We've hit the terrible two's - HELP

[Lammy]

Just going to preface this by saying it's a long story, cake for all who manage to get through it!

I've had my ISH gelding since he was 8 months old, he turned 2 last month. Up until about a month and a half ago he's been an absolute saint and sweetie pie, very respectful of my space, leading well, bitted and generally a nice horse. Recently 20% of the time he's been a complete ratbag, the other 80% he's been good as normal. Now by "ratbag" I mean pushy, grouchy and really testing me and my authority.

Just under two months ago I got up to the yard in the pouring rain and my sharers told me they were too afraid to go in the field with him as he was going "beserk" He was hopping by the gate when I went to see, told them to take my mare in and that I would get him. He was a bit joggy but fine and the poor mite was shivering/shaking and just seemed quite cold and unhappy. Put him in, next morning he was absolutely fine and went back to being a dope on a rope. Fast forward to two weeks ago, got up to the yard in the rain again, it had been chucking it down all day and they hadn't had rugs on. Lead them both down from the large summer paddock to their night time paddock as I normally do, one in each hand and he was again not a happy boy. He was jogging and kept trying to spin in front of me. Suddenly he leapt sideways, so that he was on the end of the rope and just went up, not vertical but bloody tall enough. I yelled at him, he looked at me in shock, made him step back a few steps and then we carried on walking up to the top and he acted like nothing had happened. He's been fine since.

Tonight we did a little ground session, just walking and trotting in hand, he got a bit excited in trot but soon got the jist and I had him going nicely. Currently he's getting a little bit of small feed for condition and he will normally walk with me by my shoulder (no headcollar) through the first field to get to his field and step back and wait for me to put his feed down. This time however he was trying to run in front of me so he could get to his feed, pulling faces and generally being rude. So I sent him away and told him in no uncertain terms that he could give me some space. This he did not appreciate and as he trotted away from me (in front) he went up, twice. I must have growled very menacingly because he cantered off to the top of the first field and stood there looking at me. I put his feed down in his field as usual, marched back up the field, grabbed his head collar and made him take steps backwards.

I just stood in front of him and every time he moved a step towards me without me inviting it, I would make him take a couple of steps back pretty much as soon as he'd put his foot down. We repeated this for about five minutes and then I walked him around the first field. He walked with his head at my shoulder and I barely had hold of the rope. He moved away from my shoulder whenever I turned towards him and followed me around whenever I turned away. We continued like this for a few minutes and then walked into his field where his feed was. I kept myself between him and the feed at all times and he continuously tried to bully me towards it by leaning into my shoulder or by trying to cut in front of me. Every time we'd either change direction or walk straight past the bowl and away from it. Eventually we were walking past it without him even looking at it. So I did what we did before, I stood between him and the feed bowl, directly in front of him. Every time he took a step forward I'd move him back. After a couple of goes he got it and so I took the headcollar off and did the same. Eventually he was stood on the spot and I was able to turn and walk a few paces to the bowl pick it up and turn around without him moving an inch.

Admittedly he did the cutest little nicker when I turned around, feed bucket in hand. I made him take a few more steps back and he turned his head away like I've taught him to. And that was the end of that.

So sorry for the essay but was what I did correct? It took a long time and now I'm worrying that it was too extensive for him as a baby to deal with. I'm pretty sure the rearing is him trying to test my authority but could it be something else? Why is the rain/cold such an issue for him? Do you think it's something I'm doing, or is there something I could do differently?

Sorry for so many questions but I don't know how we've ended up at this point! He's a very stressy animal by nature and the recent moving of liveries means it's just him and my mare on the yard until September; on the same note I have noticed in the field that my mare has been telling him off more and more. I should also clarify that I am by no means scared of him, but I really want to nip this in the bud now and can't help but think there is something I could be doing better to prevent this kind of behaviour.

Please help! And thank you for reading ):

 

[FinkleyAlex]

He's just a baby acting like a baby. Personally I would turn him out 24/7 in a herd at that age to keep him in check. I find youngsters that are handled as regularly as an older horse can turn sour and test you a lot more. I also wouldn't be trotting him in hand while he's pratting about as he's just going to think it's a game and not really understand what you're getting at. Sometimes they just need to be allowed to play and be youthful - bring him back in when he's 3 1/2 and start the in hand stuff then, as long as you've got the basics for now then leave it at that. My personal technique for the field situation you described would be to turn and walk away with his food every-time he comes towards you. Leave the field and when he goes away come back in, it will take some time but he'll get the hang of it. It's a less forward approach which gives you less chance of confrontation with him.

 

[JanetGeorge]

I'm with FinkleyAlex on this one. I have 11 x 2 year olds this year (I'm a breeder.) The last time the geldings had a headcollar on was in May when they were castrated. Mine are laidback (Irish Draughts) but once their weaning winter is over and they are turned out in their yearling Spring, they are going to be caught to be wormed as necessary - other than that they will be out in a field eating. I'll stroll through the field - maybe once a week - and pat anything that's handy.

If you're handling a 2 year old a lot, chances are it will become lack of respectful of you and be a total prat from time to time. I should add that MOST of our 2 year olds we start backing as late 3 year olds/early 4 year olds and it is virtually unheard of for one to give any grief through the process.

As long as your mare doesn't 'suffer' and end up putting him on the ground and trying to rip his throat out, I would leave him to grow and mentally 'mature'!

 

[Lammy]

Thank you for your input, it is very much appreciated.

The only problem being that I already tried to find him a stud/youngstock place last year and there was absolutely nowhere in my area that had space. Space is incredibly limited in my area and on the livery yard I'm currently at. He needs to be handled as we have small paddocks that we have to rotate between and I can't just turn him out into a big field for a season as we have none :\ Oh to be on the rolling hills of Devon...

I'm just not up for having a bully of a horse, no matter their age and I'd rather him learn that he can't walk all over me now than late next year as a much bigger, stronger horse.

If I had the luxury to turn him out for his first 3 years of life then I certainly would but unfortunately, not feasible. ):

 

[JanetGeorge]

I'm just not up for having a bully of a horse, no matter their age and I'd rather him learn that he can't walk all over me now than late next year as a much bigger, stronger horse.

Under those difficult conditions, I would cut handling to a minimum and make sure that all handling is firm. I would not tolerate rearing in hand from any horse of any age - I don't think learning basic good manners can ever be negative.

I'd say chances are good that winter weather (not that far away) will have a dampening effect on his 'naughty' behaviour. (Youngsters' behaviour is noticeably changed by the weather, even when they are just in the field growing.) I also get the impression that you are a good owner and handler who will give him every chance to turn into a good horse!

Being nosey, an ISH these days can have totally different genetic make-up to what was 'normal' 20-30 years ago when virtually ALL of them were a mix of Irish Draught and TB or Connemara and TB - what is your chap's 'mix' - do you know?

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I think I would have given him a rap on the neck with the lead rope, my little sweetie had a lunge at me once, I was not ready, but I was the next day when she repeated it, and she neved tried again with me, but I think she did once with someone else, it is natural for them , they do it in the herd, but they need to learn it is unacceptable to humans.

 

[Goldenstar]

Handle as little as possible .
Try to get him away to a stud for age apporaiate turnout in a group .
I stopped breeding because I could provide enough apporiate company .

 

[FinkleyAlex]

Send him away if you have to - doesn't necessarily have to be in your area. You get yards that offer youngstock grazing and they'll cast an eye over them and get involved if need be. I personally found a field that a guy kept a few welsh ponies in, chucked my rising 2yo in it and left him out there until he was 3 1/2. That was in North London - you can't find less grazing if you tried! There are always fields out there, you just have to be a bit more flexible and try to find some people that rent fields privately. Unfortunately without that kind of turnout and herd structure I find they tend to try and pull their herd antics on you as the handler. Best of luck anyway