Jekyll & Hyde

[bikina]

I've had my horse for just over a week now, and he has been good as gold. However, now he is more confident, he is getting too big for his boots. Another guy at the yard keeps feeding him treats, which I have repeatedly told him not to, and now my horse has started napping. He is also becoming difficult to lead and last night when I turned him out, he went straight for a patch of weeds, so I went to move him away. I had the leadrope in my hand and I think he thought I was going to hit him with it (I wasn't, but he's a had a bad past) and he bucked - straight at my head. Now I know he needs time to settle but really! What can I do?

 

[Walder]

poor you - just time i guess - be firm and consistant - hes probably scared, i bet in 6 months time you ll be posting about how wonderful he is - its just settling in teething problems - good luck x

 

[samp]

Wear a hat and gloves to lead. Make sure the guy stops feeding him. And alwas handle with confidence and let him know you are the boss. My horse can through her toys out the pram and I just stand there let her get over episode then ask to move on again

 

[mickey]

No treats
Then I would advise some groundwork in the school. Getting him to back up, listen to you walk at your shoulder etc. In a safe and confined env. Check out Parelli 7 games they are very useful.
I would lead him in and out in a bridle for now and wear a hat. A bridle seems to make a big difference with my horse if ever he is mucking about on the lead...

 

[Blizzard]

Just be firm with him and consistant, most horses try it on in a new home. when I got my big lad in feb he was great for a few weeks then had 2 weeks of planting his feet when I tried to bring him in, trying to pull 17.3hh of horse in isnt easy LOL, however he didnt get away with it once, a tap on the backside with a schooling whip got him walking.

He is now good as gold but isnt a nasty horse anyway, a horse needs to know who is in charge, and I dont mean that in a bullying way, your body language and confidence around him is enough.

 

[_OC_]

I think your boy is testing you on how far he can push his boundries and that would be quite normal when I first got my cob two years ago he tried it on, and with the napping I carried a short whip that I would tap hard on my boot at any sign of him bunching up to nap and use my legs and the habit soon stopped.....Good Luck with him just be firm but kind!

 

[sloulou]

When I got my new horse last year, he tried it on a bit in the first few weeks - but you just have to be firm and ride through the napping. The phase should pass.

I dodn't usually hit horses that are napping, as I have had one very bad napper that was 100 times worse if you used a whip on him, just quietly and firmly asking again and again to go on seems to work for me.

You are going to have trouble with the treats

- It will be hard to stop him giving them... Have you tried explaining why you don't want him having them?

Also agree - lead him in a bridle for now...

If you ever need an extra pair of hands, if he is difficult, you can always ring me, am happy to help, sometimes is easier with extra people around x