Proud Cut Gelding

Question
I purchased a 6 year old APHA gelding 3 months ago.  When I first brought him home he was calm.  The longer I have had him he has been pushy and nipping at people.  When I got him home he was very interested in every pile of horse poop on the property.  He is not as interested in the piles as much.  He has been kept with 2 mares and 2 other geldings in a pasture.  In the last two weeks he seems to have gotten to big for his britches (i.e. pushy and nipping).  Also I believe it was 2 weeks ago he mounted my mother's mustang mare.  He has also taken to herding the mares and chasing off the other 2 geldings he is in pasture with.  I was told he was gelded when he was 4 years old.  He has sired on foal that I know of.  Could he be proud cut or just trying to see how far he can push the people that are around him.  He is a real sweetheart actually he  is an overgrown dog.  Comes when he is called, stands pretty well and seems to enjoy human interaction.  One other thing I guess I should mention is that he is very green broke (only rode about 10-15 times).  Please help I really enjoy this horse and believe he is a keeper.  I don't want to have to sell him or have anyone get injured.

Answer
Hi Toni;

Gosh Toni, if I didn't know better, I'd say you just described a horse I bought a year and a half ago.

It's typical for horses to go through a honeymoon period when you first buy them.  Then as they get settled and adjusted they begin to show their true personalities.

Your horse is a dominant personality, who was gelding late (just like mine).  You can't change that, he is who he is.

I don't think he's proud cut, but he sure is trying to assert his dominance over people and horse.

I believe you should separate this horse from the herd and you need to become his herd.  Just you and him.  I believe you need to get training him and give him a job.  Even if you just work with him 15mins each day, that will help.

My guess is, he'll give you fits when you start, but that once you give him a job, and he learns to trust you as his leader, that you'll have that keeper horse that you see in him.

Be tough on him, but be fair.  Demand his attention, demand his respect.  Push and nip back with equal force.  Things may get worse before they get better.  Keep with it, keep safe.  Start in a small enclosed area like a round pen or small paddock and take baby steps with him.

Good luck and best wishes!

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt
www.eq-paradise.com