Where do I go from here? Hes being a Jerk!

Question
QUESTION: Hi Christine, thanks for your time!

Okay, so basic info about me, I'm 18, I've ridden (english) since I was 8 but I've never shown due to financial limitations growing up. I'm in college in Louisville now and I just bought a horse on Feb. 5. He was actually given to me for free because his owner could not take care of him anymore and had to get rid of him asap, but they originally were asking $1500 for him.  Regardless, his name is Khan. He is a 16.0hh bay thoroughbred. He will be 6 in june. He is an OTTB who has never been ridden other than in 18 races -which were all lost. There is nothing physically wrong with him (at least what we can tell), he is totally sound, and just got his shoes taken off. When i met him, he appeared to be the most mellow horse i had ever met. his owner said he was a fairly cool horse and he seemed to be such. he was a complete gentleman, a total sweetheart.

Well I've lunged him and worked on groundwork with him and I've successfully gotten him to lunge to the right, and he's progressing with bending his right side more and more. i've gotten him to recognize voice commands in the ring (trot, canter, and walk) and he picks up his gaits and transitions very well. He's doing well with ground work and will walk and trot over the few ground poles ive put in front of him. (Id like to train him to be a hunter so i can show him).

Sorry, i promise i'm getting to the point. The problems I've had with him come when we're in the barn in cross ties or really any ties. he will NOT stand still. I dont mind a couple steps here and there but he will swing his hips all the way around so hes parallel as can be with the tie. When anyone tries to move him over or push into him, he leans all his weight on to you and refuses to move. When he finally does move over to the pressure, he'll swing all the way to the other side and then back. he REFUSES to stand straight when being groomed for more than a minute. it's really trying my patience.  How do I combat this?

Another thing, yesterday he got his shoes pulled and although I was not there at the time, apparently he was a bear. He kicked and screamed the whole time. He became unbearable and they resorted to using a twitch on him. Now, his old owner said he hadn't gotten his shoes taken care of for a while, and his feet probably needed care and trimming, so could his bad temper tantrum be attributed to soreness?

How do i handle his bad attitude? chiropracting has been suggested but I don't have the money right now to do it unnecessarily and hope it changes his attitude. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to make him stand still in cross ties? Also, what would be my next step in ground work as far as being on the road to finally being ridden? Sorry, long story and lots of questions. I hope you can help, no stress though of course!

Thanks so much!
Toniann

ANSWER: Hi Toniann
Thanks for the question and I will try  my best to help'


Firstly the shoe situation, yes I do think  he might have been in  a bit of pain if his feet hadn't been attended  to for a while........... imagine if you hadn't trimmed your toenails for a few weeks  you too would find it painful  having them attended to. Thats  what Khan was feeling like.  He might be a little sore for a while as well, but try and leave his shoes off  for a while and let his feet recover.  Next time he is shod up try and be there yourself, I hate using twitches on a horse, most the time theres no need for them at all, just patience  sounds like they might not have had a lot of that!

Now the not standing still......... my old racing horse  did the very same thing with me, don't ask me why they do it,  but  I think its some kind of dominance issue  with them,  swinging quarters round is a threat to other horses  and means watch it or I might just have a go at ,kicking you, its a defence thing.   I found the easiest thing was to take the cross ties off him, in fact I used to groom my lad  just stood loose in his stall, it worked, although not everyone feels easy about grooming a horse  not tied up to something!   Its not  an option for the faint of heart, but I got tired of shouting at my boy and he got tired of listening to me shouting so we hit on a compromise.  Try at first  just using one lead rope to  tie him with, if he settles with that  then fine, but if not then see how he is loose in his stall and try grooming him  like that,  just little and often  for this lesson.

It may be that his behaviour has never been corrected  so to him he sees nothing wrong in swinging round and leaning on someone,  lets face it in  most  race yards they haven't got the time to  'pamper' each horse its like a  conveyor belt in most places  get them groomed quickly and move on to the next horse, we on the other hand have time and patience  to give, and its not a lot to ask.


Hope this helps  if not  then  get back to me and we can try a few more options


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Christine! Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!

Since I have posted the first question, progress has been made. I've gotten on him twice already and we seem to be a perfect fit. I have just trotted and walked him. I'm a little nervous about cantering him because I'm worried that by pulling back on the reins, he might think that is a cue to go faster. I've been practicing halts with him and he understands the concept pretty well that pulling back slightly means slow down or halt. I think every issue I'm having with him stems from perhaps a dominance issue? How do I make him respect me as the boss mare?

He's been getting better about cross ties slowly. He is on pasture board so he doesn't have a stall of his own. Also, on 3/22 the farrier came out and trimmed all the horses and he was very pleasant for them. I think he appreciated the extra care he probably did not get before. He also got his shots and he was pleasant with those as well. His attitude is improving, I've been trying to spend a lot of time bonding with him. But like I said, I think any issues I have or may have stem from dominance issues. How do I teach him to respect me and my space? I know it will take time, and I've only had him for almost two months, I just want to be sure he knows I'm the boss from the get-go.

Also, on another subject, I'm looking to buy him his own bridle so I don't have to borrow others around the barn. I've only used a loose ring snaffle on him and he seems to respond well to it. Do you have an recommendations about what time of bridle would be good for an OTTB in training?

Thanks so much for your time :)
Toniann

Answer
Hi Toniann

So happy to heat that progress is being made.......... and its sounds like you both  are going to meant for each other!

Right the bridle question, just get  the best you can afford, and  stay with what you have been using so far.  In my experience the less you have in the way of fancy  'gadgets and gizmos' then the better it is for everyone, keep it simple is my motto!

Now the dominance issue.......... if he comes into your space then  (and this requires a certain amount of courage) place your  hand on his chest and gently but firmly push him back a couple of steps, telling him 'NO' in a firm but gentle voice......... he will get the message and he will start to realise that he has not to come into your space until you tell him he can do, this way you are  making him realise that you are the 'herd leader' not him.   If he does something you don't want him to do then correction  must be given at once, not afterwards or later, as he will not realise that he is being punished for something he has done, and I don;t mean hitting him (as if you would!)  I usually find that 'NO' in a loud voice and a quick smack on the body works wonders, its short and sharp and exactly what would happen to  him  if he was in a herd.  Its just you having to learn that you are the 'lead mare' in this relationship not him.............. once he gets that message then  things will be a lot easier, at the moment  as you are still relatively new to each other, I think  he might be pushing the boundaries to see how much you will let him get away with, he is trying you out...........they all do it, even mine do it and I've had one lady  of mine for coming up to 16 years now and she still tries it on with me!#

Play some groundwork games with him , encourage  and praise the good behaviour, ignore the bad and reinforce  if you need to, a swift sharp tap on the nose  will not come amiss from time to time of he deserves it.

Hopethis helps

Christine xx