Need some NR support

[Barcie]

feeling as if I have just gone backwards with my Boy and think it is all my fault.

I had an RA out a few weeks back who did join up with him as he was being difficult to catch (turning bum on me etc) he has improved considerably since then standing patiently and I got adually halter which he respects as he is also a bargy horse and as a big 16.1 he is alot of horse to handle.

I have been doing ground work with him in the school when I can. I also practice stopping and leading properly when turning him out and bringing him in.

However tonight he lunged for the grass and then when I brought him to his stable and tied him up outside barged through me to get at his hay over the stable door. I sent him back but he just kept on barging not respecting my space and twice pinning me to the stable door to get at his hay. Only until had I clipped the leadrope back on the nose control of the halter would he go back.

I then took him away and walked him round and did some backing up in the yard. Brought him back and still he was antsy did more backing up moving forward until he was still and the he relaxed but as soon as I turned my back he barged again.

It was at this point that when he pinned me again that I think I lost my cool and shouted and gave him a quick slap on the shoulder to no avail whatsoever. I then returned to backing him up to pick his feet up and everytime he moved put him back in the same place. After about 20 times of doing this he finally let me finish of his feet.

Feel dispondent about losing my cool and feel as though I have gone backwards. Was it just hunger making him more bargy than usual. The last few days he has not been eating his hay as it is not the best batch our YO has had in and I have been given him haylage to top it up. I just feel that we had been making such good progress and I have undone it all by just not being patient enough. Sorry so long. Long day at work plus have a cold feeling low.

[NoviceNic]

I think I would of lost my cool and slapped his shoulder as well if he was pinning me up a door.:eek: A slap on the shoulder was deserved in this dangerous situation. You are doing well by the sounds of your post. One RA lesson is not going to cure all your horses bad manners. Practise, practise and practise. Your horse will test you as you take over as herd leader. I am going through the same issues with my cob. I am really sticking to my guns and it sound as though you did today as well. Keep practising and you will soon be benefitting from the effect. :) Keep up the good work. :)

[rohan]

Keep your chin up my RI says it can seem like 10 steps forward and 5 steps we all have our off moments. Try not to let this stop ypur work it takes time for him to lern that there some new rules when things go right lots of praise teach him the word no and halt use any treat to get his attention then make the wait a little longer so you can do more with him use your finger tips to get him to go over, back etc and reward him it is amazing how fast they learn but ther forget just as quick. Eventually with pleanty of good boys you will get away with a treat at the end of the day, and a happy well manered horse. Just like my baby boy Rohan.;) :)

[Alfies-slave]

Don't panic!

The pushy horses I look after have all become more pushy and the mannerd ones have become keener... becuase it is getting colder and there is less grazing, they NEED their feed and associate the stable with food!

Any horse will take 3 steps forwards and then 2 (or more back) thats how they learn. You teach them something, they accept it, then they test you to see if you meant it!

Also, look at things positivly. When a horse plays up it is presenting you with a training oportunity.

Go right back to basics in respecting space/leading, backing up. Don't forget masses of praise when he gets it right.

[sheryl]

Hi,
I completely agree with NoviceNic. It sounds like you are doing exactly the right thing. Don't feel bad about giving him a slap. He needs to know you are not happy with him.
I would avoid taking your eye off his, when he is in this mood. My colt is exactly the same. Its always when you drop your guard that they take a pop! I have learnt to have eyes in the back of my head! As soon as he starts, he gets a loud, angry, growl, a hard stare in the eye, and a wavey finger, and it normally nips it straight in the bud.
It definately sounds like he may be hungry though, so I'd sort out the hay situation, so atleast you can feel warrented for getting hard with him.
Have you tried soaking your hay? It might make it more palatible;) .
Keep up your groundwork training. I think its normal to take a step back sometimes, but I'm sure you'll get there in the end:)

Good luck!

[Stella2]

It sounds like he is a very pushy horse so you don't have an easy job on your hands and you did a stearling job :) Remember if you had been another horse (higher in the herd) you would have bitten or kicked him by then. I'm not advocating that, but you didn't do anything dreadfully wrong at all, so don't beat yourself up about it. I'd make my body much bigger and more threatening - as much as is needed to get his attention. wide arms, higher and higher as needed, full glaring eye contact, separating your fingers can help as it makes your hands look more preditory and lunge toward him if necassary. Never take a step backwards, stamp, kick your feet toward him, but never take a step backwards.

Even if he is hungry, although more liable to 'forget himself', he should still respect you.

Anyway, it sounds like you are doing great, its easy to find ourselves just concentrating on the perceived negatives when we're feeling tired and run down :)

[Clare-22]

Don't lose heart, I think with horses it always seems to be one step forward two back. You sound like you have got some good support from your RA, and I am sure with consistant handling you will get there :)

Don't feel bad about losing your cool, it sounds that you were in a sticky situation and needed to do what you could to keep yourself safe. Chalk it down to experience and move on :)

[bexj]

I have a pushy bargy horse, and she used to pin me against walls quite regularly, and she is also 16hh, so I can completely sympathise with you. You did the right thing - he was disrespecting your space, you had asked him several times to move, and you had to become firmer with him. Well done. That takes some guts. You will get through this - I nearly sent my horse back to where she came from many times in the first few months.

He's new to you isn't he? Has anything drastic changed about his routine from his last home? Could you go back to a similar regime that he was used to before? One of the breakthrough moments for me was changing yards, to one that had a more similar routine to the one she was used to. After that, it was lots of groundwork, lots of fun to get her trust - we used to play "Let's touch" - the scary skip, the road cone etc etc, but always, always had to handle her firmly and fairly, with the necessary actions if she stepped out of line - whether that was a quick step or two backwards, or a few stern words and a well deserved slap on the shoulder.

Gradually she got better and better, until, I could begin to relax with her, but it did take a long time. Even now, when she is having a marish tantrum spell, we have to go back to the firm handling, respect my space, kind of actions, the difference being, that I only have to look at her in a certain way now, and she will back off, apologising profusely!

It sounds like you are doing the right thing, but these things do take a lot of time.

[Bay Mare]

Don't be despondent. We all make choices which we later feel to be wrong. It's happened now and you need to move on from it. I don't think that anyone can blame you for a slap in those circumstances! Probably most definitely warranted.

Horses have 'off days' like we have off days. He was probably hungry what with the cold etc. I'd like to see anyone stop me when I'm starving ;)

Consistency is the key and also reward. It's difficult to remember to reward when they're being difficult but even if you have to reprimand try to remember to reward the 'try'.

I have a dominant mare so can completely understand how you're feeling right now. I have smacked her though thankfully my 'smack' reaction has diminished considerably since I've been more aware (not that I smacked a lot anyway). I can always tell when I've backed off a bit because she steps up! We have a relationship now where 99.9% of the time I only need to look her in the eye or growl at her if she steps out of line. She will probably always push the boundaries but at least she now does it with respect!

Good luck, down be dispirited, keep up the good work and you will move on.

x

[Whatanejit]

You are 3/4 of the way there to sorting things already.

You have reflected on the situation, entered into a discussion to get further bits of info from NR peeps and will know what to do differently the next time.

My boy, after strict boundary teaching from his first week, is a different boy when he is waiting on his dinner.

He will back up but will rush straight forward again - I back him up and give him is tea. He is not a dog that I can say 'stay, sit, give me your paw?' although he does wave his hoof around:)

Always put him and you in the optimum position and circumstance for success and you will be fine.

[rohan]

I thought Rohan was wierd he does give hoof when you ask not just for food by the way it helps for his streches:)

[Afellpony]

He's just pushing his luck and seeing how far he can go with you. If you 'stamp' on the naughtiness as soon as it begins, it's easier to control later on. Falcon's beginning to ask questions now and is getting a bit 'lippy'. A couple of times now, I've had to put hm in his place but then, he's growing up and is entitled to ask questions. I guess he's trying to suss out whether I'm a suitable leader for him to follow or not! Or, may be he thinks he should be leader - now there's a nice thought!!!!!!!

[Barcie]

thanks for all your replies tonight he was pushy again but as soon as he lunged for his food i growled and look him in the eye and pushed him back and he is getting the message and started relaxing.

sometimes you just need the encouragement to keep on doing the right thing and he is aquick learner. Feeling more positive that I am doing the right thing. Apart from the barginess he is generally a good boy will try an get some photos up for you all to aahh over. again thanks for NR support as always!!