QUESTION: I have a problem.
My yesterday-recently-gelded 2 yr old stud colt, Zues, tried to challenge me today. I just got him 4 days ago. I went to give him hay, and he started bucking and came around in front of me and started half rearing and striking out with front legs with his ears part way back. I, unfortunately, made the mistake of backing up. I didn't have anything with me, no riding crop or lead rope, and was a little surprised that he did this. (Not too surprised, considering he was a colt and the previous owner did not teach him any ground manners) I yelled at him, but I don't think he cared. Obviously, I know he doesn't respect me, otherwise he wouldn't have done this.
My question is: what do I do if he does this again, and what can I do specifically to make sure it won't happen again and to get him respecting me? I only have a small borrowed round pen, and it's not available because I have my 8 month old stud colt in there. I haven't had a chance to start working with him, at my peril it turns out, but I’m going out to work with him tonight.
If you could respond before I go out, that would be so great. :)
Thank you!
Michelle
ANSWER: Hello Michelle,
First of all, if he was recently gelded, he will still have stallion behavior for quite a while. You need to set yourself up for success before working with him. You have to have an enclosure of some sort- a round pen or a ring.
It is serious if he is going into your space and acting aggressively. You could easily get hurt. If you are not experienced in training young horses, you need to get professional help-no question about it. Now finding the right person may be difficult. There are many ways to get a young horse to be "submissive" without being cruel. Chasing him around a round pen until he is exhausted, scaring him, or throwing him are actual things that abusive trainers will do. Usually they are fearful people, and the only way they can "master" a horse is by overdoing the submissive-dominant theme.
I find double -lunging, correct in-hand work, and, probably with this horse, CORRECT round penning are what you need to do. If you want to email me at SummersDressage@aol.com, I can give you more specific instructions. Do not get into a dangerous situation with this horse because of ego, i.e., you do not want to seem afraid. You SHOULD be cautious with a horse that acts like this. Please let me know what you decide. This may well be a horse that you do not need to own.
Mitzi Summers
Summersdressage@aol.com
www.MitziSummers.com
www.toteachthebeautyofhorses.blogspot.com
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
How do you break in a 8year old almost wild stallion?
Question
There are four 8 year old stallions in the field next to our house 2 are wild 2 were broken in ages ago. I've been going out to see them a lot but I don't know how to break them in. They don't have any rugs or field shelters but if you could reply and help me I'd be pleased.
Answer
I have many questions to your question to help me understand your situation. Are they your horses? Why are they still stallions? Why are you deciding to work with them now?
If they are not yours, and they have no shelters, it sounds like a Humane Society has to be called in. They sound as if they have been neglected. You should not even attempt doing anything until they have all been gelded. Stallions running loose like that, in a herd, are too volatile until you have them gelded and then wait a couple of months for the testosterone to go out of their systems.
If you are not an experienced horse trainer, do not attempt working with them. If you have the resources to pay for a trainer, you need to do this judiciously. There are good trainers around who would not be abusive to these horses who know nothing, and there are "trainers" who would be most abusive.
You also HAVE to have correct facilities. The horses need shelters, and at the very least, a training ring. My email is SummersDressage@aol.com, and my web site www.MitziSummers.com. If you tell me more about your situation, I would be glad to try to help you out further.
Mitzi Summers
Summersdressage@aol.com
www.MitziSummers.com
www.toteachthebeautyofhorses.blogspot.com
There are four 8 year old stallions in the field next to our house 2 are wild 2 were broken in ages ago. I've been going out to see them a lot but I don't know how to break them in. They don't have any rugs or field shelters but if you could reply and help me I'd be pleased.
Answer
I have many questions to your question to help me understand your situation. Are they your horses? Why are they still stallions? Why are you deciding to work with them now?
If they are not yours, and they have no shelters, it sounds like a Humane Society has to be called in. They sound as if they have been neglected. You should not even attempt doing anything until they have all been gelded. Stallions running loose like that, in a herd, are too volatile until you have them gelded and then wait a couple of months for the testosterone to go out of their systems.
If you are not an experienced horse trainer, do not attempt working with them. If you have the resources to pay for a trainer, you need to do this judiciously. There are good trainers around who would not be abusive to these horses who know nothing, and there are "trainers" who would be most abusive.
You also HAVE to have correct facilities. The horses need shelters, and at the very least, a training ring. My email is SummersDressage@aol.com, and my web site www.MitziSummers.com. If you tell me more about your situation, I would be glad to try to help you out further.
Mitzi Summers
Summersdressage@aol.com
www.MitziSummers.com
www.toteachthebeautyofhorses.blogspot.com
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