Horsekaren
Well-Known Member
My horse is being super Grumpy when I tack him up, today he took it to a new level and decided to bring his back leg forward and kick my hand as I reached for his girth
... this is a new move he hasn't done before, normally he will have a stamp if he is exceptionally grumpy but today he upped his game. When I put the saddle on and start to do up his girth he will always swish his tail, swing his neck and pull a face, sometimes with or without teeth.
He is normally ok with his bridle but depending on his mood he will sometimes spin away, which he did this morning, when he does this I just stick at his shoulder and follow for a lap or two and say good boy once he has stopped and is standing still for me.
He has had all the usual checks recently, back good, teeth good, saddle good ect
I truly believe this is him just being cheeky as when I took him out for the first time to another school he did no such thing and was perfect. I have tried being super firm and giving him a tap on the nose when he swings his head and a smack when he goes to stamp and swish but in all honesty it makes it worse. I have tried the softly softly approach by scratching his withers and telling him he is a good boy ect as I approach with the tack which is a better method but im not sure if by telling him he is good as he is swishing I am encouraging this behaviour.
Has anyone else been through this with their horse? and how did you over come it? I want to nip this behaviour in the bud as I don't want tacking up to be a stressful experience for him or me but im at a bit of a loose end as to what I can do now.
I usually tack up in the stable, he does the same if tied up outside.
He is normally ok with his bridle but depending on his mood he will sometimes spin away, which he did this morning, when he does this I just stick at his shoulder and follow for a lap or two and say good boy once he has stopped and is standing still for me.
He has had all the usual checks recently, back good, teeth good, saddle good ect
I truly believe this is him just being cheeky as when I took him out for the first time to another school he did no such thing and was perfect. I have tried being super firm and giving him a tap on the nose when he swings his head and a smack when he goes to stamp and swish but in all honesty it makes it worse. I have tried the softly softly approach by scratching his withers and telling him he is a good boy ect as I approach with the tack which is a better method but im not sure if by telling him he is good as he is swishing I am encouraging this behaviour.
Has anyone else been through this with their horse? and how did you over come it? I want to nip this behaviour in the bud as I don't want tacking up to be a stressful experience for him or me but im at a bit of a loose end as to what I can do now.
I usually tack up in the stable, he does the same if tied up outside.