[Alliekk]

Originally Posted by Beeks

Sometimes those knee jerk reactions are the most affective. My gelding used to be very hmmmm, lets see how should I put this....fidgety?? Gawking about instead of paying attention, stepping on toes, knocking stuff over, etc. He would paw when tied and lip anything he could get his lips on. One day, after I had had a particularly stressful day, I brought him out to saddle him up and after he swung his head around and hit me in the head, one too many times, I came absolutely uncorked. I had the biggest hissy fit EVER, like a spoiled rotten two year old throwing a colossal tantrum. He was looking at me like I had sprouted fangs and teeth and when I had finally spent myself, approached me cautiously with hears forward, nose extended and nostril sniffing.

I never once struck him though, but he has been a better horse ever sense.

I felt much better afterwards as well and my friend and I both got a good laugh out of it. Especially his reaction to me, afterward.

I don't think I've ever actually laughed out loud while home alone!!! Beeks, you just made my day. I can clearly picture your hissy fit, too (my sister used to have them until she was 20)! Arms flapping, foot stomping, incoherent babbling between frustrated shreaks of anger. Yeah, I can see it and I'm still laughing. I can also see your horse's expression, but that's only because my mom's gelding does it all the time, lol. We call it the cookie look. Every time he smells a cookie he arches his neck, pricked ears, flared nostrils, searching. We laugh and imitate what he's thinking: Cookie? Cookie? Please? Cookie?

[Circle C]

Originally Posted by K Riding Girl

i know some people are against the idea of "hurting" a horse in training - however, pain is a common way horses get their point across

Im glad you said this... totally true! Horses kick and bite each other to get the point across. Id be letting him know that I'm the alpha and if he bites/kicks/pins ears etc at me, it comes with a price!

I also think that roundpenning with distractions is a good idea.

[Beeks]

Originally Posted by Alliekk

I don't think I've ever actually laughed out loud while home alone!!! Beeks, you just made my day. I can clearly picture your hissy fit, too (my sister used to have them until she was 20)! Arms flapping, foot stomping, incoherent babbling between frustrated shreaks of anger. Yeah, I can see it and I'm still laughing. I can also see your horse's expression, but that's only because my mom's gelding does it all the time, lol. We call it the cookie look. Every time he smells a cookie he arches his neck, pricked ears, flared nostrils, searching. We laugh and imitate what he's thinking: Cookie? Cookie? Please? Cookie?

Yes....I have to admit, after I was done, I had a pretty good laugh at myself as well. When I was talking to my friend about how he was sizing me up afterwards she told me, had I turned around and looked at her, I would have seen the exact same expression. That's about when we both lost it to the giggle bug.

[tryintofly]

Originally Posted by K Riding Girl

i like the stud chain idea - and if he pins his ears at you give him a good smack (on the muzzle)

i know some people are against the idea of "hurting" a horse in training - however, pain is a common way horses get their point across

and if you get frusturated, DONT give in to him. this will teach him that he can get away with things.

I totally agree. My buttons was a "studly mcangryface". He used to push me all about this is what I did

~bitting- held a brush and when he bit he ran into it or i used my hip and boped him in the nose
~kicking- everytime he kicks towards me i slap him reall hard on the flesh part of the nose or slap him twice with a crop (still working on this very hard to cure)
~trying to run over me at feeds- carred a lunge whip and didn't let him get any close than the end of my whip if he did i cracked it (not on him just at him)
~running over me when i led him- stud chain and a hard crack when he ran over me or tryed to go where he wanted

Now he is cured of everything but the kicking. He doesn't kick very much anymore though. Hope "studley" is cured!!

[Alliekk]

Originally Posted by tryintofly

I totally agree. My buttons was a "studly mcangryface". He used to push me all about this is what I did

~bitting- held a brush and when he bit he ran into it or i used my hip and boped him in the nose
~kicking- everytime he kicks towards me i slap him reall hard on the flesh part of the nose or slap him twice with a crop (still working on this very hard to cure)
~trying to run over me at feeds- carred a lunge whip and didn't let him get any close than the end of my whip if he did i cracked it (not on him just at him)
~running over me when i led him- stud chain and a hard crack when he ran over me or tryed to go where he wanted

Now he is cured of everything but the kicking. He doesn't kick very much anymore though. Hope "studley" is cured!!

Lol, I let my gelding (same 1 that got his face ''stuck'' in the gate) ''run into'' my elbow! lol. If I had something in my hand I might be inclined to use it, lol.

[tryintofly]

Originally Posted by Alliekk

Lol, I let my gelding (same 1 that got his face ''stuck'' in the gate) ''run into'' my elbow! lol. If I had something in my hand I might be inclined to use it, lol.

Yeah it totaly works the brush thing. He stoped biting after i used the brush a few times.

[IIIBarsV]

1) Rope halter.

2) Jerk x3 for bad behavior, followed by asking him to "do" something, such as back up, step over, drop his head.

3) Lots of praise for the good behavior. Studly McAngryface has probably been treated overly roughly in his previous life of having a pair of baseballs between his legs- and got fed up, so he started just barging on through and getting his way out of frustration.

Yes, a common cause of this is inconsistent training or non-dominant handlers; but a bigger cause of a grouch is a horse who has not been shown respect or appreciation, and has just been ordered around by people that in his mind, he owed nothing to. I'd become a pushy, grouchy bitter... oh wait, I'm there already.

Hard to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

[Ambrose]

Just wanted to update everyone who gave advice on Sunny the grouch.

He is doing great! No more ear-pinning when you get near him, he lets you clip on the lead rope without being pushy, walks with you without jerking you around - I walked him a few laps around a full feed bucket BEFORE dinnertime without a problem after telling him no just once! He used to drag me across the barn if he saw food.

Took him out for a good grooming today and he stood like a champ, even nuzzled me like the "good horses" while I worked.

We still have to work on some things, like bolting for his stall, but Sunny's manners have really done a 180 since he started getting consistent attention and discipline. I can't thank you guys enough for the advice you gave.

I'll be sure to update since we're going to work on getting him back under saddle in the next few weeks.

[Alliekk]

This is great to hear! I'm so proud of you for taking this poor horse on! I'm glad you don't keep grudges against him.

[APHAgurl91]

Originally Posted by IIIBarsV

1) Rope halter.

2) Jerk x3 for bad behavior, followed by asking him to "do" something, such as back up, step over, drop his head.

3) Lots of praise for the good behavior. Studly McAngryface has probably been treated overly roughly in his previous life of having a pair of baseballs between his legs- and got fed up, so he started just barging on through and getting his way out of frustration.

Yes, a common cause of this is inconsistent training or non-dominant handlers; but a bigger cause of a grouch is a horse who has not been shown respect or appreciation, and has just been ordered around by people that in his mind, he owed nothing to. I'd become a pushy, grouchy bitter... oh wait, I'm there already.

Hard to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

I agree with all of this ^^^^. A lot of the time people think that it is okay and necessary to be excessively harsh with stallions. This isnt true, and in most cases creates a very angry, aggressive stallion. Stallions are just like any other horse. They need to be taught how to act by a trainer that trains them with patience and love, they do not just automaticaly know how to act "good."