my new horse had a tantrum today - adice please!

[Storminateacup]

Hello everyone!

Firstly, Storminateacup, I think you unfortunately came across as rather 'wishy-washy' in your original post, and this is often what peolple who dislike nh often object to. I admit I had visions of you helplessly clutching a headcollar while your horse walked all over you! Having read the rest of the thread I think you are a lot more practical than you first appeared.

When I have seen professional natural horsemen in action, their emphasis has always been on finding practical, no nonsense, but also non violent solutions for horses with problems. You seem to be heading in more or less the right direction, though I think you perhaps need to be a bit clearer about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. You are meant to be the lead 'horse', and no lead horse would tolerate this behaviour from a young upstart!

If your horse shows any sign of agression in the round pen, at the very first indication try taking a couple of feet of your line and spinning k
it briskly in front of you like a windmill. March towards him with your head up and keep spinning - he will back off. Send him around the pen, keep him in trot and canter until he is showing unmistakeable signs of submission. If he hesitates or tries to turn in, advance again, spinning the rope. If he is coming towards you in his back legs then you haven't read his body language fast enough, you need to catch him at the first sign of aggressive behaviour.

I take it your rope halter is a pressure halter? Try sending him away with the halter on, on a smallish circle but with a long line (in trot). Practise sending him away and inviting him in, but in a situation where you make the decision. You wouldn't be forcing him in, but a few small circles of trot are very hard work for a young horse an he will learn to come in the moment he is invited.

I hope you find some of this helpful, and I'd be very interested to hear any comments. I'm far from an expert, but these techniques have worked for me in the past. Good luck!!

Thank you, I make you totally right in what you have said, I was not forceful enough yesterday because I was sure he might jump out, but I ve raised the posts so now I can be. Also I was a little distracted as I had an appointment so missed the early signs of bad behaviour starting, and should have got after him faster. Funnily enough I tried the rope windmill today when he was thinking about trying to crowd me at the gate whilst I was leading my old boy into a different field. It worked a treat! He went away and came back really nice.
I ve seperated him from my old horse too now, as he has been a bit domineering with him and I need to stop that. He wont be dominating anyone from today. Also I will only be feeding the youngster when he comes into the round pen nicely, and after he has done his work or should I say play!

This post has been really useful as I ve seen many points of view and seen some of my shortcoming too. Thanks everybody!

 

[Storminateacup]

Kallibear, I am gonna put his fieldsafe headcollar back on him as you say. He did have it on all the time, but the flymask needed to protect his sensitive appy eyes and skin get pulled off with the headcollar on all the time, but stays on well by its self. hence reason for taking headcollar off. Also he was being very good intially about having the rope headcollar on.

 

[Storminateacup]

I use "nh" methods all the time, I've been using them for over 10 years. From your postings I would say that you need some help, maybe you understand some "nh" training, but it does not sound as if you have the savvy to deal with this particular youngster.
Is there any reason why you aren't getting any help with him? I'd have thought Jason Webb would be right up your streed.

IF only I could, can't get any one in my area, as there are none. He goes to Jason Webb next May. ho hum