Training Tips Pls......

[Donna*123]

I have an ex racer and he's had a few issues so has been on box rest on and off really for the last 7 months, however when I hand walk him he can be really dangerous! I can deal with him having a moment but he can be as calm as anything and then just lashes out at me whilst in mid flow and I feel a lot of it is him napping, obvs I know the box rest definitely don't help but I cant be having him going at me like that as yesterday he reared and lashed out with his front leg at my friend and nearly went on top of her. He gets quite food aggressive too, like if I put a hay net in then go in and ask him to move or even just to feel how warm he is under the rug he can threaten me with a leg or just ears flat back!

I want to do some ground work with him, but as I'm just rehabbing him back into work I have to be careful he doesn't cause more injury in the process.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

 

[oldjumper]

I have an ex racer and he's had a few issues so has been on box rest on and off really for the last 7 months, however when I hand walk him he can be really dangerous! I can deal with him having a moment but he can be as calm as anything and then just lashes out at me whilst in mid flow and I feel a lot of it is him napping, obvs I know the box rest definitely don't help but I cant be having him going at me like that as yesterday he reared and lashed out with his front leg at my friend and nearly went on top of her. He gets quite food aggressive too, like if I put a hay net in then go in and ask him to move or even just to feel how warm he is under the rug he can threaten me with a leg or just ears flat back!

I want to do some ground work with him, but as I'm just rehabbing him back into work I have to be careful he doesn't cause more injury in the process.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

That sounds like a very stressed horse! I'd be inclined to turn him out, under some sedation to prevent circus tricks and re-injury, before you start trying to work him at all.
Food aggression can be tricky to cure as it often has it's roots in situations where horses have had to compete with others. One thing I've found helps is to hold bucket feeds while they're eating - then they associate your presence with giving feed rather than possibly taking it away. Harder to do if you're only giving hay but you could try it. Otherwise leave him in peace while he's eating. If you urgently need to 'check rug' or something - take an treat in with you so that, again, you are associated with 'giving' rather than taking food.