i feel like im taking 2 steps forward and 3 steps back with my youngster....help me!!

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chels90

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ok so after a lot of hard work with my 16 month old youngster i had him doing everything perfectly, he would stand tied up perfectly he wouldnt dance around, i would always groom him first before he was given his tea and hay net so that he knew that he wasnt coming up just for food...i got to the stage where he was leading and halting perfectly, his manners were impeccable.....you honestly wouldnt think he was a typical youngster but now after all my hard work, he's striking out at me with his front legs, hes getting bolshy when being walked up from the field, he dances about when being tied up and gets so impatient if he doesnt get his tea straight away and he just doesnt respect me at all!! i really dont know what to do...its like someone has took my perfect youngster and replaced him with a troublesome one :( ive had him since birth and feel its to early to give up on him but i just dont know what to do....any tips please??
thanks xx
 
I would not be thinking about giving up on him, he is just going through a phase and will come out of it at some point.
I would leave him alone for a while, let him stay out in a field with others, they will learn more about respect from being with other horses having time to develop and grow mentally as well as physically, a few months with less contact from you will allow him to be a horse, he will not forget what you have already done, obviously he still requires daily checks and regular hoof care etc but some time out will do you both the world of good.
 
He is growing from 'cute baby' to 'bolshy teenager'. Is he gelded? Most of mine went through this. A meeting with vet and his gelding equipment usually sorts the problem :-) If he is already gelded, a deep growled, sharp 'NO' and the occasional smack on the shoulder (waits to get shot down for admitting smacking!) reinforces the message.

He is is just being a typical youngster. Don't be down hearted, sounds like you've done a great job so far.
 
yea he's been gelded, he was gelded when he was 9 month old. feed wise, he's on 'alfa a oil chaff', conditioning cube and carrots. he has that once a day with a hay net!
he's in a field with about 7 other horses and only comes out for an hour once a day to have his tea and a groom. i love him so much and i really want to make something of him!
its just baffled me more than anything :(
thanks for your replies guys xx
 
Granted the horse I loan is not a 'youngster' as such but honestly I feel like this now... she has only just started to be handled and ridden but some days I feel like things are really starting to click and then others we're just back at square one. All I can say is stick at it, it sounds like youre doing exactly what is needed and eventually everything will turn out right :) You just need to take it stage by stage and then hopefully you'll have an amazing horse at the end :)
 
Does he really need all that food!? My 2 year old, who is 17hh, has grass and a mineral lick. I bring him in once a week or so (usually less tbh) and he has a handful of nuts to reward him. He is a saint to do anything with.
I'd set yourself uo to succeed - cut out the high energy, high protein food, feed him before you do anything with him so he isn't expecting it and try to let him be a horse for a bit.
 
I also think that it couldn't do any harm to give him a smack or two when he is acting up, it sounds to me like he is taking the p***.

And horses really are too big to be allowed to take the p***, that's when people get hurt.

If he was my youngster he would have a set routine and a good smack if he started striking out at me!

I'd much rather have a sore hand than a cracked head or ribs.
 
He's a youngster, he's going to test you, they take a lot of work, patience and persistence. Just give him firm boundaries, make sure you are very clear about your personal space and use your elbows/rope to make it very clear if need be.
 
It sounds like so far you've been nothing but nice to him. Life's suited him just great and everythings gone his way so far and everyones' been nicey nice to him as he's been happy to go along with what you asked. I'd imagine you've rarely ever had to tell him off or punish him for anything?

Most nice babies are like that, until they decide they don't want to play along nicely anymore. And, as in your case, if you've been overly nice to him and have had very little need to assert your athourity until now, they don't see why they should 'suddenly' have to what they're told.

He's being a spoilt brat and seeing how far he can push his lucky. He needs a sharp shock, and ASAP, before the behavour esculates.

Smack for outright naughty/dangerous behavoiur and firm correction of incorrect behaviour (and lots of praise for the right behaviour). Life needs to be very black and white for him for the next couple of months so he finds the new rules easy to learn and remember. Clamp down on all those 'cute' bad habits and don't let him any with ANY undesirable behaviour.

Since you're now trying to claw back lost ground to his new god-complex you're going to be very strict and occasionally harsh for the immediate future until he's back on track.
 
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Kallibear is absolutely right. Up to this point you'll have probably been working on getting his confidence and trust. But now he's growing into a teenager, he's got confidence thank you very much because he's nearly 2 and he knows everything, and he's testing out his authority. They all do it to some extent (generally around the 18 month/2yo point), but he's found that he's pushing against an open door.

While my now 3yo has been growing up I've been having my instructor out every 6 months or so to check that everything is on track. There were a few little tiny things along the way that I didn't see because I was too close to the situation but she could, and by nipping them in the bud it stopped them becoming bad habits. It's meant I've had to be very strict with myself and very observant - every time he comes into my personal space uninvited I need to put him back, every time he tries to inch past me when I'm leading him, I need to put him back. But by doing those little corrections and being absolutely consistent with them, it means I haven't (touch wood) had to do too many big corrections.
 
thank you so much for all of your replies!!
the food that he is on is purely because where we are there is no grass what so ever and as you all probably know youngsters need all the goodness they can get to help them grow so to make up for lack of grass he is on one feed a day!! he never ever gets his feed until he has had a proper groom and his feet picked out then when hes been good he then gets his tea (again this feed is only once a day)
as for smacking, im sorry but i am totally against smacking!the other yard that we was at the people there used to look after him for me when i couldnt get down there, i happened to go down there one day to find one of the girls holding him by the head collar and the other woman (who was wearing steel toe caps) booting him in the side repetitively....i went and fetched my lorry and got him out of there coz it turned out that wasnt the first time they had done it...it then made sense to me why he was flinchy round his tummy!!! i will never use aggressive force on him. with my other mare whenever she acted up i would always back her up with no voice actions what so ever and it totally worked for her...she certainly knows whose boss!!
trust me it hasnt been all roses with my youngster and it hasnt been all nicey nicey....up until he was 9 months old he was a total nightmare and after months and months of hard work, battling, persevering bruises, i finally had him doing everything great!!
really appreciate your replies....i think im just gonna stick with him and hope that this past week has just been a little phase hes going through!
 
I don't think anyone has expected you to kick him in the side with your boots ;)

But, you do need to be consistent, confident and assertive. FWIW I've never used 'aggressive force' on Wolf but I have dived straight in to put him back where he should be when needed. My instructor trained with Mark Rashid and has a really good handle on groundwork which is why she's been so useful - she's really helped me get my eye in for correct timing.
 
oh wow thats fantastic im glad shes doing so well :)
i know people arent expecting me to kick him in the side but i cant bring my self to raise a hand to him in any sense....im gonna stick with the backing up and circling him when he's bolshy and see how he goes from there...ill keep you all updated...im going down there this afternoon and gonna try some new things with him. thanks for your responses
 
I am having the same issues with my boy and he's four. It's just a baby thing.
When my boy was ayearling he got handled about once a wee and only fed in the winter.
With young horse you will always feel a bit 2 steps forward 3steps back.!!!!!
 
There's a big difference between booting a horse in the side and giving a quick smack on the shoulder for bad behaviour. It really does sound like he is pushing you and testing his boundaries. Mine did this at about 12 months, when we moved the horses home and a combination of the change plus, I suspect, lower magnesium levels in the new grass, turned him into a brat. He had previously been the most perfect youngster imaginable. Even the farrier was surprised - we had nipping, striking with the front legs, refusing to pick feet up - all out of nowhere.

I am absolutely sure if I had not corrected these things as soon as they happened, he would now be a complete horror. You can't let half a tonne of horse carry on like this, it's dangerous. I never had to beat him, it was simply a matter of a smack for striking out, using a rope to lift his legs for a while instead of a hand, and firmly but gently pushing his head away when he went to nip. Then going back over some of the basic ground work - walk on, stand, back, turns, etc. I also bought a higher magnesium lick. One day we had a bit of a showdown when he really wanted to push the boundaries, and refused to walk forwards. He decided it would be fun to wave his feet in the air instead. So I made him go backwards. Quite a lot. But it worked straight away, he never did it again. He's now back to his lovely usual self. It didn't take long but the point is, you have to show them that when you ask them to do something, they do it. And they do not push you around. No need to be rough, just consistent and fair. Also keep everything you do as very short sessions. I suspect if you're bringing him out for an hour, even just for a feed and groom, that's too long for him to concentrate.

Richard Maxwell's books Birth to Backing, or Train Your Young Horse, are well worth a read. Good luck!
 
It just sounds like he's walking all over you! And tbh the way you say you are 'completely against force' and 'will never raise a hand to him' speaks volumes. He is a bolshy youngster, not a small child. Nothing sets boundaries like a quick correction when he is over steps and praise when he behaves.
Circling etc blurs the boundaries, have you ever seen a lead mare lead a lower herd member round in little circles? No she'll shove him out the way, nip him or boot him. Believe you me with more force than you'll ever muster.
Is he turned out with plenty of others? I always think youngster learn good manners from lots of others in the herd, and having someonehis own age to play with too will get all his energy out.
I do think your feeding him too much, my instructors eventers get less then that. I'd cut out oil/conditioning feeds and concentrate on high fibre alternatives and maybe a lite balancer if your worried about his vits and mins.
 
I was determined never to smack my 4 year old mare when I got her - but I watched the yard manager discipline her in a calm, proportionate way and realised that she is happier with firm boundaries. I always warn first, but then she gets a firm, sharp tap with the whip and told what a good girl she is when she then does what she's asked. Much happier horse now. But I would never condone beating a horse - they should always know what it is for and it should stop the second they do as they are told.

I have a Monty Roberts Dually halter that I have had a lot of success with in ground work. I was a bit dubious as I thought it might be one of these faddy things - but I've actually joined his 'university' for a few quid a month and have enjoyed the videos and trying things out with Bree.

Paula
 
If, as you say, there is 'no grass whasoever' in his field, then this may be contributing to the problem. He is probably rather hungry when you go to catch him and then gets over-excited and bolshy when coming in for food, on top of which you then make him wait for it!

It sounds like he needs to be moved to a field with better grazing, but if this is not possible, try to feed hay in the field so he is not ravenously hungry when he comes in. If you can't do that, then at least feed him as soon as he comes out of the field - you should find that when he has a full belly he will be happier to concentrate on you, rather than being anxious to get fed.
 
But why are you , OP, so against 'smacking? cant you see its exactly what another horse would do? A quick bite, kick or even full side on barge - this is how horses discipline eachother. To think you re never going to need to smack a youngster is just too 'fluffy bunny' and unrealistic , as 99% of them will need discipline at some point. Fair,firm handling is what they prefer - because thats what they are used to in a herd situation. Having dealt with many horses handled with 'Love' only , I can tell you its not nice to see owners with bruises or worse, simply because they were too 'nice' to square up bolshy over confident hosses.
 
I would have to wonder if you are struggling now, what the heck are you going to do should he be a "naughty" 2 yr old?
Hay in the field is far better than pumping him full of hard feed....and cheaper too!
If he has access to adlib hay then he won't be so hungry when he comes in and playing you up as he "demands" his tea.
Horses are grazing animals and if there honestly is no grass he needs something to be nibbling on to keep his guts in good working order.
The other thing to consider is that if he is really getting hungry, and you have trees/bushes in the field, he may start browsing on them and they might not be so good for him.
 
hey guys, listen i joined up to hho for some guidance and advice and i put this post on for help and advice but all i seem to be getting is criticised for what ive actually done with my youngster!!
it just goes to show that everyone has different methods because ive had people telling me that i should handle him as much as possible and some of you are saying that ive over handled him but i cant see how as he is only being brought up once a day!! as for the grass situation....he is in a huge field with 6 other horses and we are all about to get our own paddocks in which case i shall be starting to control the grass by dividing the paddock up, grass seeding it and get some grass growing!! im really not a idiot and i know that every horse can push its luck!! the vet advised me to put him on the feed that he's on because he had dropped weight slightly!!
im not a push over and i am not going to let my youngster rule me so as from today its a new start....if he does strike out at me then i may give him a shove but due to experience backing up and circles have really worked for me....and for those of you that have said the odd slap doesnt hurt, then im going to try that if he does anything dangerous that could harm me
 
im not a push over and i am not going to let my youngster rule me so as from today its a new start....if he does strike out at me then i may give him a shove but due to experience backing up and circles have really worked for me....and for those of you that have said the odd slap doesnt hurt, then im going to try that if he does anything dangerous that could harm me
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Very pleased to hear it! :D

You are better off doing it now when he is younger and smaller than when he is considerably larger and has more ingrained habits :)
 
Being given food as a reward for good behaviour is not in a horse's genetic vocabulary. If food is scarce they will barge,bite and kick to get at what is available.So as others have suggested,bring him in,have the food ready in the stable and ignore him until he has licked the bowl clean.
I have been lucky enough to work with a herd of naturally kept horses and have been able to observe their behaviour. I was often suprised how violent the dominant horse can be. A warning is issued. If ignored it is a followed by a sharp bite or kick.
I agree that 'slapping' is not ideal(our arms are nowhere near powerful enough to deliver the reprimand effectively!) However I do use a VERY sharp yank on a rope,I lunge towards a disrespectful youngster as if to bite and I will turn my bum and threaten to kick. None of these actions would be as effective as a dominant horse's if I were to 'follow through' and actually bite or kick(I would probably lose teeth!:D) But it is my unwavering intention that horses seem to pick up. It sounds as if you have done a good job with this horse before the bolshy teenager phase. Now you need to make it very clear to him what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Make your instructions in captital letters and you will then be able to continue having a relationship of mutual trust.
 
For a while I bred horses so can reassure you that is a stage that some go through
I always dealt with it by withdrawing all attention except the minimum and being the leader he needs to respect you as the leader and see himself as a follower .
Feed him no more than is absolutely necessary and draw a line on his baby hood and expect behaviour that you would want from a more grown up horse,
The biggest problem with home bred is that they can be too much loved and lack boundaries don't be afraid to correct him firmly if you feel the need.
They do come though it you have just met a time to grow up moment set aside the foal and look forward to adult horse you are developing.
 
Op, I think you are quite right to avoid smacking your horse. There are other ways to manage unwanted behaviour than to use violence.

All this crap about horses doing various things to each other in the field really has no bearing on the situation. Hitting horses is not on, as far as I'm concerned.
 
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