Help with Bolshy TB…

WannabeMum

WannabeMum

Member
Joined
2 July 2024
Messages
21
Visit site
Hi All,

I have had my 10 yr old TB for 3 months now and he’s slowly become really difficult to turn out! He’s a donkey to lead anywhere, respecting space and just bumbling along behind me … except when going out to the field in the mornings, where he can be an absolute nightmare 😞 Spinning, jigjogging, rushing ahead and we’ve even had the odd bronk! He’s not small either…

I’m at a loss as to what to do with him, because now the yard are saying he’s too difficult ☹️

I’ve been doing TRT with him and he’s perfectly fine everywhere, except on that walk out. We get to the first gate to the field perfectly and then he starts being a total dick (excuse the language!).

Any ideas?!
 
Are you using TRT while walking to turnout? If not you need to be doing that. Yes it will add time to how long it takes but TRT and other methods are only useful if they are used in every interaction.

My late mare was similar going to turnout. She was off the track and so I set up a turnout halter with a chain for her. You never needed to use the chain but if she felt it she would prance puff up in the most respectful manner.

When releasing her I taught her to pause and wait before bolting off to her friends. It would be odd to watch this hot horse going to turn out, taking the halter off, her standing for two seconds before taking off like a crack head 😂

But really you need to use TRT for all interactions.
 
Denali said:
Are you using TRT while walking to turnout? If not you need to be doing that. Yes it will add time to how long it takes but TRT and other methods are only useful if they are used in every interaction.

My late mare was similar going to turnout. She was off the track and so I set up a turnout halter with a chain for her. You never needed to use the chain but if she felt it she would prance puff up in the most respectful manner.

When releasing her I taught her to pause and wait before bolting off to her friends. It would be odd to watch this hot horse going to turn out, taking the halter off, her standing for two seconds before taking off like a crack head 😂

But really you need to use TRT for all interactions.
Click to expand...
The issue is I don’t turn him out Monday to Friday and I can’t expect the staff to learn a new method and deploy it as they just don’t have the time to do all of that and turn all the horses out 😔

I’ve got him an HKM Control Safe head collar and hoping that might be better.

It’s just so frustrating that he gets so excited and becomes an idiot!
 
I had the benefit of time to get marsey to not act like a hooligan. I would suggest you spend time teaching this to your horse instead of riding.

With my mare she knew from the track that a chain meant act right. So you can do the same using something like a rope halter. Where when your horse is wearing a certain type of halter its work mode.

But you do need to work with him on being better so that he is better for the the staff. I moved to a place where I didn’t trust the people doing turnout with a chain shank. Marsey learned that her rope halter ment work and to keep it together.
 
Denali said:
I had the benefit of time to get marsey to not act like a hooligan. I would suggest you spend time teaching this to your horse instead of riding.

With my mare she knew from the track that a chain meant act right. So you can do the same using something like a rope halter. Where when your horse is wearing a certain type of halter its work mode.

But you do need to work with him on being better so that he is better for the the staff. I moved to a place where I didn’t trust the people doing turnout with a chain shank. Marsey learned that her rope halter ment work and to keep it together.
Click to expand...
Oh the benefit of time… sadly working full time means that’s limited, but thanks for the input.
 
WannabeMum said:
Oh the benefit of time… sadly working full time means that’s limited, but thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
No I get it. You identified a problem. But as the owner it’s up to you to fix it. I’ve been full time/over time for god knows how long. Weirdly I work 4 days a week now with no horses, but as an owner and a former groom, it’s up to you to find a solution.

If you don’t have time to teach this how do you have time to do TRT or ride? I guess what I’m saying is, you are going to have to give up your ride time to teach your horse how to lead in and out with TRT.
 
Denali said:
No I get it. You identified a problem. But as the owner it’s up to you to fix it. I’ve been full time/over time for god knows how long. Weirdly I work 4 days a week now with no horses, but as an owner and a former groom, it’s up to you to find a solution.

If you don’t have time to teach this how do you have time to do TRT or ride? I guess what I’m saying is, you are going to have to give up your ride time to teach your horse how to lead in and out with TRT.
Click to expand...
I have to say, I agree with this. I had two horses last winter in full work, and was working 60 hours a week in a very demanding senior management role. I was on the yard at 4am every day to get them worked.

When there’s an issue, unfortunately you just need to make the time to fix it.

I would recommend a chain, and also asking the yard staff if they have a similar problem. How much turnout is he getting? Is he in company?
 
Starzaan said:
I have to say, I agree with this. I had two horses last winter in full work, and was working 60 hours a week in a very demanding senior management role. I was on the yard at 4am every day to get them worked.

When there’s an issue, unfortunately you just need to make the time to fix it.

I would recommend a chain, and also asking the yard staff if they have a similar problem. How much turnout is he getting? Is he in company?
Click to expand...
I’m very pro horse owner training their horse. You own a horse. It’s not all sunshine and puppies. Train your horse. This will make me sound like an ass but FFS if you just want to come out and ride and not work on your horses issues, lease. Don’t own. Sorry had flash backs as a groom.

I apologize again as what I say is taken horribly and yeah.
 
Denali said:
I’m very pro horse owner training their horse. You own a horse. It’s not all sunshine and puppies. Train your horse. This will make me sound like an ass but FFS if you just want to come out and ride and not work on your horses issues, lease. Don’t own. Sorry had flash backs as a groom.
Click to expand...
Denali said:
I apologize again as what I say is taken horribly and yeah.
Click to expand...
I totally agree. The main reason I am SO hot on my horses having beautiful manners is that I got so sick of being a groom and having to deal with rude horses owned by other people all the time. I loved finishing work and doing to do my nice well mannered ponies.

Nothing worse than being squashed and barged by a horse with no manners and being expected to fix the problem for someone else.
 
I never minded rude horses, I can fix that. What I mind is owners of rude horses who cry about how I make poopsie behave. I’m never cruel. Just set my boundaries. But the owner has a stroke because of boundaries.

I have a feeling OP is that owner since they have all this time to ride and teach TRT but their horse is a demon for turnout and well weirdly they don’t have time.

My goal in life was to have fancy horses for people who couldn’t afford them get a leg up. But then people happened.
 
Denali said:
I never minded rude horses, I can fix that. What I mind is owners of rude horses who cry about how I make poopsie behave. I’m never cruel. Just set my boundaries. But the owner has a stroke because of boundaries.

I have a feeling OP is that owner since they have all this time to ride and teach TRT but their horse is a demon for turnout and well weirdly they don’t have time.

My goal in life was to have fancy horses for people who couldn’t afford them get a leg up. But then people happened.
Click to expand...
Oh that’s exactly what I mean. My horses have manners because I put them there. I can’t bear the horses who walk all over you but you’re not allowed to correct them because the owners would weep.

I’m never cruel. My horses are my world, and I would argue that I do more and go further for my horses and those in my care than most do. But they are big and can be dangerous. If they need a no, they need a no.
 
Whereas I know from experience that horses change their behaviour dependent on who is dealing with them. OP can train the horse as much as possible and give the staff the equipment to use but if they don't enforce the boundaries, the horse won't behave for them Horses dogs and children are all the same, they soon see a chink in the boundary and exploit it to get what they want.
OP, I would show the staff what you do and make it clear that you expect them to do what it takes to keep your horse and themselves safe.
 
WannabeMum said:
Hi All,

I have had my 10 yr old TB for 3 months now and he’s slowly become really difficult to turn out! He’s a donkey to lead anywhere, respecting space and just bumbling along behind me … except when going out to the field in the mornings, where he can be an absolute nightmare 😞 Spinning, jigjogging, rushing ahead and we’ve even had the odd bronk! He’s not small either…

I’m at a loss as to what to do with him, because now the yard are saying he’s too difficult ☹️

I’ve been doing TRT with him and he’s perfectly fine everywhere, except on that walk out. We get to the first gate to the field perfectly and then he starts being a total dick (excuse the language!).

Any ideas?!
Click to expand...
If I were you I wouldn’t panic, put his bridle on, try leading him in the bridle for a change and see how that goes, if he does anything, completely stop and turn him in a circle. Then when he stops move off.
Your not alone there are a lot of people having trouble this winter and the changeable weather I think has a lot to do with it.
Even Orbi has had a couple of stooshies coming in at night ☺️
 
we'd this on a yard years ago when a livery got a new horse, and the owner would come up very early before work. the yard allowed her early access as they saw it would be beneficial to staff. she got in a behaviourlist and they fixed the problem without much fuss.
 
Mine got difficult as he was on part livery and I think the gate arrangement made him think of starting stalls. Good ideas re riding him first if you can and then take a feed to the field. Can you lead him past the field so he gets bored with the route and not expecting turn out each time goes that way.
 
Pop a bit on a headpiece over his headcollar so you have more control. Any Barney bolshy horses I’ve had have to suffer the one step game…one step with me stop and treat, one step with me stop and treat…if barge ahead I turn a a circle and start again. This takes time and patience and a food orientated animal but helps to keep focus on you and not the rush to the field. It’s possible yard staff want to take two at a time on loose ropes to field and be as quick as they can.
 
Agree with above comment… you can train him as much as you like, but it doesn’t mean it will transfer to other people.

Can you try and turn him out at the weekends. What’s he like then?

I’d suggest you spend a few weekends practising the “turnout” routine. Walk him up and down to the field using your TRT methods until he behaves.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top