please help! "problem horse"

[walterthepony]

I had a horse named T almost a year ago and we tried to sell him because he was too much horse for me and we sent him to a sale barn under a fancy trainer who kept him for months, said he was too much of a handful and not sellable, and passed him on to another trainer. She had him for several months and said the same thing. He has developed high separation anxiety (if a horse leaves the barn, he'll throw a tantrum) and cannot be ridden outside the ring. He'll also buck, rear, and stop and refuse to move.
No trainer can sell him so we're taking him back. I'm really excited (I've blocked out all those horrible days we had together) but I need to work with him so we can trust each other.
The only thing I can think of is natural horsemanship. I don't know much about it so please, help. He's coming near the end of March so I have some time to prepare...I love this horse so much and I can't let it end as another disappointment.

[mayoguinness]

Same story with Mayo. Sent to a trainer, came back worse, came to me, I did NH with him and the results are fanatstic. NH is all about understanding and communicating with your horse using gentle and compasionate techniques. It helps so called "problem horses" etc. Ahhh such a shame - your in the USA I was going to suggest Jayne Lavender, shes a fantastic Australian NH person and shes over in the uk for 3 years :) I've been having lessons from her and shes brilliant!! I don't know if she goes over to the US or not though :( someone else is bound to know of a Natural Horsemanship instructer over there though. Get yourself a really good NH instructer and work through it with them. About the best advice I can give you ;)

[walterthepony]

thanks. But I have to do this without an instructor. There are no good NH instructors by me. There's one but he is known for ruining horses. And I can't use a regular instructor. He's been hurt by so many "trainers". I don't want anyone else to touch him. He was so sweet.

[mayoguinness]

If you get a good NH istructer, he won't put him through any unnesercerry stress and you'll be doing all the work so you can stop whenever you want, proberly they'll instruct you so they don't touch the horse and they are brilliant, not like normal traditional instructers can be ;) If you want to do it by yourself though thats up to you, I'd really reccomend an instucter but the best thing you can do is read lots of good NH books, pick up tips and try your best............if your sure.....................

[julia gulia]

I can highly recommend this trainer.... .

http://www.bobjeffreys.com/

[india]

This sounds like a very insecure horse - but with plenty of time, patience and persistence I'm sure you'll eventually be able to help him gain confidence and learn to trust and respect you.

To begin with, I'd suggest going back to basics......forget about riding for the time being, just concentrate on building a solid relationship from the ground and spend time studying his behaviour patterns and body language,

If your not in a position to have NH lessons, read as much as you can on Natural Horsemanship training (there's always bargain books and DVD's on eBay). ;)

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress. :)

[pengapenga]

I agree with India. Take little baby steps and build trust from the ground:) It would really help also if you are able to go to a NH instructor for a couple of lessons but if you are unable hit the books:D

I would spend the first couple of weeks or so just letting him chill and get used to you being around and the new routine:)

Keep us updated on T and your progress and ask many questions here, even if you think they are dumb questions. The only dumb question is one you don't ask:D

[walterthepony]

Thank you for all the help. He's down in Virginia where there's a quarantine so if there are no more outbreaks, it will be lifted tomorrow. And then we'll try to get him.

[walterthepony]

http://xf1.xanga.com/aa4d053316430104811737/b74072324.jpg
This is T the last day I had him. It was one of the very few good days. I cried the entire time I was on him because he was so good. The jump was so easy and effortless. And it's 3'. I can't wait to see him.

[Bronya]

He sounds like he needs to know he's loved, and to feel secure and settled again. I'd leave it a long time (months) before you try to ride. Let him settle in a home where he will stay, give him lots of fuss and love, and just concentrate on helping him to feel safe and wanted again. After a month or so start to do some groundwork. I'd not lunge for a while, as you're 'sending away' if you lunge, and he sounds like that's what he's terrified of, being out of the herd and on his own. Read some good books - I'd read a Monty Roberts one, and I TOTALLY recommend Dancing with Horses by Klaus Ferdinand Hempflinger as well. I had a bolshy, insecure pony who'd spin and kick when led, and his techniques (easy to copy from the book btw) helped her to gain respect and confidence in me and other handlers. He gives loads of groundwork stuff, and it works really well. I didn't use any Monty Roberts stuff with my pony, but mixed the two a little for my horse.

Even with that, though, my pony behaved, but what she needed was a person of her own (insecure little madam that she is :rolleyes: ). When my boyfriend started to work and ride her she lost her last bit of defensiveness, and went from being an obedient, well-behaved pony because she respected humans, to one who really cared. She let herself really care for a human, and all her defensiveness evaporated. She is such a sweetheart now you'd never believe it was the same pony - doey eyed and follows him around like a puppy!

Remember though, that it takes most horses 6 months with one handler to really trust, so don't expect anything soon, just give him time. What you need, is for him to trust and care for you, then you can work together to have fun and achieve things.

Good luck, and keep us posted!:)