What to do?

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

After another morning phone call from hubby telling me my horse is badly behaved I'm getting to the end of my tether.
Hubby turns Hovis and another horse out in a morning on his way to work. We did used to get up early do them together, come home then both go to work but it was costing us a fortune in fuel and seemed daft as the yard is on hubbys way to work so effectively he was driving there twice a morning.

But hubby and in fairness my instructor have said that Hovis is really bolshy with other people when I'm not there. Not nasty or aggressive just obstinant and awkward. Things like he won't move back in the stable without a fight, won't lift his feet high to pick them out, won't lead nicely etc. He's also started being naughty with other horses biting their bums as they come past.
But with me he's an angel?! Leads like a dog, often with no lead rope on, lifts his feet in sequence before I've even asked etc.

So what on earth do I do to stop him? My instructor just says its his age, he's just going through his teenager stage (he's 5) and he'll grow out of it. But hubby phones me EVERY morning to tell me how naughty he is and I don't want a naughty horse

Any ideas? Experience? Shotguns to use on the husband?!!

 

[Maisy]

How is your husband with him?? I find that bolshy horses know who they can and cant get away with it with.....

 

[stencilface]

Headcollar with a stallion chain on to stop him being bolshy? Works a treat with my sisters horse, think she has just bought an eskadron headcollar.

Saves wrapping the rope around his nose to control him.

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Huby is far tougher with him than me so if anything I would have said its me he should take the mick out of.
Like I say he's not nasty just really awkward for other people.

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

I've no idea, my horse does it to other people too.

 

[Bosworth]

I would watch how he leads him - my horses all walk on a long rope, saunter along chilled. I insist that all my livery horses walk the same way as I turn them out every day, I have non that are a problem. However one of the liveries is always having problems bringing hers in and turning it out and I watched her to see what the problem is, she keeps him on a really tight rope, holds him right under the chin and shouts at him if he takes a step out of place. Once I saw what was happening we were able to get her to change her way of holding him and he is back to chilled sauntering rather than being uptight and taking the stress from the handler. it may just be that Hovis is a really sensitive type and needs to handled really softly and responds in kind.

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

Is he a cobby? They are known for being stubborn.

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

He's a cylesdale cross. The real issue is he's being a pig with everyone else. Stroppy little git!

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

he just cant help it, the food is soo tempting lol

 

[CracklinRosie]

Maybe he's just a one person horse!!!! You and only you will do. My mare behaves better for me than for anyone else and at 19 I don't think that's about to change. However she is much better in a control halter. If you and hubby have the time do some in hand work with the horse.

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

There used to be a horse down my yard that would only let me in the stable with it and anyone else it used to try to bite, kick, lunge at ect. it would neigh at me to come and see it and when in the field used to follow me around like a dog/ chase me up and down the fence lol horses are so weird.

 

[metalmare]

To be fair though a lot of husbands wouldn't turn out their wife's horse so good on him for that. The mare I had on loan was an absolute angel - wuold trust a 9 year old to lead her with me around, no probs. The one time I let my other half catch and feed her without me she galloped at him, so he jumped out the way and she was through the gate and onto the road. After lots of half rears and kicking she was herded back into the field. Calm as anything by the time I arrived.

 

[tabithakat64]

Maybe your husband could do some groundwork with Hovis to help him deal wih this behaviour. My horse was extremely bolshy when I first got him and is an angel with me now (following lots of hard work and patience on my part and also some sessions in a Be Nice Halter) but can still take the pee out of other people especially if they are loud and agressive types.

 

[jen1]

Oh still waiting to see a Pic of Hovis!! He sounds just like my horse at 5! He has pretty much grown out of it now (7) but if anything he is more naughty with me, but YO says it's because I have a very close bond with him and he seems to think of me as more of a 'mate' to play with! I do have to be firm with him though and not let him play too much as he is a big bu*&er! No sensible suggestions from me but I am sure he will chill with age! Cobs are clever and do like to play and seem to have a sense of humour and if they can get away with something they will!! Nuff said!!