Knot Head horses

seaecho · 10-30-2009, 07:31 PM

In the "good ole days" thread someone mentioned he remembered a lot of horses in his past being knot heads. I found this interesting, and it got me to thinking, as I have a horse I recently bought that I'm wondering about. I've only had him a little over two weeks, but he's showing some behavior that makes me wonder if he is indeed a knot head. I won't go into details right now about my problems with him. First I'd like to know how you define a knot head, and if a horse is in fact a knot head, will he always be one? Is there no hope for him? If a horse has a really bad attitude, can the average one be rehabilitated, or is he going to be this way to one degree or another for his entire life? Can he ever be trusted? I am reasonably sure this horse of mine has not been abused. There is no indication of it from the former owner, or the horse's actions (he isn't fearful at all of people). Let me know your experiences, then I'll let you know more about what is going on with my new horse.

IIIBarsV · 10-30-2009, 08:49 PM

Knothead probably means "moron". LOL So....

CJnBucksMom · 10-30-2009, 09:26 PM

LOL I've had my fair share. Some have turned into really great horses, others better than they were but always slightly 'special' LOL

seaecho · 10-31-2009, 02:10 PM

Thanks. I think this horse has an attitude. When asked to do something yesterday that he didn't feel like doing, he shook his head, reared, then tried to bolt. I think I jumped to conclusions when I assumed he was being aggressive with me. I have calmed down some since yesterday. And I can think more clearly now. I haven't done much with him except ride him a few times since I got him. I certainly haven't asked much of him. I realize he might have not understood what I was asking, and in his frustration, he panicked, reared and bolted. I didn't let him get away from me, thank goodness (blistered hands, lol) and yanked him back and worked on it some more. He kicked out at the dog a few times. (I think he wished it were me). I was asking him to back. Something he's very lazy about. He will back only one or two steps, and this is with a lot of hard jerks on the halter. Talk about dull! I had put up with it until now because of his newness. So I was practicing the Clinton Anderson thing of getting him out of my space by waving the dressage whip in front of him as I walked forward, toward him. If he didn't back fast enough, he'd get a whack in the chest. He got whacked a few times, and that's when he reared, and came toward me after rearing, then bolted. When he came toward me like that, I was thinking it was an aggressive move. But the more I think about it, I'm starting to realize that maybe he just didn't understand what I wanted. He was backing, yet he kept getting hit with the whip! He didn't understand he was supposed to back with energy.

Otherwise, he's a real people loving horse. But pushy on the ground. Will crowd you. Nip at you. Will try to graze when being led, and will brace against you when you put pressure on the leadrope. Will paw a LOT when tied (even if only for a couple of minutes). Ignores the word whoa (which has now been fixed!) I think he was half testing me, and half not sure what I wanted. But he did show a bit of attitude is why I asked about it. I was so in shock when he reared that I didn't think to look to see if his ears were pinned. He did have a sour look on his face as I worked him after that. I made him lunge in both directions, and made him stop on the command whoa with hard jerks if he didn't comply immediately. Then made him back up a few times, at the rate of speed I dictated, the end of the lesson. Backed him about 10 feet each time, and he stayed out of my space, and I noticed the nipping did not resume after that. All of this took about 40 minutes. I led him all around, saying stopping at random and saying "Whoa." He stopped instantly each time, with no tension on the lead rope.

I had not asked much at all of him before this, since I've only had him two weeks, and he had a long cross country trip to get here. I figured he needed time to rest and settle in. But we don't tolerate disrespectful horses around here. I think that he'll be fine in a few weeks' or months' time. I just need to use a different tactic than I do with my other two, who are sensitive, and just the opposite of him. I think he'll always need a firmer hand than they do. My other Rocky gets nervous when I reprimand him! But I don't think he's malicious. Do you get the same feeling about it? I'd love to get other members' input on the situation, and your experiences with similar horses.

jedy · 10-31-2009, 02:38 PM

Subscribing. He's dominant and aggresive.

gluey33 · 10-31-2009, 02:44 PM

I think you've worked it out yourself. I'm going to guess that the previous owner wasn't assertive and maybe even spoilt him a little. You sound like you've allready acheived something. Just be careful and keep your eyes on him.

10-30-2009, 07:31 PM	#1
seaecho Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 880 Images: 23	Knot Head horses In the "good ole days" thread someone mentioned he remembered a lot of horses in his past being knot heads. I found this interesting, and it got me to thinking, as I have a horse I recently bought that I'm wondering about. I've only had him a little over two weeks, but he's showing some behavior that makes me wonder if he is indeed a knot head. I won't go into details right now about my problems with him. First I'd like to know how you define a knot head, and if a horse is in fact a knot head, will he always be one? Is there no hope for him? If a horse has a really bad attitude, can the average one be rehabilitated, or is he going to be this way to one degree or another for his entire life? Can he ever be trusted? I am reasonably sure this horse of mine has not been abused. There is no indication of it from the former owner, or the horse's actions (he isn't fearful at all of people). Let me know your experiences, then I'll let you know more about what is going on with my new horse.

10-30-2009, 08:49 PM	#2
IIIBarsV Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eastern Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,376 Images: 27	Knothead probably means "moron". LOL So.... __________________ Three Bars The Fifth Jags Fleeting Rocket Wish I'd Get Lucky Chipped In Stone Zip Code Bay B Suns Eternal Flame

10-30-2009, 09:26 PM	#3
CJnBucksMom Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tenntucky Posts: 1,109 Images: 127	LOL I've had my fair share. Some have turned into really great horses, others better than they were but always slightly 'special' LOL __________________ Official Member of the 'My Husband is Hot Club' 'Real Stallions Wear Pink' Sexy by ChristmasChallenge-r!! Goal: 19 lbs LOST CURRENT: 1 lbs LOST

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10-31-2009, 02:10 PM	#4
seaecho Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 880 Images: 23	Thanks. I think this horse has an attitude. When asked to do something yesterday that he didn't feel like doing, he shook his head, reared, then tried to bolt. I think I jumped to conclusions when I assumed he was being aggressive with me. I have calmed down some since yesterday. And I can think more clearly now. I haven't done much with him except ride him a few times since I got him. I certainly haven't asked much of him. I realize he might have not understood what I was asking, and in his frustration, he panicked, reared and bolted. I didn't let him get away from me, thank goodness (blistered hands, lol) and yanked him back and worked on it some more. He kicked out at the dog a few times. (I think he wished it were me). I was asking him to back. Something he's very lazy about. He will back only one or two steps, and this is with a lot of hard jerks on the halter. Talk about dull! I had put up with it until now because of his newness. So I was practicing the Clinton Anderson thing of getting him out of my space by waving the dressage whip in front of him as I walked forward, toward him. If he didn't back fast enough, he'd get a whack in the chest. He got whacked a few times, and that's when he reared, and came toward me after rearing, then bolted. When he came toward me like that, I was thinking it was an aggressive move. But the more I think about it, I'm starting to realize that maybe he just didn't understand what I wanted. He was backing, yet he kept getting hit with the whip! He didn't understand he was supposed to back with energy. Otherwise, he's a real people loving horse. But pushy on the ground. Will crowd you. Nip at you. Will try to graze when being led, and will brace against you when you put pressure on the leadrope. Will paw a LOT when tied (even if only for a couple of minutes). Ignores the word whoa (which has now been fixed!) I think he was half testing me, and half not sure what I wanted. But he did show a bit of attitude is why I asked about it. I was so in shock when he reared that I didn't think to look to see if his ears were pinned. He did have a sour look on his face as I worked him after that. I made him lunge in both directions, and made him stop on the command whoa with hard jerks if he didn't comply immediately. Then made him back up a few times, at the rate of speed I dictated, the end of the lesson. Backed him about 10 feet each time, and he stayed out of my space, and I noticed the nipping did not resume after that. All of this took about 40 minutes. I led him all around, saying stopping at random and saying "Whoa." He stopped instantly each time, with no tension on the lead rope. I had not asked much at all of him before this, since I've only had him two weeks, and he had a long cross country trip to get here. I figured he needed time to rest and settle in. But we don't tolerate disrespectful horses around here. I think that he'll be fine in a few weeks' or months' time. I just need to use a different tactic than I do with my other two, who are sensitive, and just the opposite of him. I think he'll always need a firmer hand than they do. My other Rocky gets nervous when I reprimand him! But I don't think he's malicious. Do you get the same feeling about it? I'd love to get other members' input on the situation, and your experiences with similar horses.

10-31-2009, 02:38 PM	#5
jedy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,533 Images: 48	Subscribing. He's dominant and aggresive.

10-31-2009, 02:44 PM	#6
gluey33 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,192 Images: 8	I think you've worked it out yourself. I'm going to guess that the previous owner wasn't assertive and maybe even spoilt him a little. You sound like you've allready acheived something. Just be careful and keep your eyes on him.