Bucking, Biting and kicking

[Horseluver1220]

Yes 3 dreaded thing for most novince riders but 3 things that I went through in one lesson on a gelding with a serious "horse friendly" prob. His name is Snoball and he hates other horse getting in his way. He bit my friends horse, then while cantering he started bucking when a nice bay was approching. Then he tried kicking a cute little grey pony(by the way SnoBall is a Fleabitten color) and finally after a jump I was supposed to canter over a cavalletti but a big brown horse came our way and SnoBall started bucking and began to try and kick and bite the other horse. I have never fallen off Snoball yet and my instructor tells my I'm very good at staying on(almost all my instructors said that at least once which is an even longer story). So for everyone who is afraid of horse because of bucking(or any thing else) just face your fears I did.

[Wally]

I would have great reservations allowing clients on a horse like that, my insurance company would throw the book at me too!

This sort of behaviour is alarming, and shouldn't be tollerated in a school environment. Facing your fear is one thing, but what about the poor soul on the horse who he tries to kick, misses and breaks a kneecap or ankle of the rider? This horse at the very least should wear a red ribbon to warn others.

[Kathleen3]

yikes!! There is a horse at my stables who does much the same thing. Many people prefer to ride him but he always has to stay away from other horses. He has kicked a few horses and they were really sore and had to go on stall rest for a long time.

[Hunt~Jump21]

Some horses are just very dominant in their behavior and don't like to have their space invaded by other horses. To the point of bucking like he really means it though, is a behavioral problem that could be very difficult to remedy if the horse has already been allowed to get away with it for a period of time. A horse should be taught from day one that this kind of behavior may be fine when out in the pasture but whenever humans are around or especially under saddle, it is completely unacceptable.
I don't really know what else to tell you other than you could try punishing his behavior everytime he threatens to buck/kick/bite another horse by carrying a crop and giving him a sharp smack on either his shoulder or behind whenever he tries, but if he's an older horse who has been getting away with this for years it may take a long time to correct. There are some longer potential cures that would require starting on the ground and leading him past other horses and smacking him for every kick/bite and rewarding him for everytime he walks past the other horse without expressing any kind of dominant behavior. By repeating this training everyday then slowly building up to the same procedure under saddle, he should eventually learn to behave himself around other horses. Good Luck*

[Wally]

I really don'r think it appropriate for a client to address such behavioural problems, it is down to someone who has time and experience, in such matters, again, once he realises he can get away with it with clients any training will be undone.