Would you put up with a rude horse?

noblesteed

noblesteed

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My rude horse is driving me up the wall. I am seriously considering selling him. He is lovely to ride besides the odd spook and nap, he's pretty much bombproof, we get out and about to RC stuff and he is so easy to do and look after.
The problem is he is just SO bolshy. I've read every book I can find about groundwork, trained him to back up and move around, not to invade my space etc and he does it really well, and is fairly respectful of me. But show him food, another horse and he forgets I even exist and tramples me to bits! In the field he has to be top dog and is always getting bitten. He shows a total disregard for the majority of other people that come near him and regularly head butts my friends, or tries to chew them to bits. He squares up to anyone who tells him off. He hates being made to stand still and generally won't do it, unless he's tired or waiting for his tea (or if I give him a sharp wallop).
It's as if he knows exactly what he is MEANT to do, plays the game when it suits him and the rest of the time acts like a complete a***. His latest misdeed is half demolishing our hay barn. If it wasn't so dangerous it would be funny!
I love him but he is driving me CRAZY!!!!! Should I sell?
 
in answer to the title, no i do not put up with a rude horse, whatever the size, i am very firm though.
 
Sounds like you obviously know what you're doing and haven't missed anything... it seems a shame to consider selling an otherwise lovely horse for this though. Maybe someone like Kelly Marks might be able to help you? Like Miss Buffay says, I wouldn't put up with a rude horse - none of the horses I handle are too stubborn that a good telling off won't sort them out though, so I don't really know what to suggest.
 
No I will not tolerate a rude horse - and the owners of them understand that - so they can expect a telling off if i am asked to do anything with them.

None of mine would dream of snatching grass, barging or squishing me and I dont expect anyone else's horse to do the same to me - they can do what they like to their owners. Surprisingly the horses usually only need a few lessons and they are quick to learn, not like the owners !

No i would not sell him - but i would keep other people handling of him to an absolute minimum, and i woud rule him with a rod of iron for a good few months and then start to introduce assertive people to him. I dont think you are the problem here, and he is a pretty good judge of character by the sounds of it.
 
I hate rude bolshy horses, will colour my opinion of them even if they're a saint to ride.

My horse isn't the best ridden in the world, but he comes to call, will follow me across the field without a head collar, even when he was terrified by a hedge cutter behind a wall he'd trot off but once he felt pressure at the end of the rope he'd come back to me, even on box rest he wouldn't barge out of the stable.

What do you handle him in? I've seen the dually halters work wonders on even the biggest of gits!
 
I wouldn't put up with a rude horse either, under any circumstances. Am interested that you say he has to be boss in the field but is always getting bitten - sounds like a power struggle going on which could be spilling over into his behaviour with people on the ground. Mine is top dog in the field but she never gets bitten, nor does she bite either, she doesn't need to. An evil face/swish of the tail is enough to make her point. However assertive she is with other horses, she is the politest horse I've ever met around people.
 
Yes I find that lots of people dislike him too, because his behaviour is generally just unnecessary. I recently broke my arm and nobody was keen to help me with him - you can imagine what a tricky time I had!
My YO was quite harsh towards him but he doesn't really respond - he'll just square up to you if he feels threatened. In some ways he is quite coltish, and he's 10, my friend suggests having him tested to see if he's a rig.
I am considering asking a professional 'natural' horseperson to come and have a look at him. However I am very wary as I purchased him from someone who had taken him to a fairly well-known expert who used a rope halter and... well they had the same problems I'm having, and they found him difficult to ride!
I haven't tried a dually and I know they work differently to rope halters, so it may be worth a try. If he doesn't like it he'll certainly let me know!

He is Iberian and I have heard that these breeds can be difficult. i just don't know if he'd be better off going to someone more experienced. Then again, I'm his 4th owner at 10 yrs old... that says it all really.
 
My horse is the boss in the field too, he behaves similar to yours. Not quite as bad but he does nip and nudge me. And sometimes walks through me. He is getting better with time. So do persevere.
 
Oh gosh, I completely understand this - I have had similar problems, and have tried the same things as you. I have a large cob, and he knows how to get the upper hand by using his rather grand body shape against me!
Ground work does help my lad, especially if I keep it up regularly and do a session a week.
I also make sure he is always tied up when I am working with him in the stable, that way if he does go to barge for food / other horses / other people, one firm exertion of pressure normally reminds him to move back and respect my space.
Feed and hay has made an enormous difference - he is on very basic, low energy hay (no haylage!), calming feed (and is underfed as to overfed). All this helps to make him less 'wired' in the stable and a little more respectful of his surroundings.
He has also known to try and be top dog in the field, and does barge other horses out of the way to be first in, and to get food. This is more difficult to manage, and we just try and make sure both horses are caught at the same time, and he is not favoured (not easy).
I wouldn't sell my horse for manners alone, but only you know really whether you want to handle this and take all this time to correct it.
Best of British to you, I completely understand how demoralising this can be, especially when your horse is constantly seen as the one to avoid.
If I think of anything else I will let you know.
Good luck!!
 
My horse BBEars, started off as a angelic foal, then as she grew up and got bigger and bigger! She soon realised she was able to push me around. I managed to stand up to her at first, then I broke my ankle and didn't have the strength.

A few months ago I moved her from home (alone) to a livery yard, and the YM has help me so much and sorted her into the most delightful horse. As soon as I realised she can be nice to the YM, I was like I want her to be like that with me too
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so with the YM's help I've toughened up and it's so much more FUN - which is why we do it after all!

I've fallen in love with my good horse all over again, and look back and wonder how I let her walk all over me for so long. She still tests me sometimes but it's early days and were learning to understand boundaries!

Don't be afraid to get some help and start enjoying a well mannered horse.
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I used to have a horse that was a angel to ride etc, but the moment he was in the field without tack, he would do everything possible to kill you. Had two years of this before someone told me about a guy that had spent years working with wild horses and did NH not pirelli so got him in and even after the first session with him made such a difference. Took about 6 sessions in all for him to become a perfect gentleman, who was never once an issue after that. I think you should get in someone who deals with horses like that, its well worth the small expense to keep what otherwise sounds like a fab horse.
 
I wouldn't put up with a rude horse. If I couldn't sort out his ground manners myself then I'd get in professional help for us both. But only someone whose methods I was happy with and who came very highly recommended.
 
When I got my new horse Holly I was horrified at her lack of manners and general rudeness (and ability to get into all sorts of naughtiness in the stable - chewing, chucking rugs around etc.) I wasnt used to it as my old horse was very well mannered and I hadnt realised quite how well mannered so it was a bit of a shock. Holly is also a cob and they certainly know how to push the buttons. Having said that I got some professional help in for groundwork exercises and persevered. There was plenty of times I was going to sell her - in fact to be honest I pretty much hated her the first 4-5 months. However she was what I wanted under saddle and I thought I cant give up on her .

She has settled alot and her manners are much improved. I find I have to keep on top of things and not let her slip back into her old ways, but she is much quieter. She will for example stand quietly tied up whereas when I first got her she would scrape and bang demanding food. I do love her now but have accepted that she is a pony who is always going to push the boundaries and I have to be firm with her.

So no I wont put up with rudeness but with professional help and perseverance, Im sure your pony will improve.
 
Thank you all for your advice. I feel a bit clearer now in what I need to do. I certainly need a groundwork trainer to come and help me work with him so I will pursue that avenue.

I've just had a brilliant ride across the open moors, cantering in full control, opened and closed gates, jumped ditches, bravely passed peacocks (!), lorries, livestock, binwagons AND calmly passed by the Hunt while my friend's TB went nuts. He is too good a horse to sell on without trying, and he certainly doesn't deserve to continue being passed from pillar to post.
I will now get on with looking for a trainer!!!!
 
Hi noblesteed,

I know of a great Horsemanship Coach who will be able to help you if you haven't already found one. Not sure where abouts you're based but if it's too far he's able to have horses for a month, work with them and then help you and your horse together so you can both go home with a plan to progress. Have a look at www.studentofthehorse.co.uk. Can't recommend him highly enough.

Best of luck!
 
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