Horse runs me down!?

Question

I would appreciate any ideas on what to do with a horse that will walk right over you if you don't move..If you have the halter or bridle on him he can be controled even though sometimes it's hard. He's fine in every other way but if feed or something gets his attention he going where he wants to go, especially if he is loose. I've tried carrying a whip and smacking him when he gets close but if i don't move at the very last second he will walk right over me. thanks for any tried and true methods and ideas

thanks for your ideas, I do realize this is a dangerous situation and it needs to stop. He is absolutley getting in my space and has no respect for it. He was spoiled rotten when i got him and yes he was used to getting snacks. I've only had him for 2 weeks. I can control him when i have halter etc. on him but not when he's loose. He is so aggressive when it comes to feed i'm not comfortable walking into the pasture with a feed bucket.

Answer 1

How hard are you popping this horse with the whip? If this were my horse, that whip would be popping him pretty hard until the horse did back down.

The other things I would suggest, putting the horse in another corral until you have the feed completely out and then letting him out. I wouldn't tie him up because my worry would be, you untie this horse, he bolts and around and kicks up heels at you.

If none of the above worked, I would resort to an equine shock collar. This is a horrible vice and needs to be dealt with. The horse tries to run me down, he is going to get a charge. I honestly wouldn't own something like that, but I feel pretty confident, it would of been fixed before it got to that point.

Answer 2

Contrary to one person who answered, stud chains are not just for stallions and in this instance I would utilize it always, at least until you set boundaries here. Leave a break away halter or leather halter on this guy in the field and when you go in to get him, put the chain on him over his nose. If he pushes you around to get out the gate, back him by snapping the chain a few times. Each time he pushes, snap him backwards then halt him.

Never work him without a chain until he has learned his boundaries and discipline him immediately should he become pushy, I mean absolutely immediately. When he is in the field, take your lunge whip to enter the gate, make him stand the length of the lunge whip away from you. Each time he approaches, push him back until he lets YOU approach HIM. It may take 10 mintues each time you go in for him to understand, he will get the message sooner or later.

You have had him a short time, it is critical to stop this now so you will have a good relationship with him later. I would even keep the halter and chain on him, over the bridle, until you get to the arena then drop it once you go to mount. He will stop, it will take time.

Be careful but not intimidated.

Answer 3

Yes, getting a chain for the lead rope would be a good idea. Like you said, this horse does not respect your space. Whenever he does this, smack him in the neck (NEVER in the head!!!) (none of this hurts them, but it shows them who's boss). If he still doesn't stop, kick him in the leg. (like I said, it DOES NOT HURT THE HORSE -- It only surprises them -- You can kick them in the stomach [not SUPER hard] and it wouldn't hurt them). Yell at him, stare him down--Just don't let him do this to you. If you jump away, they will know that you fear them. NEVER let them rub on you, and even when you lead him, don't let him get too close to you.
Another good way to get a horse to respect you is free lunge him. It may sound weird, but it works. Use a whip when you free lunge them and make them do EVERYTHING you want them to do. After a couple of minutes, let them stop and turn your back to them. If they come up to you, walk away. If they follow you, that means that they submit to you. If they don't follow you or come up to you (give it a few minutes), start lunging them again. You may have to do this several times -- I have to do this almost every time with my horse (he's a gelding that matured as a stallion, so he acts like a stallion and if you don't do this he can sometimes get dangerous) -- but it works.
Hope this helps:)

Answer 4

You said you've already tried a whip, but was it a crop or a lunge whip? If a horse is running you over carry a lunge whip with you, and every time he gets into your space hit him with it. I know a guy who did this so badly I was worrying for my safety all the time. I broke down and got him in the face with a lunge whip and he hasn't done it since. Yeah, don't repeat that over and over or you'll get a headshy horse, but one hard pop with the whip in the face isn't going to do that.

Also, when he comes at you step forward. Don't back up or move sideways, step forward to 'meet him halfway'. Horses are prey animals, they'll do anything they think they can get away with to be in charge but if you're agressive right back they'll eventually back down.

Answer 5

You can start with a chain over the nose and see if it helps. If not, try putting in over his gums (but be careful a little pressure goes a long way). If he is loose, carry a whip and don't be afraid to use it - first on the ground and then on him.

If he is running in on you with a lounge line, use your whip to keep him out.

The person above is right, have his eye sight checked, but I'm willing to bet he is just spoiled.

Answer 6

Before you start anything with this horse be absolutely certain you can finish it. Obviously he thinks he's higher ranked than you - and expects you to give way which is what a subordinate horse woud do. Horse bosses seldom have to resort to physical force to achieve that - and nor should you.
My concernis that if he's really dominant and you're just a little bit uncertain he'll know it.
So, my advice is - get some help from someone who knows what they are doing. First to train you and then to give you backup while you are training the horse.
I strongly advise you don't use gadgets - you don't need them and they could make matters worse.
You need to be calm and confident - believe you are the boss. That's 90% of the battle won already. Ultimately you want to be able to stand tall, stick out your chest and snake your head at him and have him drop his head, lick his lips and apologise.
I expect my horses to move away from me with a waggle of one finger. I carry 8 feedbuckets out and they line up in their pecking order and wait to be fed. I can walk up behind any of them when they are eating, I can pick up their feet, tickle their bellies, take their food away, I can do anything with them and that's the way it has to be with your horse - and not just for you - for any other human he comes into contact with.

Answer 7

This is a manners/respect thing. Chains are NOT the way to go. You can really hurt a horse with a chain and stud chains are for experianced owners of studs only! and not to be used by novice handlers. The plastic bag is fine until your riding down the road and a chunk of plastic blows buy... look out honey as your going for a ride! You don't need to scare him, or hurt him you need to teach him manners. Use a good fitting halter, take a shank, put knots into it ever foot or so and attach to the halter. make sure the cannot get tangled in any equiptment or feeders. Let him drag the shank around. He'll step on it, other horse may step on it... and it will stop him and teach him to yield to the pressure. Use a broom handle and when he starts to crowd give him a jab in the guts or behind the shoulder... a hard jab and tell him BACK OFF... sometimes horses like this need to be tied up and left tied for a while till they learn they aren't the boss... yield to pressure is the name of the game.

Answer 8

Ask an instructor to show u the most effective way to handle a horse with a headcollar on. You should defnately get a field-safe headcollar to leave on while he is loose. When leading him, regularly ask him to stop. Make extra sure that wen u lead him, even wen he co-operates, you ask him to stop. Do not let him continue until u ask him to.
This wil not hapen quickly, and it will require patience. Always carry a whip and DONT LET HIM GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING!!!!
Hope this helps! Keep safe!

Answer 9

Dallas is brilliant! You need to learn to speak horse body language and she just told you a few good ways to do it.

Another hopefully helpful hint is teaching him "whoa" dammit. Round pen ground work. In his stall if he starts to walk over you throw up your hands (be the large imposing human with the big voice) and say "WHOA" with feeling. dammit doesn't do much good, sorry.

And about chains, yes they ARE a valuable tool used correctly: one or two quick pops to get his attention on a few occasions will greatly improve his attitude. so much so that soon you won't need to use the chain tool, just a quick yank (pop) on the halter. Horses are many things, stupid is not one of them. Be sure the chain is under his bars, through on side halter metal loop, under bars to off side. You don't want to mess up his pretty face.

good luck

Answer 10

Sounds to me like you need to teach him the difference between your space and his. You need to learn to control him before he hurts you or someone else. He has no respect for you and that is a very dangerous thing. It is obvious he also has no respect for the whip. I would get on eBay and find a good book about teaching/breaking your horse from bad habits before someone gets hurt.