Horse who bolts on lead, how to resolve this?

[ruffian]

IMO - your boy needs a refresher on manners!! My stallions will walk calmly up to a mare in full blown heat on a loose lead because they have learned their manners. While it's nice to be able to turn out all the time, sometimes it's not possible. So they learn manners.

Yes, a chain lead, but over the nose. Under the chin can encourage them to rear. Over the nose brings their nose down and they are pulling against themselves.

Yes - Crop or short whip. Not a tap, but a whack if they kick out at you, no matter if you think they are playing or not. Cruel? NO - watch a bunch of horses work things out in a herd. A whack with a whip is nothing compared to a full blown kick in the head to a stallion from a mare.

Keep him on a short lead and walk him around for 10-15 if possible before releasing him. What I've found works that if they try to bolt ahead, push against his head and make him turn. In circles if possible until he stops pushing.

Good luck!

 

[Taylor Jo]

I really sympatize with you cause I had a colt horse a year ago just like him. What happen is I made the mistake of just opening his gate and letting him run around and THEN I would let him get his steam out and then I would catch him and take him into the round pen to work him. Well, when I decided to start putting a lead rope on him and

"walking" him over to the round pen he wouldn't have anything to do with that!!!! He reared, laid back his ears, tried to throw his head. SEVERAL times he got away from me. I even got a stud chain on him and he STILL got away from me. He was a big boy and I was scared of him too, when you have those feet flying at you it's kinda scary as you well know. However, I just kept at it and he FINALLY decided I was in charge and he started letting me walk him over. There were day's where he'd prance around and we'd have to do circles, but at least I didn't loose him anymore and I kept his 2 feet on the ground.

So please get the stud chain and keep working with him, he'll come around. What I did I put the stud chain on him and started to walk him out of the stall, the MINIUTE he started out of the stall and started to act up, we backed right up into the stall and started all over again. Sometimes we did a few circles, got back in the stall and started over again, did a few more circles and started again. I wanted him to know "I" was in charge. You might try that.

Good luck, and here's a hug, TJ

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I have a gelding that is rather pushy. When I asked a question similar to yours a couple of years ago on the forum, it was suggested I was not a suitable owner for him and to sell him.

Like you, that is not an option (he is my avatar horse and I've owned him for 6 years). I am not a naturally agressive woman and bossing isn't easy for me. But having a few tools is helpful, and so is realizing that allowing him to be obnoxious is not doing him a favor.

The stud chain on the halter was an effective tool for me--he knows when he is wearing it. I rarely use it any more. Using the short whip to make him back away from me, "pinning my ears back" and making him move away have worked. Be sure to praise when he is a good boy, and don't reserve your voice for only bad behavior. Try to fit his halter properly so you have maximum control.

One thing I have really noticed that helps our "relationship" is practicing the tricks. When he is learning a trick, or a new maneuver, he is so proud of himself! So maybe you could try spending a few minutes working on a handshake, a nice back-up, stepping onto a pedestal, or other praiseable behavior before you leave the stall.

When you open the stall to enter, be ready with the whip and ask him to back away out of your space. Always praise for good behavior! He backed up? What a good boy! When you feed, stand there and keep him from eating until you say he can.

Do you know if anyone is bothering him while you are away? Teasing him, perhaps?

I doubt there are very many perfect horses or people, so we have to figure out how to work with what we have!

Hope you get your own place soon, so you can enjoy him non-stop!

 

[mydaddysjag]

Well, the stud chain got tried out tonight. I didn't get to read the thread before I went to the barn, so I did the stud chain under the nose. I think I'll be able to make some progress, but right now it seems like it's going to be a long road (sigh) He still pranced and twirled a bit with the chain, but was a tiny bit better. Well, I took him in the arena, still prancing a little, but I think a tiny better. Then we get in the arena and he is ready to go, and wants nothing to do with standing still. Well, a quick jerk on the lead and he throws his head, I'm a bit worried he's going to rear up on me, but I figure Im going to take my chances. so, this little prancing and wanting to GO goes on for maybe 5 or 10 minutes, I'm not sure, because quite honestly I was a bit scared. However long it was, the end result was Midas standing still for about 2 minutes, then long enough for me to remove the lead. Heck, my biggest worry was CRAP, what if he dosen't stop this, how in the heck am I going to get this chain off without getting my hands/fingers caught up and hurt. Well, its a stud chain, it's not even like I can just let go if I need to. Only choice was to wait it out. After his lead was off I gave him a few minutes to roll and do his thing, then it was time to run around and blow off some energy. He free lunged until he was huffing and puffing, and only kicked out at me maybe 2 or 3 times, which is actually an improvement. I will admit, when he kicked out at me when lunged, I do whap him on his butt with the lunge whip. I completely forgot to take my short crop with me when leading him into the arena, but I'll be sure to remember it next time. The chain will start going over his nose, so he doesn't want to rear up on me when he gets "shanked" for bad behavior.

Hopefully by spring he's a gentleman, Im a newly wed, and my hubby has never seen the behaved Midas that I know is there somewhere. His general comment is "why cant he just behave like josie" My saint of a quarter horse mare.

This seems like it is going to be a long journey, so I might even make a blog so I can keep track of his progress.

Thanks for all of your helpful input, I really appreciate it.

 

[Miss Gracie]

I'm a firm believer in the Parelli program. Although the program is expensive it's money well spent. I'd suggest buying the Parelli Level 1 DVD program. If you click on this link https://www.parelli.com/freedvd.faces you'll be able to get a free DVD that explains their program.

 

[Alex]

You have gotten many great suggestions!

What are you feeding him and how much? With being stalled all day he isnt doing much of anything except for when being worked. Is he getting a high fat/calorie feed? IMO he is being the way he is because of lack of being a horse, and if he is getting extra energy he is going to want to burn it. NOT picking on you, JMO.

Good Luck!!

 

[mydaddysjag]

He gets hay right now, wont be changing his feed until I have results from his ir and thyroid testing.

 

[Marty]

Well..........I read this whole thread.......hmmmmmmmm

I think you did good. I don't do the whip and chain thing because I am strong like bull.......aukkkk but if you need those tools use them carefully and sparingly but do not get to where you are going to totally rely on them. Your end result needs to be a calm, well mannered horse who doesn't require that.

You took baby steps today and that is wonderful. Don't worry so much, and don't read anything else into this than what it really is. Don't worry about getting reared on or you'll send him signals and the next thing you know, he will be up in the air so get some confidence going on and don't borrow trouble. And if he rears, deal with it when it happens. Remember, law of gravity says what goes up will come down.

You are fine and you are going to be fine.. Midas is much loved and very well cared for and you are doing everything in the world to be a wonderful horse owner. Keep up what you are doing. Every day, ask for a little bit more from him. Pretty soon he will become more calmer and stand a few extra seconds, then minutes for you. I promise you that practice makes perfect and after a week or so, Midas is going to become very used to his new rules and he will expect them. I think sometimes horses are like children who actually look for their boundry lines to be set. Good luck. You have already made progress.

 

[Miss Gracie]

A thin rope halter is a good alternative to using a stud chain.

Since you don't have turnout at this time you might want to buy toys for your horse if you don't already have some. www.horseplayproducts has a nice selection of toys for horses.

Don't feel bad about not being able to turn your horse out at this time. It sounds like you're trying to do the best you can with the situation your in. Sadly their are far too many horses in the world that have 24/7 turnout but no one that cares for them. You horse is lucky to be one that is loved and cared for.

 

[HGFarm]

EXCELLENT! Sounds like you had progress today.... and you will be surprized how quickly he learns this is NOT acceptable behavior and he will stop doing the other bad stuff. Good for you!!!

I have used the chain both ways and have not really found that they rear so much even under the chin...... either way, it gets their attention, and sounds like you got his and his antics were NOT going to work! I bet after the next couple of times, you are going to find that your sessions get shorter and shorter and he will develope good new habits and will be OK!! Hang in there!

 

[Katiean]

I have a stud halter that has a chain built in. I would make him walk like a good boy or he doesn't get what he wants. I trained a barrel horse that would walk into the arena like he was going into a pleasure class. He ran consistant 16's when I had him. I just do not think a horse has to have bad mannors just because he is going to go out and run. Try not letting him break away from you at a run. Make him stand like a gentleman for however long it takes to get him to understand he can't go around kicking you. I know every horse is different and have different mannors but you can make him behave.

 

[Taylor Jo]

Give yourself some credit it sounds like he did a lot better. It's ok to be scared, just don't let me know it... ACT like your in charge, be stern. He'll get the point even if you have to use a deep voice, IMHO. Pat yourself on the back, one good day, just keep at it, like everyone say's. There's ALWAYS good day's and set backs. JUST keep plugging away, remember, "I'm LARGE and in CHARGE"!!!!!!! Keep us updated!!!!! TJ

 

[LaVern]

Good Morning, This thread caught my eye this morning, because Man I have been there. So many good ideas for correcting bad behavior and I wish you the best.

First let me say that our horses have hundreds of acres to run on. They are also stalled sometimes.

We all have different set ups and have to do what works for ourselves. However I must say that after all these years I feel that there are some horses with certain bloodlines that are just mean little son of a guns or perhaps they are just closer to what Nature intended.

I have used stallions and mares that were honory, stubborn, mean and just not fun to be around and their babies came out the same way. It makes me sad, because it wasn't their fault, I bred them that way.

We don't have many of those around anymore. And I will not use a stallion anymore that is not a joy to work with. Now more important than even looks for me is a willing attitude. I don't want a dead horse to come out of a stall, but it should not take more than two fingers to hold that lead.

I am not saying by any means that your little guys behavior can't be corrected and that this is the case with him.

I feel that I am so humanly dumb when it comes to horses and make so many mistakes, but a good horse has to be willing and able to overlook my stupidity. I try to do as much as I can to replicate natures way with my horses, but todays horse, no matter how close to its wild heritage sadly has to adapt to mans world in order to survive.

I know this is a little bit off topic.

 

[Keri]

I got a mini who bolted on the lead. It only took a few times of doing this and he stopped. Its commonly used in training for big horses. Just plant your feet and be ready. If he bolts, grab the lead and physically yank it so the horse swings around and faces you. If he even thinks of doing it again, yank the lead so that he's facing you again. It may take yanking him around 3-4 times in a row, but it works. I had hubby do it since he's stronger and can hold a horse that bolts. He realized that as soon as he tried taking off, he was swung around. And each time we told him NO! and then Whoa. Then afterwards, if he wanted to even walk ahead of me, I would smack his chest with a hand whip. He knows where he needs to stand/walk now.

 

[Katiean]

It is unusual for a horse to vent it's aggression deliberately on a human, you obviously, and regrettably given the circumstances, have an intelligent horse, there!!I once kept a young stallion (a riding horse) under similar circumstances because I though he would be better off where I could work with him every day.

I lasted a month before I sent him home and turned him out for the winter, and his manners changed overnight.

Once he was out, being a boy and being left alone, he changed back to the sweetie he had always been.

You need to find somewhere else to keep your horse, and then you will not have a problem anymore.

I had a big horse colt that really did the same thing. A friend of mine wanted to buy him and she had a 2 ac. pasture for him. He was good for about a month and started to attack the new owners that handled him every day. They gelded him and his attitude changed right away and was the sweetest horse you could find.