Last month i got a horse psychic out to talk to one of my horses she said he was worried about getting sent away i assured him he was with me for good but now he has turned into a nightmare!
He won't listen to any of my commands and he used to ride like a dream, he WON'T let me pick his hooves (he tries to lie down on me when i try), he WON'T let me put his bridle on (No matter how i hold his head and stick my finger in his mouth he won't take the bit). These problems aren't just me either he won't co-operate for anyone now.
He has been checked by the vet and there are no health problems and as i am the only person who has ever ridden him there has been nothing that has spooked him etc..
I really don't know what to do now. I feel he was only being good because he wanted to impress and now he knows he aint going anywhere he just thinks "screw her"!
I'm finding that i don't want to ride him because it's just SOOO hard to get him ready!
2007-07-17 20:04:47 · 17 answers · asked by PinkPotions 3 in Pets ➔ Horses
I've not had this particular horse long only about 6months, He is 5yrs old very well schooled! I do not ride him every day. 2 days a week i just bring him in and groom him and he gets lunged most days.
He was very badly treated in the past whipped, punched you name it, so i have been very patient and loving towards him but like i said i just don't know what is causing this behaviour now?
He does like me he enjoys lying down beside me and listening to me and resting his head on my shoulder and he always runs to me when he sees me in the field...
I just don't know!
2007-07-17 20:33:46 · update #1
I had similar problems with my own horse. When I first got him he was good as gold and did absolutely everything I asked then after a couple of months he wouldn't do anything. He wouldn't go forward when I was riding, started rearing and trying to hit me off the walls.
It turned out it was just him settling down and his true character coming out. After a few months of misery and a lot of patience he came good.
I spent a lot of time on groundwork and going back to basics with him, doing join up, lunging and long reigning etc. Don't try to fix everything at the once. Concentrate on one thing at a time and you'll get there. Also make sure you're strict with him. I found part of my problem was that I was being too soft with him. You need to be consistent at all times. If he misbehaves walk away and ignore him for a while. If he does something good give him a big pat and a treat.
Stick with it, I guarantee it'll be worth it in the end and you'll have a great bond with him.
2007-07-18 01:39:32 · answer #1 · answered by A Nonymiss 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
This may sound silly but bring your psychic back and have her tell him that just because you promised to keep him forever, that is absolutely no excuse for his misbehaving like this. In fact, it's causing you to perhaps, maybe, almost, feel a twinge - just a twinge, mind you, of regret for having promised to keep him forever since he's not at all grateful for his new and loving home.
She should also tell him that just because he had a bad home once - that doesn't give him an excuse to abuse a new and loving human friend.
I'm sure he'll understand just how naughty he's behaving - and just how perilously close to losing his new forever home he is. Truly, if he can't/won't be ridden/worked, he'll have to be re-homed or at least sent to school where he may not get the kind of attention and love he has now.
Now then. As others have said, spend more time working on the basics - and use a nice ride as a reward for his doing well.
2007-07-18 08:25:39 · answer #2 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First, you need to get a good trainer. It seems like this horse is getting away with things because you're letting him. You should find a reputable trainer that is good at what he/she does and knows how to work with your specific horse. Some horse-trainer combos just don't go together good, I found that out the hard way. And a very few of them can be mean to the horse and cause him to act worse, seen that too. Get a trainer with a good head on their shoulders, you might have to even search a bit.
Second, don't let your horse get away with anything. This is what makes a good deal of good horses act bad. It's not that they're a bad horse, but they just figure you'll let them get away with anything. If he bucks you off, for instance, get right back on. He'll realize that you mean business.
That's all you need--a trainer, some confidence, and to not let your horse get away with anything. Then you're good to go!
Anyone that asks payment for being psychic is not a psychic--real psychics won't ask for money. To them it's a gift that they have and most are willing to share it free, and very happy to, in fact. The few real ones would help you without needing money. The one you hired is a scam artist, it's been a few years since she's started and she's starting to believe it herself. Like Sylvia Brown.
And that psychic's hairstyle looked so funky on her. Why would a good horse you're happy with suddenly be afraid of you getting rid of him? Sure doesn't sound right to me.
2007-07-19 03:09:21 · answer #3 · answered by mathaowny 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not the fact that he 'knows' he's not going anywhere so 'screw' you. It's the fact that you have demonstrated that you are lower in staus than he is so why should he listen to you?
Get tough with him. Tough doesn't mean abusive. He has learned you are a push over. Horses are herd animals and as such have a hierarchy.
It's time for you to step up and become 'Boss Mare'. This will be hard for you at first but preservere and you will have that wonderful school horse back!
There are a variety of ways to accomplish this. Natural horsemanship methods like 'Join up' would work well.
2007-07-18 08:33:56 · answer #4 · answered by finski 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Hes five, he is only a baby.
Just spend some time with him without having to ask him for anything, then slowly pick 1 thing to do for a week i.e. pick out feet, then the next week pick feet out and groom, put bridle on but don't ride for a couple of days then put bridle on and lead him on foot.........
or an alternative would be go in ask him for his foot when he wont do it walk out and ignore him - so praise the good and ignore the childish behaviour.
Re-consider the lunging everyday its so boring for the young ones, they have so much to learn, see and experience.
You may be better finding someone to help you bring him on,
maybe your not riding enough or long enough you could then make a rota and he will have varied and fun things to make him want to go out.
Priase the good ignore the bad.
Good luck.
2007-07-18 06:33:20 · answer #5 · answered by bambam 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Do u now let him 'get away with murder' just because he was abused?
my horse was abused, then new owner spoilt him rotten, he became very very dangerous as he no longer had any boundaries, he learnt he was stronger then humans, n never knew when to stop.
If so, this needs nipping in the bud NOW!! before he gets to the stage my horse was at. make it very clear to him what is acceptable and whats not, n stick to that evry single day. DO NOT start anything that u wont be able to achieve, if u cant do it, get sum1 in to help that can.
Spend some days workin on gettin bridle on, then off again, then leave horse alone in peace. work up to gettin it on, lead round yard, off again, n just increase each time. as, for hooves work on just pick up/put down, then increase the amount of time held gradually. Just make sure u ave alot of time to do it in, the worst thing u can do is be worrying bout time as then it will take longer.
u say he was abused and so theres nothing that has scared him, but surely there may have been in his past?
If ur nervous/not confident around this horse, get sum1 in to help PLEASE as this horse is takin the mick out of u!!
2007-07-18 04:45:12 · answer #6 · answered by nikki c 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Heres my only idea. Because he was abused in the past, have you ever let him get away with things you wouldn't let another horse get away with? If a young horse, such as yours refuses to pick his feet up once and he gets away with it, he will remember and is likely to refuse to lift his feet again. Also, are you rough in the way you handle him? Do you bang the bit on his teeth or jab his feet when you pick them out? Take a look at how you are acting around him before you blame him.
2007-07-18 03:50:07 · answer #7 · answered by skip a heartbeat 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Bad karma lol j/k....
He's just seeing what he can get away with. How long have you had this horse??
Theres lots of issues here and I know you believe they are all stemming from the psyhics visit, I am not convinced however.
Start back with groundwork on him, do round penning, practice bitting and unbitting. Just slowly work back and see if you can figure out where the holes are in his training,
On the other hand, if you think the psyhics visit was the stem of it, pay her to come back, whisper in his ear if he continues to be a puke, hes going down the road. Maybe that will reverse it??
2007-07-18 03:10:09 · answer #8 · answered by Mulereiner 7 · 13⤊ 1⤋
You should just spend a lot of time with your horse just to reassure him/her that you mean no harm to them. It might make the horse more relaxed and calm and listen to more of your commands if you just groom him and talk to him, although you might feel stupid doing it lol, but the horse should, will eventually begin to recognise your voice and know that you don't mean to hurt him/her. Just don't be too rough with him and get annoyed with him easily! Just give him time and he should be ok. Good Luck! xxxx
2007-07-18 07:18:32 · answer #9 · answered by Hunni Bunni xx 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Something that might be worth trying is Join up. If you are unsure of how to go about this there is loads of information on the internet, google etc. Or parelli training?
2007-07-18 06:18:58 · answer #10 · answered by lealea1989 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋