Need help with my horse!!!!?

Question

everytime I put my yearling colt in the run-in barn and a gate up to block the opening, he always goes to the gate and looks out to try to find the other horses. There is a bent chain-link fence beside the gate. When he can't find the other horses, he gets upset and tries to break the fence and gate down. He tosses his head and trots back and forth neighing. I've tried to just stand back adn let him just tire himself but when he tried to break the fence, I tried to lead him around in the barn. He ran in front of me and be4 I had time to move, he kicked me in my side. Can anyone tell me how I can settle my horse down and learn to forget about the other horses? I've tried leading him, feeding him, talking to him, and just letting him run til he was tired. I don't know what else to do.
Can anyone give me some tips to calm him down?

Answer 1

You were given alot of crappy answers in my opinion. I'm not an expert but I know what works with me and my horses. Gelding him will not even remotly fix your problem. Please ignore everyone who told you that. Some of the most well behaved horses I know are studs. My stud isn't even allowed to snif other mares when I'm working with him. First you need to understand is horse are herd animals but that doesn't mean that they will die if they are away from their friends. You need to refocus his attention to you when you are with them. When I am with my horses working or playing they are not allowed to visit or whinny to other horses. If they paying attention to something else they are not listening to me. If they do whinning or try to bother another horse I find something for them to do like circles or back up or drop their head. I redirect thier attention to me. It's not worth me getting hurt becuase they want to be with the other horses. Plus it upsets the other horses more when the horse I'm with whinnies back. When you let him run in the barn and he runs to see his friends redirect his attention back to you, by any means nessicary. Make a loud noise or touch me firmly with your hand or whip. You don't have you hurt him, just let him know that behavior is not accepted. Enough repition and he will get the idea. I can ride or lead my horse alone away from my group of ten while all the others are carrying on calling to the one I'm with but the one I'm riding will remain quiet and attentive. It also sounds like your colt has respect issues with you. You need to teach him to respect your space. One of my favorite trainers John Lyons teaches that when a horse does something aggressive like kicking, you are suppose to come absolutely unglued for 3 seconds immediately after he kicks you. Make the horse think he's gonna die. You don't don't need to hurt him but you can make him think your going to. Then stop be calm and reassure him. You need to spend so time learning how to train horses. By talking to him calmly or petting him when he's upset about being away from the other horses you are only renforcing he's emotions. I would suggest watching some training videos. Your horse needs to learn some basic manners and obedience. Even if you'll never ride him he needs to be safe to be around on the ground.

Answer 2

So many suggestions to cut him - cutting does not fix BEHAVIOR. A horse's natural instinct is to be with other horses - mares, geldings, studs, whatever that is the instinct of a HORSE. That instinct will not change with gelding. As a yearling hormones have not kicked in to be studdy - he's not thinking breeding he's thinking there's buddies over there and I'm alone. If you had strong enough fences I'd say leave him and let him figure out he'll live...but if he goes through the fence you have a paniced yearling and possibl injuries. Don't feed him - that's rewarding the 'bad' behavior.
Working him out there - I wouldn't necessarily do that - if he's not controllable there (trying to break fences is not controllable) he's going to be equally uncontrollable out there. He's already learned to push past you and kick. He needs a high and tight fence and/or a buddy. Training and discipline will calm him down - but he needs it NOW.

Answer 3

Gelding him may help, but my yearling filly is the same way. Your horse is herdbound and this takes some time to overcome.

If you have an escape proof, jump proof, safe barn, corral, pen, etc away from the other horses, put him in that, every night. He will run and pace and throw a fit, but after a few hours, he should relax. Every day, you need to walk him away from the herd, even if it's only a few feet on the first day. The key is to turn around and go back before he gets panicked. Even if you only manage to get out the gate, it's something. Aim for a couple of steps forward the next day.

Answer 4

First, make sure he has an ample supply of good hay and fresh water available. You should consider putting up an electric fence
across the opening until he learns to respect gates and fences. Depending on how old he is, you may want to begin thinking about having him gelded. It sounds like you need to begin a rigorous training schedule. Your yearling should already respect your space and be quiet and attentive at the lead. Kicking is NEVER tolerated and shows a total lack of respect for you. If you have access to a training ring or round pen, work him in it every opportunity you have. Invest in a good book that outlines
training procedures. Specific tips would depend on the horse and the experience of the handler.

Answer 5

As others have said, he is herdbound. Start by separating him for a few hours every day, if you have a safe place to do so. An electric fence works wonders on horses who try to break through. Just put him up and let him pitch his fit. He will settle down after a while. One thing I must emphasize here - your colt needs to learn some ground manners. Jumping in front of you and kicking are obviously very dangerous. You need to first teach him to respect your space and then to lead properly. Get in touch with a good trainer if you don't know how, or get a good book or video to help you learn. Good luck with your yearling!

Answer 6

O.k. horses are herd animals. It is instinct to want to be with other horses. There is nothing you can do about it. Some horses get over it easier others just don't. It's instinct, they need the herd to stay alive. Being a yearling colt probably doesn't help matters but if you geld him and with age he may get better. Still, the very easiest solution is to let the little guy have a buddy to play with. It sounds like there are horses around the place.
About the kicking you...that needs strict discipline, though he is young that could get dangerous!!

Answer 7

Horses are herd animals. They need other horses around to feel safe. Why are you keeping this guy in solitary confinement? Of course he's going to act up when he's locked away along every night.

The kicking is a thing that yearlings tend to do, but it isn't acceptable. You need to train him consistently that kicking and biting people are never OK. If you're not sure how to do that, it might be a good idea to have an experienced horseperson work with you & your colt.

Answer 8

well as u probably know horses are herd animals and they like to be with other animals/horses and since ur horse is a colt i suggest that mabey if u can put another gelding in with him and since hes a colt soon to be stud when ur leading rap a lead rope around his halter or a lung line ike a stud chain but less harsh and try with the rope around his nose get a dressage whip and LIGHTLY tap him on his chest and mabey also try this make a puring sound (a very good trick that my trainer taught me!!) good luck

Answer 9

I would STRONGLY suggest gelding him. i would also try to bond with more and gain his trust. If you work on it now it will improve when he gets older. My filly was the same way she still doesn't like to be alone ro away from the herd but now that she trusts me more and nows i am the boss she relaxs more and doesn't flip out. If you really want to break his phoba of being away from the other horses i would put him in his stall or our of eye site of the other horses for 2 min every day. When he is ok with being out of eye site of the other horses for to minutes expand the time to 3 or 4 min. Also try putting herbs in his feed. They sell powders to calm him down that you can put hin his feed.

Answer 10

It's called...have him gelded right away, wait till he heals then take his little baby *** out to your field and lunge him until he's tired and wants to slow down, when he wants to slow down - make him go around another 10 times at the trot or canter. Then leave him in your field and you and someone else grab your other horses and take them for a walk (outside of his field) walk them next to his field and them take them out of his site. Let him run...he'll run and scream and scream louder...plug your ears and ignore him. He has to learn that he can be without his buddies and still live...if he continues to be this heard bound, your life with him will be hell. Snap him out of this fast, I can tell you I don't think it's a good idea to bribe him, that's like saying "honey, PLEASE be good" you need to say "look here baby, you're gonna straighten your *** out or else!" Good luck and if you need further help email me at [e-mail]