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MagicMelon

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One of my horses has always been bolshy. He was an absolute horror as a 3yo when I got him. He's very solid and knows his strength. To begin with he'd tow me everywhere and basically walk over me. However, he has got a lot better with time and work.

I have 2 issues still:

He used to be horrendous about being in a stable, whenever I opened the door to go out he would simply barge straight through! However, again Ive worked on his manners and he's so much better. Most of the time I can tell him to back up while I go out. However, yesterday I opened a gate (in between his paddock and another with 2 ponies he's never been out with) and he just launched through it! He got in with the other ponies and immediately started trying to kick them. I managed to split them before damage was done but it could have been nasty. What the hell can I do about this? As I said, generally he is fine but just occassionally he'll do something bolshy like this as if to test me.

Anything to do with feed seems to bring out the ultimate worst in him. I believe he was kept on his own as a 2yo (cruelty I say!) so I dont think he has learnt herd manners very well. So he didnt learn food manners either. He LOVES his food and will do anything for it. When I first got him he was agressive over it, even with me. But again, that was sorted quickly! Now though, because there is a pony in the other paddock next door (who I got in Jan so is quite new), even though he is fed far away from it he still feels he has to state his point. He'll be eating whilst standing on the spot double barreling the air! Its not so much a problem as I just stay away but obviously Id rather he didnt do this! Any ideas?
 
Is there a behaviourist in your area that can come out say once a week and give you some help and tips to help him realise that your incharge and nothing is going to happen to him? That is the step I would take if that was my mare.
 
I don't think there's much you can do about feed issues - although stand to be corrected.

Personally with his barging issues though I would carry a stick at all times. Put him in a chiffney for any kind of in hand work you do with him. Make him back up every time you open his stable door (even if it means you have to have a chiffney on him to do it).

We have a couple of very big horses on my yard - their manners are impeccable, but it's been instilled in them since day one.

Good luck, it's a horrid situation to be in .
 
Izzi - Ive done join-up stuff with him which is what my local behaviourist does and I guess it helps a bit for a while. Ive improved his manners (from what he was like!) by clicker training, but problem is that most of the time he is now good, its just very occassionally he'll forget!

AmyMay - Think is to lead he is fine, he never gets away from me anymore as I do use a controller headcollar every nown and again to remind him. But otherwise can use a normal headcollar fine. Its when he isn't in one that he sometimes barges (ie. when out in the field and I have to open a gate to see to my other horses next door or when he's in the stable etc.). I should probably carry a whip though like you've said. But what do I do with it when he starts barging through? Flick it about in his face (but not hit him in it obviously)?

I know he should never have been allowed to know his own strength and how to use it but unfortunately he already knew it when I got him!
 
If you open a gate on to him - rather than swinging away from him - he can't barge through (that's what I always do).

And if he barges out of the stable door - then put a chiffney on him before you open the stable door. He'll only do it a couple of times before he realises it has repocussions.
 
my 18hh selle francais used to be like that with me and as im only 5ft, i had top get a lead rein chain and loop it over the top of his nose, and if he so much looked in the wrong direction he used to get a yank over the nose with it!!

Sounds pretty harsh but it did actually work!!

When you 1st put it on, you need to give him a few sharp jabs to let them know its there!!

Sounds harsh but it did work!! And due to the size difference had to take some instant action, as charging off is dangerous not only to horse, but others as well!!

x x
 
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(but not hit him in it obviously)?

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Why not?
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I would...! You don't have to beat him up, but a sharp slap on the chest or wherever when he's trying to run you over/barge through the gate might just give him enough of a shock to stop him in his tracks!
 
Magic_Magpie - You say you have done the join up, do you have a dually halter? I would lead him on that - I use it on my mare if I think she is in a "mood". Have you started any backing up exercises with him? Try backing him up once the gate is opened, the feed him when he stands still? If he barges through just keep taking him back through (I know this isn't always ideal in a field situation). I would bring a whip if this still doesn't improve, give him a warning or swishing it first and then give him a tap on the shoulder if he still doesn't cooperate.
 
agree with amymay, chiffney, put it on over the door, yank if he pisses of, and then continue to use it every time, treat it like a head collar you are putting on to go to the field. he will soon respect it, the trick is to continue to use it every day all the time so it is normal for both of you
food, never feed by hand always use a bowl etc so sort of goes without saying
behavior to others that is more difficult to answer how big is he?
 
my friend had the same problem when she brought her cob ,he was very bolshy due to the fact he had bad manners and when it came to food it would get worse as he was stavered so he was funny over his food .
she sorted it by doing a lot of inhand work, and getting him to respect her space
and if he did push her
she would push him back a few steps and when he didnt invade her space she would reward him.
 
My friend has a 16.2hh ISH who she got as a 4 year old and was really really bargy and a little dangerous (he pinned me against a field post going into the field once, just so that he could get through faster).

What worked with us is just repeating the commands in a controlled environment and watching him to make sure that you know what he is thinking about doing if anything so that it just becomes automatic. Also if you are leading him in a headcoller (especially a normal one) just yank hard but a short, sharp yank down when he misbehaves, even slightly, you may have yank several times to get his respect but it works.

If you want to chat PM me as I have some other ideas but I don't really have time at the moment to write it all done.
 
It's difficult when you've inherited other people's early errors, and there is no easy solution.
Maybe for barging out the door, you could put a chain up (just inside the door) so when you open the door if he barges forwards, he'll still have to wait til you're ready. I'd have a jump whip (with the big leather flaps) and smack him across the chest if he barges through me, especially if he's a big lad.
The feed thing is difficult too - either you accept that this is part of him, and feed him away from the others, and giving him his feed over the door/fence to keep yourself safe, or you tackle it (although this may be risky).
If you want to tackle his behaviour, when you feed him in the stable, ask him to back right up away from you. If he refuses, and hangs over the door snakeynecking, walk away with the feed, and try again in 10 mins. Keep walking away with the feed until he complies...he should learn very quickly.
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