Horse acting dangerous with me only - advice needed!

Foxhunter49 said:
I am not saying that you beat the horse - all I am saying is that one good whack across the front leg if he strikes out makes him think twice about doing it again.
Again a whack across the back legs when they are rearing frightens them into not doing it again.

A well timed whack providing that it is earned, saves a lot of angst.

If a horse like this reared up at the dominant mare she would do far worse than a human could with one whack and it has the same effect. It makes them think about doing it again.
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I understand this approach. My riggy youngster used to be a handful. Out came the stallion chain, a few pulls and strong voice and he turns into a mouse! He kicked me once grooming him and I kicked him back (under the belly) and he has never done it again! He is a lovely horse to handle now I am boss! I am firm with my horses all the time but doesnt mean I am unkind to them. They are big animals and need to be kept safe to handle.

Also watch horses in the field, one kicks out and one kicks back! They are much more powerful than us so all I did was shock him rather than hurt him!

My mare on the other hand doesnt forgive and so this approach rarely works. With her its let her get the stupidness (normally rearing) out of her and then carry on. The only time I give her as good back is if she kicks (which she has done 2 or 3 times in the 5 years I have owned her)
 
Foxhunter49 Would you hit your child if they did something wrong, if the anwser in NO they why would you hit a horse. If the anwser is YES then that is so incorrect.

Totally uncalled for behaviour and I would not let you anywhere near any of my horses ,especially the stallions.
 
A human with their hand or foot cant ever hurt a horse as much as another horse can with its teeth or hooves.

Horses are taught by horses with a warning (body language, charging etc) then action, either teeth or feet. And Im sure many people have been on the end of a bite or a kick to know that it hurts WAY more than any of us could ever slap/punch or kick a horse. All the times i have slapped mines I think its hurt my hand more than wherever I have slapped them ;)

So what is biting and kicking other than violence in human terms?? I mean horses ARENT humans and a slap is as damaging as a flybite really, infact Ive seen some cracking pics of flybites on forums that no human slap or kick could ever match. I use my voice most of the time and Ill chase my horses out of my space roaring at the top of my voice and running at them but if one bites or kicks they get a swift reprimand as they need to respect that your NOT there for them to do that to.
 
paulineh said:
Foxhunter49 Would you hit your child if they did something wrong, if the anwser in NO they why would you hit a horse. If the anwser is YES then that is so incorrect.

Totally uncalled for behaviour and I would not let you anywhere near any of my horses ,especially the stallions.
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You cannot compare a child to a horse, thats just ludicrous, a child will learn reason and comprehend language etc, horses never will.

Also a smack on the arse never did me any harm as a kid ;)
 
paulineh said:
Foxhunter49 Would you hit your child if they did something wrong, if the anwser in NO they why would you hit a horse. If the anwser is YES then that is so incorrect.

Totally uncalled for behaviour and I would not let you anywhere near any of my horses ,especially the stallions.
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A horse is a very different entity to a child. I have no children of my own but have had plenty to do with many - some very problematic children. I treat them the same as I treat the horses and dogs, firm with tight boundaries to start, consistent and fun.

I do not mess around. If a horse is nervous or unsure than I will have all the time in the world to teach it that it is OK. If a horse is messing then it will be corrected, nicely to start and then if it persists more firmly. Butlins or Borstal.

I have a yearling gelding here that had a very serious injury six weeks ago. He was in a stable for a month and then in a loose pen. He was stressing somewhat so I started to turn him out with a quiet mare that I knew would no charge around. That has worked well.
He has been turned out with her each day during the day. Yesterday the mare was being brought out of her stable and the colt barged me to get to the door of the loose pen. I corrected with a jerk on the halter rope and pushed him back. He barged again so I took a hoof pick and when he pushed into me I held the point into his side. When he felt it he moved away as he should. When he barged forward he got the point in his chest. At the same time I corrected with my voice. I did not shove the pick into him, he walked into it.
Today the same scenario, the mare was out of her stable and with a voice correction he stood back and waited for me to open the door.
Now, that was far better than shoving and pushing and me using jerking and shoving to no avail.

There are so many people who believe that hitting a horse is wrong, yet there are so many that have potentially dangerous situations because they have no idea of how to be consistent with all training. It is not the major things that need correcting but the little things - then the big things rarely happen.

I very rarely ever hit a horse and certainly would never beat one. However, I do not have the time to prat around if a horse knows better and is taking the mickey.
 
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