My horse isn't responding to any commands. What can I do?

Question

He's a ten year old Thoroughbred stallion. He's got excessive training in pleasure, hunter/jumper, halter, barrel racing, and ghyminka (sp?). But lately he won't respond to any of my signals. I'm even considering resorting to a harsher bit. Nothing I do helps with his attitude. I can't barely even get his tack on before he begins acting up. What can I do - without hurting him, ofcourse - to get him to behave in the ring and out?

Ah, immature people looking for free points. Whatever.

I need honest help, those that can give it please do.

Another thing that's just entered my mind is we got a new stud the other day. A Davenport Arabian, and that's when this started. Could it be a territorial issue? And no - I will not be castrating either of them. We don't know who might be interested in carrying his lines.

When I say "acting up", I mean this: If I ask for a trot, he gives a canter. If I ask him to turn, he'll ignore the command (no matter how harsh the next one is) and keep his path. He keeps his neck arched, but he won't rear or buck. There's no danger in his behavior yet.

I've had him for his full live, my dad bought some TB mare and she was pregnant, so he was my first horse. Now he's ten.

The Davenport came in a week ago, so it may just be testosterone flaring between them, or like ya'll said it could just be him testing his manliness.

Answer 1

Forget the harsher bit. Return to basics. Double check the fit of the equipment. When was his sheath last cleaned? He's anticipating something bad or painful happening if he starts acting up as soon as you tack up. Does he have soreness anywhere? Was he on the track and why did he retire? (If there is any chance it's a soundness issue jumping him could be a reason he's cranky.) Return to basics. Circles, serpentines, patterns. Walk and trot. Work on flexibility and being supple. Pay attention when he resists. Resistance is trying to tell you something but you have to listen and figure out what it is. If he's been fine and suddenly isn't something is up. If it's hot try working him in the morning or evening when it cools off.

When resistance happens always step back not forward. Find out what changed when the resistance started and that usually is your answer/problem. The longer it's covered up and ignored the worse he's going to get. If it hurt every time you put your shoes on wouldn't you be looking at boots or barefoot? It wouldn't take long until you found something else or got cranky when putting shoes on. He can't speak and tell you what's wrong.

If he hasn't had his sheath cleaned for a while get it done. I know a TBx gelding who came in with developing bad habits - he was asked to leave the previous "trainer's" barn after he bucked the trainer off twice. First thing he got was a physical - a thorough one. It included getting his sheath cleaned where it was found a thumbnail sized bean was wedged up in there...now if you faced that wouldn't you get a little cranky. :-D He never bucked again. It *was* found though that he had some developing arthritis and he wouldn't stand up to serious jumping so he went home to just be a horse and do little things with.

Eliminate ALL excuses your horse could have. Look at yourself and how you're reacting to him too.

Answer 2

Firstly, I'm sorry to say that it comes with having a stallion. Having said that, you still can deal with him. How long have you had him? He might have just realized what it takes to get away with stuff. Stallions, particularly Thoroughbreds, are used to harsh handling. You need to "beef up". Horses in general read body language. Be aggressive. If he's being pushy, push him back. Be careful, stallions can be dangerous. When leading him, if he tugs or tries to rear, yank hard on him once and give him a yell.

What does he do if when he acts up? If he rears, please send him to a professional. Rearing is a dangerous problem. If he bucks, that just might be extra energy. If he pulls, DON'T PULL BACK. If he has training, he knows what's expected of him. When he gets strong, turn him in a circle. Let go of your outside rein completely and give and take on your inside rein. Take and release is more effective than just pulling. Before you change bits, add a flash. That will prevent him from opening his mouth and grabbing the bit in his teeth. If that doesn't help, you might want to try harsher bitting. Be aware, however, that the more you put in their mouth, the more you'll have to be careful and probably add a martingale if you don't already have one. If he is unresponsive to your leg, wear a small spur. Carry a crop. If you ask for a canter and he doesn't respond, for example, give him a tap with the crop, right where you would use your leg. That reinforces your leg, as well as gives a little bit of pop.

If he's being a stallion and "showing", don't hesitate to use a chain on him. Behavior like that is completely unacceptable. Again, please have a professional help you. Stallions can be dangerous and unpredictable.

Lastly, give him some time. Sometimes stallions go through phases. A stallion I once retrained and ended up competing for a friend would have days when he would refuse to do anything. You have to write that off to them being stallions.

Good luck and be safe!

Answer 3

some of that comes with owning a stallion. My advice would be to get him checked over by a vet, and take him out in a big field for a good gallop! That always helps my horse.

ALso use clear signals. A harsher bit isn't always the right solution. If your horse misbehaves make it clear to him that what he did is unpermisable. (WITHOUT hurting him OF COURSE) Just let him know who's in control and where he stands. Many horses like to test their rider to see what they can and cannot get away with. The key is to not get frustrated: Remember he is an intelligent animal as you are an intelligent rider. Horses have a huge learning capacity and can remember what you want them to do when you tell them clearly. (They can also remeber mistreatment, and do not forget it easily!)

The same theory is true when the horse is good. When he does what you want give him a scratch on the neck. But don't go crazy, or you will lose everything you just gained. Again, just let him know that he did good and to keep it up. (Confidentially a few cookies/horse treats once in a while never hurt)



Moral: Love your horse......eventually he will settle down.

Answer 4

I have a good bet on what the problem is. First of all, you have to consider he is a stallion so he will act up a little. I think that you could be giving him wrong signals. Even if you are an experience rider he is doing his job. When your clucking or something asking for a trot, maybe his dressage trainer taught him that means to canter. That's also probally the reason why he isn't turning too. There are many ways to ask a horse to turn. Try using your leg more like if your turning right, push with your left leg. Usually in dressage, you just use the reins for correcting the neck and most of everything else is your legs--like turning and cantering. So keep training him to the way your doing it with a mix of what you think his old trainers taught him. Like I said, try using more leg and less rein, then slowly ease him into more rein and less leg. Email me if that helps, and if it doesn't, then I have another idea.

Answer 5

Has he been looked over by a vet? Some horses hide injuries (don't limp, etc) but act up when you try to work them. That's what was going on with my cousin's horse. She had sprained an ankle and the block head didn't let anyone know about it for a week, just turned into a raging brat.
Check the tack and shoes. Is there a rough patch driving him nuts, distracting him from commands?
Have you changed anything recently, sometimes they temporarily forget stuff if they are trying to process something new.
If none of this applies, maybe he is just a little burnt out. Try something he likes and see what he does. Lots of praise for doing what you want him to do and try to ignore what you don't want him doing.
Good luck

Answer 6

sorry to say it but get him denutted stallions are high strung when around other horses and it you cant brake there ways you got problems first off you need the upper hand and show him who is boss --you

Answer 7

Put him in the barn and buy a car.

Answer 8

hes lost his touch- time to replace him-- he wants to retire