agressive , yearling

Question
Hi, I am a 47 year old woman. My family had horses when I was a child growing up, but I have no professional experience with horses. I recently bought a 1 yr old gelding that was never socialized with people. I am the first person to try to work with him at all. The person I bought him from had him in an enclosed stall in her barn. She did not have the time to give him that he needed, He was never been groomed or anything. If you tried to  enter his stall he would rush at you , rear up and try to stomp at you. He is also quite a bitter! Since I have taken him to my home I have gotten him to eat from my hand, but when the food is gone the ears go back and he charges toward me to try to bite. If I reach out to try to pet him , he rears up at me. He is the only horse I have. Right now he is in a stall and there is a small fenced in area for him to get outside a bit. The fenced in area is only about 12ft x 12ft.  I am afraid if I give him more area I will never catch him. I was told the first step is to try to get him to trust me by just talking to him. He does not seem interested in my company at all. (unless I have treats for him!) Do you have any suggestions?

Answer
You need to learn about horses.  Horse don't care if you talk to them or bring them food, they are herd animals that require a leader.  If you will not be a leader they will take charge and be the leader, that is how they survive for millions of years.  

Horses only respect you if you move them, period.  In the horse world the one that moves away is lower.  That would be you, your horse rears and move away, he pins his ears and you move away, he tries to bite you and you move away.  You have taught this horse that he is in charge and you are lower in pecking order.

Read my web site, it will give you a better understanding about horses.  After you read the first 5 pages, write me back if you have more questions.

This is not a horse problem, this is a YOU problem since you don't understand horses and you are not teaching your horse good lessons.  Work on yourself and your horse will get better.  It is never the horses fault.

Rick