Jekyll and Hyde horse!

[noblesteed]

So, after a blissful summer of happiness, relative calmness and reasonable manners, with 24hr turnout, the horse is showing signs of becoming a bolshy git again!
Now the nights are dark they are in at night, and I can't ride on weekdays. The fields have been too wet to lunge before work on a morning, I have been ill and couldn't ride before work. And now we have snow so can't even ride this weekend!!! Horsey is becoming grumpy and started being bargy in the stable. He is ill-mannered at the best of times but has been coming on leaps and bounds. He is very intelligent by nature but also a bit of a thug, and his field mate can only control him by biting him! He wrestles with anyone or anything that comes up against him. His previous owners had done NH with him but he certainly didn;t come to me with manners. I have been focussing on being consistent, not letting him push me around and this has had positive results.
He seems to turn into a swine every winter. Last year I had a broken arm so didn't even handle him for a month, and he was a git then. I would really like to nip it in the bud and break the cycle this year as we have had such a great summer.
Does anyone have any advice/experiences with their own horses/know of any books to read which would help me with managing his bolshiness over winter?

 

[Beckie65]

bump

 

[traceyann]

my horse is the same saint in summer winter bargy and pig headed i dont think he likes winter and less excise doesnt help can you not get someone to part share really help in winter iv got to the point a dirty look is enough to tell my horse he doing wrong but thats taken years but even if he put a toe out of line i told him off it really is down to respect but most horse change in winter

 

[legaldancer]

I had a horse a bit like yours & I ended up turning him out 24/7, mainly because he was a weaver. His demeanor changed completely & he became the same chilled horse that he was in summer.

Not ideal in this weather I know, but it may work.

 

[noblesteed]

Cheers guys. I'm glad it's not just me who has this problem! After having him for 2 1/2 years, it does seem to be his character, I just get a bit frustrated when people tell me I need to teach him some manners - it's not like I haven;t tried! As have other more experienced folk.
He would probably live out quite happily, however he shares a home with a tb who likes his bed! Probably a sharer would be the best bet I agree, I did have someone last year who rode him twice a week for me but she has moved away. He is quite a handful, so it's not easy finding someone experienced enough.
I am starting to think he will be my horse for life provided my circumstances allow, so ultimately I will be looking to rent a field and then I will be glad of him being willing to live out!