At 10:41:41 on 09.11.11, demiLOVESbeau wrote:
I am having some major troubles with my 5 year old off the track gelding. He is a genuinely quiet horse and i have had him for nearly a year. I havent had many problems with him although i do feel i have had a negative effect on his ability and that he could be so much better with someone else. Recently I have moved him to a new property and here he has grown an extremely strong attachment to a mare and there is also alot of new, lush spring grass EVERYWHERE. I understand that for a young horse, moving to its second home can be a really strange ordeal and that the spring feed can go to their head but he has been so bad lately I am not sure wether I can handle it. He is usually super quiet out as well as at home and now he is getting very sour whenever he leaves the mare and when we went xc training the other day we couldnt keep 4 feet on the ground which is particulary bad considering he has never bucked or reared... ever. Please help! Is this just a phase he is going though or should I be looking for other options? I love this little man more than anything in this world, I want to work through it so badly but I just dont know wether that would be best for him...

At 02:04:32 on 11.11.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Sounds like he is testing your leadership, get tough, don't take him being sour leaving his buddy, get bossy for a while until it all passes, he is a stroppy teenager throwing a paddy ;) i would stick it out if i was you

At 17:48:45 on 16.11.11, Sadie Ann wrote:
Hello Demi, It sounds like your gelding has chosen that mare as his alpha over you. You are supposed to be his alpha at all times. Do you have a round pen? If so, do join up with him. It is important to appeal to his equine sensibilities because human ways will not change a horse's inter-species attachment. Once you get him under control on the ground from join up your confidence will build up and you'll be able to eventually take that same hierarchy in the saddle. I am more and more convinced, that like a dog, a horse needs you to be in control to be secure. He is just confused, not bad. I know it is so hard not to think negatively when you think his behavior is directed at you personally. Good luck!

At 13:22:48 on 18.11.11, Flicka wrote:
Yes I agree that he is probably acting up because he feels insecure and needs you to show him who is leader/boss. When they are in training they have a strict routine and they have to do what they are asked to do, the race yard certainly haven't the time to take any nonsense. Now he's with you, things have changed a lot, his routine and how you treat him are both probably a lot more relaxed? To us that sounds like a good state of affairs but it can leave a horse feeling insecure which is where the trouble starts. Take your emotions out of this and start being firm with everything you ask him to do. When you lead him, he must listen to you, not get ahead or barge, he must move away when you ask him to etc. And if he doesn't respond up the anti. I can relate to this problem as I've been through it, as Sadie Ann says, it's time for you to take control. In fact for a while you may feel like a control freak because you can't let up and really have to concentrate on making sure he does what you him to do, every time you ask it. But remember just be firm, but don't get angry. You can do it! Mind you, the lush grass may be making things worse. It may be worth putting a question in the Equine Nutrition Group. Lets us know how its going and any problems you encounter.

At 11:32:54 on 19.11.11, demiLOVESbeau wrote:
Thankyou so much everyone!! I cant believe how much help you are all being!! I have been doing lots of ground/in hand work and he has been a pain but i think we are getting somewhere! We still had more bad rides for about a week and then i finally had a few good ones which just gave me a bit more hope to keep going! He had to have a few days off because he pulled a shoe so i will probably ride him tomorrow and see how he goes now! Fingers crossed! Just have to really focus on NOT getting angry and just being really firm with him!! Hopefully next weekend ill go and have a lesson with my new instructor and she can help me out!! Thankyou so much everyone! Its really helping, fingers crossed it stays! :)