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So my aunts had this horse for 13 years, and it used to be just her and her son living with him. He was half broke I'll say, they could go around him and she would lounge him, but had trouble riding him. I've been trying to get him used to people (but I'm only able to train him during the summer) and I don't seem to be getting anywhere. He bites when he doesn't get his way, he bolts to the highway we live by when someone gets on him, he hates men, and I've done everything I know to do. I ride western, and I'll leave a link to the bit I'm currently using for him. We've stuck seven men on horseback with ropes in our pasture to catch him and you just can't, but he will walk right up to a woman and stick his head in a halter. (I'm female) I'm having serious trouble tacking him up too, but all in all I love him and don't want to give up on him because he can be a very loving horse. He'll hear kids and come out to the front of the pasture to watch them play. (He loves kids completely) he's a good boy, but we're just having a bunch of trouble. If this helps, we also work cattle. (If that has anything to do with anything). No one else wants to work with him because they see him as "dangerous" or a "lost cause".
here's the bit I'm currently using. (He absolutely doesn't respond to it.)
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiP9N6-2rTsAhXCgFsKHViiD6YYABAFGgJ5bQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAASE-RoYr0woYFRTspPTVlRZADaEmY&sig=AOD64_3rdVcH_I6NIMuUOHxnGvDKlRmyMA&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiu-NO-2rTsAhUMP6wKHRNPD30Qwg96BAgKECU&adurl=
(he is a gelding)
i'd also rather try not to change up tack as I've done so for a good two years now... but I'd be open to the recommendations.
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(sorry link didn't work correctly) |
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He needs to be started from the ground up in my opinion. I wouldn't even consider backing him until his ground manners are impeccable. It sounds as though he's pretty much had his way his whole life. A horse like that needs 6 days a week training. Can't comment on the man hater issue. Probably bad experiences with them has left him sour. Wish I could help more Foggy. Good luck! |
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Skye's Paradise said:
He needs to be started from the ground up in my opinion. I wouldn't even consider backing him until his ground manners are impeccable. It sounds as though he's pretty much had his way his whole life. A horse like that needs 6 days a week training. Can't comment on the man hater issue. Probably bad experiences with them has left him sour. Wish I could help more Foggy. Good luck!
Thank you skye! I greatly appreciate the help! <3 |
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I agree with this, and I'd actually go a step further to say you should probably bring in a professional if you are serious about making this horse into a riding horse at this point. If he's had 13 years of biting and bucking to get his way go unchecked, it's going to take some serious skill to undo those habits that are above the paygrade of internet advice in my opinion (particularly the biting). This also doesn't sound like a horse I think you should currently trust around children; I don't care how "friendly" he can be, a horse that bites could do serious harm to a child (not to mention yourself). I'd start with a vet workup and the evaluation of a professional trainer or two, and see if it's worth even taking the trouble to train him at this point. If you can afford to keep him as a pasture puff if you like him (and it sounds like you can, being he's been doing it for 13 years) and you have the land for another horse which it also sounds like, would it be easier/cheaper to find a horse that's had proper training without the excess baggage of this horse? Horse prices are low right now, it may be worth checking into if it's even worth paying for a trainer. I definitely wouldn't advise you keep working with him yourself though. I don't mean this offensively as I certainly would have no business working with such a horse either, so I am not knocking your skillset, but there are a few habits I firmly believe are best left to professionals and habitual biting is one of them. A simple change of tack isn't going to solve your problem I'm afraid. If you have to ask on the internet I just feel it would be safer to consult with a professional/professionals vs. chancing you getting hurt. Good luck whatever you decide, and stay safe.
Skye's Paradise said:
He needs to be started from the ground up in my opinion. I wouldn't even consider backing him until his ground manners are impeccable. It sounds as though he's pretty much had his way his whole life. A horse like that needs 6 days a week training. Can't comment on the man hater issue. Probably bad experiences with them has left him sour. Wish I could help more Foggy. Good luck!
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The one question I have is, what was his past before? That sometimes does have an effect on the bitting and kicking and not wanting to learn issues. Some horses just like to have another around to comfort them, and some rather have more human attention. So what I always say when you have an older horse and are trying to flip / starter train. Take I bit to understand their way, and why they want it. Figure out their personality, before getting into training and connect a firm bond. |
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Honestly, he reminds me of a horse my mom had 30 years ago. She described her horse as a plain asshole. He could be pleasant on the ground and he was trained, but he had major attitude problems. They used him as a ponyhorse for race horses, and he was a great ponyhorse, but every now and then he had a blow up and had to be reminded at he wasn't in charge. He knew better than to bite or kick anyone, but he would buck and throw a fit if he thought he could get away with it. He was almost untouchable when they got him because he was so awful. They treated him like he was an asshole. He was given unlimited hay and no grain and was an absolute tank. He was ridden almost every day. My mom, who was a licensed race trainer at the time, has never ridden with spurs and he was no exception, but he understood what a good kick in the ribs meant. The bit they used for him was a twisted dogbone semi gag that I occasionally run barrels with. The trick with that horse was to treat him like he was mean because that's exactly what he was. He could be an absolute gentleman over the fence and was fine to catch and tack, but he could be downright hateful if he wasn't under strict control. When we start horses, our goal is to be as light handed and quiet as possible, but he was the one thing that had to be ridden heavy handed. |
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Coruscant Farm said:
I agree with this, and I'd actually go a step further to say you should probably bring in a professional if you are serious about making this horse into a riding horse at this point. If he's had 13 years of biting and bucking to get his way go unchecked, it's going to take some serious skill to undo those habits that are above the paygrade of internet advice in my opinion (particularly the biting). This also doesn't sound like a horse I think you should currently trust around children; I don't care how "friendly" he can be, a horse that bites could do serious harm to a child (not to mention yourself). I'd start with a vet workup and the evaluation of a professional trainer or two, and see if it's worth even taking the trouble to train him at this point. If you can afford to keep him as a pasture puff if you like him (and it sounds like you can, being he's been doing it for 13 years) and you have the land for another horse which it also sounds like, would it be easier/cheaper to find a horse that's had proper training without the excess baggage of this horse? Horse prices are low right now, it may be worth checking into if it's even worth paying for a trainer. I definitely wouldn't advise you keep working with him yourself though. I don't mean this offensively as I certainly would have no business working with such a horse either, so I am not knocking your skillset, but there are a few habits I firmly believe are best left to professionals and habitual biting is one of them. A simple change of tack isn't going to solve your problem I'm afraid. If you have to ask on the internet I just feel it would be safer to consult with a professional/professionals vs. chancing you getting hurt. Good luck whatever you decide, and stay safe.
Skye's Paradise said:
He needs to be started from the ground up in my opinion. I wouldn't even consider backing him until his ground manners are impeccable. It sounds as though he's pretty much had his way his whole life. A horse like that needs 6 days a week training. Can't comment on the man hater issue. Probably bad experiences with them has left him sour. Wish I could help more Foggy. Good luck!
Thank you, I do keep the children away as much as I can for the most part by the way :) |
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Cando Farm said:
The one question I have is, what was his past before? That sometimes does have an effect on the bitting and kicking and not wanting to learn issues. Some horses just like to have another around to comfort them, and some rather have more human attention. So what I always say when you have an older horse and are trying to flip / starter train. Take I bit to understand their way, and why they want it. Figure out their personality, before getting into training and connect a firm bond.
He is terrified of men as he was tied to a tree and paddle beat at one point by a family friend who he was supposed to be staying with while my aunt was away at one point. He has ran off and has been completely uncontrollable around men. And thank you :) (we do not have contact with that man anymore) |
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Shingashina said:
Honestly, he reminds me of a horse my mom had 30 years ago. She described her horse as a plain asshole. He could be pleasant on the ground and he was trained, but he had major attitude problems. They used him as a ponyhorse for race horses, and he was a great ponyhorse, but every now and then he had a blow up and had to be reminded at he wasn't in charge. He knew better than to bite or kick anyone, but he would buck and throw a fit if he thought he could get away with it. He was almost untouchable when they got him because he was so awful. They treated him like he was an asshole. He was given unlimited hay and no grain and was an absolute tank. He was ridden almost every day. My mom, who was a licensed race trainer at the time, has never ridden with spurs and he was no exception, but he understood what a good kick in the ribs meant. The bit they used for him was a twisted dogbone semi gag that I occasionally run barrels with. The trick with that horse was to treat him like he was mean because that's exactly what he was. He could be an absolute gentleman over the fence and was fine to catch and tack, but he could be downright hateful if he wasn't under strict control. When we start horses, our goal is to be as light handed and quiet as possible, but he was the one thing that had to be ridden heavy handed.
I have taken most things stated here into serious consideration, as most of it is him throwing a fit when he doesn't get his way. As he has been a pasture ornament since coming back from the family friends I mentioned in the last post. Thank you for the bit suggestion, I'll have to look into it <3 |
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