How to stop pony turning his backside on me?

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Thanks to everyone who commented on my 'bolshy colt' thread about my rude mini shetland colt the other day. Am keeping my fingers crossed that when his companions arrive next weekend we can burn off some energy and he will be easier to handle.

However, in the meantime we have developed a new problem.

I had been having some success with arm flapping and 'back, back' noises whenever he started to invade my space in the field. However, he has now learnt a new trick. If I flap and move forward to get him to back off he backs a few paces, but then spins round and starts backing into me as if he's about to kick. He hasn't kicked YET, but I can see it coming. I know he is trying to make ME move instead of him, and it's working! I had an operation on my leg recently and have no fibula in there at all - one blow to that baby and I could be looking at weeks off my feet while the thing heals! He's obviously a clever little monkey and has worked out what I want and exactly how to challenge it!

I've been taking a broom handle into the field so that if he does it I can squoosh it up against his bum so he can't kick me while I scoot out the other way and then am turning to face him and repeating the 'back back' thing so he gets the idea that even if he does try and intimidate me it aint gonna work - but truth be told it does! I do NOT wanna get kicked - even by a little midget mini shetland!

My question is - what is the best groundwork exercise to fix this, and fast? I've got no round pen or school, so only have his field to work in. What should I do when he does turn his bum on me? If I move out and walk round to face him again is he winning? (as it's my feet that are moving and not his?) Should I stop flapping and work on a new 'back' method (the flapping is clearly what pisses him off) - or do I keep flapping and just hope to hell that I can find some exercises to teach him this is not acceptable behaviour?

My kneecaps thank you for your help in advance! :s
 
My shettie was unhandled when i got him 16 yo, and in the beg i didnt trust the back end but funnily enough he only ever turned his back end to me when i shooed him away, so now i am just careful how i walk around him and all is fine.

He has never invaded my space, if he wants my company he will walk close up next to me but if i really do not want this and i raise my voice he then backs off, i think if i put a brush up his you know what, he would let me have it.

He does learn very quickly to the voice, they are so intelligent.
 
A sharp pop with a lead rope usually does the trick, done properly they will learn fast! just make sure you are ready to correct immediately, as you know by stepping away the horse learns that by doing this you will move away hence thinking they are the higher horse. I'd nip it in the bud now definitely. My yearling did this a few times but soon realised it wasn't a good idea, same as when she tried to cow kick when I was grooming her undercarriage, she only tried this once. I taught her to move her hindquarters away from me by pointing at hip and do this everyday when grooming as part of manners training. Goodluck just be one step ahead and use it as a training session. As horrid as it is to pop them one the alternative is having a dangerous horse I wouldn't wait until it progresses to kicking and yes he is winning by moving your feet and knows it! Just do it and move on... I haven't a school and practise yielding in the stable and field.
 
This pony, small as he is, has learned that if he threatens or intimidates you, you will back off and leave him alone. You really need to get this sorted out before his companions arrive, or you may be in greater danger of being hurt in a melee.

He needs to learn that he cannot intimidate you, and you need to teach him that you will not yield to him under any circumstances.

Take your broom shaft into the field with you and prod him or wallop him hard with it on his rump if he attempts to back into you to kick. As soon as he jumps forward and away from you, get after him and chase him for a good few yards until you are sure he gets the message that you are too dangerous to threaten.

Then become passive and allow him to approach you. If he tries to intimidate you again, repeat the treatment immediately. However, if he approaches in a non-threatening manner, you must behave as if nothing happened and there never was a problem. Be prepared, though, to give him his marching orders at the first sign of him reverting to bullying you.

Don't worry about his attitude long-term, or his future relationship with you. He will be the same as all the others who need such treatment and will become your best pal once he realises you won't yield to his antics.

Once he understands that he cannot frighten you, you can use your broom shaft to caress him and begin his education on how to yield to physical pressure.

It's his mind you are training. His size and cute factor have nothing to do with it; he could be as dangerous as a larger animal if he thinks you are number two in the relationship.
 
No - this is not a 'please scratch my bum'. For a start his previous owner left him on his own in a field for over 6 months, so I don't think he's had a chance to learn this behaviour, and for seconds it is a direct response to me challenging him for my own personal space. He does it with ears back to stop me from trying to back off - not cute at all!

I'm sure he would let me have it if I put a brush up his you know what too! - and I wouldn't blame him. I'm using the broom as an arm to keep the space between me and him while I get out of the firing line - just laying it across his rump like I would my hand if I was pushing him over.

He is not yet two years old, and has been living on his own for a while now. I have only just taken him on, but he is bored and not socialised, and hasn't been handled much in recent months. He tries to play with you when you go in the field, rearing, nibbling and generally being boisterous - which isn't vicious and is boredom related i know. The friends are coming to hopefully help this side out. However, this behaviour has just started since i started asserting my space if he charged or generally got under my feet. I do this by flapping my hands and going 'back back' while moving towards him. He did respond quite well to this, and would scoot away from me, but now he flattens his ears, swings round and starts backing into me. Not fun at all!
 
Walk into field swinging a lead rope so if he gets in your space he gets stung so he's inflicted it on himself iyswim use bold in control body language. I prefer using a rope as most horses arnt afraid of a lead rope if they are used as part of daily routine for leading so not fear associated. Id still do a bit of desensitising with it after. One hard pop on the butt perfectly timed should make a noticeable difference and daily work on yielding to pressure, just 5 mins.
 
Should just add when lil chap faces you in a submissive manner relax body to none confrontational and 'draw' him in for a reward scratch. Body language is so important!
 
Make yourself look as big as possible, arms in the air, shoulders squared, stamp your foot towards him with the loudest 'OY! NO!' you can muster. If as you raise your leg to stamp it forward he isn't already backing off, turn the stamp into a run towards him, arms raised, shoulders squared, & shouting. If you feel more confident with one, swing the broom round towards him too while you run at him. Then, as aengus og says be prepared to forgive & forget when he does approach correctly. Best thing though would be to put him out with an older mare who'll teach him manners, as well as another young gelding to play with.
 
Our little welshie did this when we first go him and still does occasionally, he never actually kicked but his fat ass coming towards you is not a great site! Alot of it was a combination of nerves and little pony bolshy t**t syndrome...it is a genuine condition ;) I tended to use my voice...I can be pretty scarey when I want to be, the kids call me Dog the Bounty Hunter :D and if im honest it also helped to have another horse in between who would tell him to pack it in on my behalf. I think the company will do him good and once you both know and trust each other abit more he will probably quit it. In the mean time I would work on some ground work so he knows this is not how you should be treated but Im sure you know that!
 
We had a mare like this at the riding school she would charge at you before swinging her bum and kicking out. We found that swinging a headcollar on a lead rope and basically shouting at the top of your voice "back off" eventually she would stop it with a dominate person but If someone weaker or nervous went in they had to take cover haha :p but yes nip it in the bid now !
 
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