuse to move. She didnt rear or buck she walked backwards if she was made to do anything - not straight backwards - but wherever she wanted - one day nearly over a drop wall into a field about 15ft below the road level. She has no self preservation when she acts up. I got her checked out but nothing was up.
I got a friend out to come riding with me to see what she does and she what I could do to stop her.
I was to blame. I wasnt riding her strong enough or firm enough. When I started riding differently she started behaving. My mares problem is that she gets very nervous as she is insecure.
I backed her myself with no problems and now I dont have any problems either.
 
Hi. Have had him for 16 months. Bought him newly backed but he had previously spent 3 years in a field with very little human contact so has virtually no respect for personal space etc. I think his backing was very rushed so I've taken things slowly. He's had 2 winters turned away to mature - to little avail and as yet we have only just started a little canter work (which we eventually get when he stops bucking!). He finally popped his first log out hacking the other day & was great & I think he's about ready to go & do a few small local shows in-hand. He has a temperament to die for - is very loving & an angel to groom, clip etc. That's been his saving grace so far - without that he'd be gone!
His main problem now is understanding that he just can't do his own thing & that rearing to try to get his own way just isn't on! I don't want to squash his curious nature as I think that will do him good in the long run - he loves investigating new things & as far as he's concerned anything moving with wheels is there to be chased (including tractors, horse-drawn carts etc!) not to be scared of. I just don't appreciate being pinged around at certain points on our hacks.
 
It sounds like you love him a bit too much and he has found he can get his own way a bit,I agree withE C W you may need to be forward thinking and firm not violent of course. I think he needs to stay in plenty of regular work[not sure how much real work you are giving him ]He is nearly 5 and should be in full work now get him fit and make him realise he must now grow up and concentrate.If you feel he would improve well in a professional yard then choose carefully and send him away for a month to" boarding school"
 
a couple of smack bottoms and a few growls was all my girl needed till she realised I wasnt a push over anymore. She hacks out like a dream now and faces the most dangerous of silver graffiti now!

Like Carthorse has said. If you do get someone to help you please choose carefully. There was post earlier about a guy who is having problems with a youngster and it seems to be getting worse. The last thing you need is to be paying someone to make your lad worse than he is.
 
it certainly does. A lot of problems have an underlying problem where they all stem from. In my case it was me
blush.gif
 
Thanks for your responses - it's hard to admit you're having problems & it seems 10 times worse when it's your own horse that you've waited years for! Have spent most of my working life working with other peoples horses & this sort of thing never bothered me with them - but your own, that's a whole different ball game! Fortunately I'm on an excellent livery yard where everyone is very friendly & supportive, most of the horses are somewhat delinquent in one way or another so we laugh & cry together.
I'll keep setting myself small goals to achieve & I'm sure we'll get there.
 
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