bad behavior...

[krissy3]

Hello ,

I have a gelding that is acting appauling right now, could use some support on how to deal with ,and correct nasty behavior. I watched in horror, yesterday my gelding dragging a young girl around the pasture because he didnt want to finish going over a very small jump. I thought I had trained these young girls how to correct bad ground manners, and keep the horses in control at a calm walk and trot in hand . Its appearant now that one of the girls has been letting the gelding push her around on their walks by dragging her up and down the mountains

, and I have a bit of a monster on my hands. ( strong one at that) This is how I handled the situation....if you have other ideas I would like to learn more :

first told the girl ..no more walks until Blanco has respect for you -me , and you can learn how to control him when he is out of line.

then I took B. and did a controled walk then into trot , then into walk again and so on , with a loose line. After a few rounds he was ok , then made a sharp left and tried to run off while I had him in hand , he gave me a double barrel kick that exceeded over my head ( now I know the jump was not to high) I imediatly tightened the rope , brought him back and gave him a strong No No No, and a wack ( not hard , just to get his full attention) then we began again , and I made him finish his work of walk trot and going over that small jump. when he did I rewarded him , and let him join the others in the pasture . This morning before breakfast I made him trot in the round pen, he gave a kick or two in protest , but I kept him moving and his attention on me. For a while I think I want to be the only one handeling him, and we will do a little round pen work , walk and trot in hand etc.He is very cheeky, and will be a handful , does anyone else have some ideas on getting him to accept me as the alpha- leader? Is there something else I can do other than round pen work

Should I introduce a bit (copper snaffel) and let him walk around in the round pen just getting use to it in his mouth for 10 min a day? then start walking him with a bit?....what do you guys do to prepare your stallions for "the bit" ?

 

[txminipinto]

Ok, you've asked two different questions. How to discipline stallions and how to teach them to accept a bit. I've never had an issue with a horse accepting a bit. They learn to open their mouth with pressure from my thumb on the bars of the lower jaw and then they carry it. It's not a long drawn out process. Eventually, they stop playing with it.

Now for the stallions/geldings. First, I always use a chain when doing any in-hand performance under the jaw. Yes, you can do in hand performance w/o one, but I find my cues and their response to be much better with a chain. I use the chain just as you would with any aid, using subtle cues (sometimes not so subtle cues) to move their feet individually.

In regards to a horse that has no respect for you or anyone else. They always have a chain on when they are being handled. Correcting this type of behavior is all about instint response and constant response/correction. If they swing their head trying to yank me in another direction, I yank them and send them backwards a few steps. If they bite at me, they get sent backwards. If they intentionally kick or strike at me, they go backwards. If they aren't listening, they go backwards. Forcefully pushing them out of your space forces them to focus on you and teaches them that you are in charge but not allowing certain behaviors in your space. Just as a mare would squeal, spin, and kick at them to make them move away from her, you must do the same. Now, some horses are so confident and aggressive this doesn't work. We had one that no matter what we did to correct his behavior, he would turn up the intensitiy and come after us.....even as going as far as attacking me at Nationals in the ring. He's gelded now and behaving much more like a gentleman.

If this is just a case of insecure handling of a confident horse, he just needs to be reminded that he's not the boss by making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard. The child needs to build confidence in herself or the horse will always attempt to take advantage of her. And that's where you need to be always present when she is handling the horse to correct her mistakes and keep her confidence up.

 

[krissy3]

Thank you Pondering Oaks. I agree with everything you have said, and unfortunatly I am between a rock and a hard place with the little girls. They are handeling the horses a lot , and that is good for the horse, but they are not old enough or mature enough to understand the importance of training , and respect, I have asked the kids to no longer take the horses out ( because I cant see what is going on ) and just groom and pick feet , I will handle the training myself. The chain under the chin...I will try that first to get his attention good idea. The round pen this morning worked well . I think this little guy has a lot of potential , he just needs firm guidance, and this is my fault for not spending as much time as I need to with him. I run a hotel with my husband , and sometimes the horses get fed and out to pasture , in at night and thats the best I can do during the busy season. I will set the alarm clock an hour earlier , and start a routine with him , thanks for the advice...all of it GREAT!!! will do as instructed

 

[LAZY J MINIS]

KRISSY HI! WITH MY SHETLAND AND MINI STALLIONS, I USE REVERSE GEAR. IF THEY ARE ACTING UP AND GENERALLY BEING BUTTS, I JUST BACK THEM UP UNTIL THEY CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES OR BACK INTO SOMETHING(FENCE,PEN,BARN). FUNNY HOW THEIR BEHAVIOR CHANGES WHEN THEY ARE BACK INTO SOMETHING AND I'M IN FRONT OF THEM FUSSING AT THEM. IT MAY TAKE A FEW TIMES,BUT THEY WOULD MUCH RATHER BE GOOOD THAN LISTEN TO ME.