Charging

Question
We recently bought a 10 year old saddlebred gelding. He's amazing. He doesn't spook and rides like a dream. and he goes fast which is great because I do too. We even had dynamite going off a few miles away and he didn't freak at all.
He's a little mouthy and very curious but not jumpy and he doesn't bite.
We haven't been giving him many treats MAYBE one carrot every other day.
So when he started charging us it was a complete mystery. CN was feeding him and he charged her. Ok so it's his food he was hungery and impatient -insert other reassuring explanation here- that's pretty much what we were doing. Two days later I as outside his corral pen and he was over on the other side of the pen he whipped around ears pinned back charged and tried to BITE me.
what can I do besides the normal territorial excersizes and raising my hands?
We have one month to return him. I think we should, CN doesn't think so.
pleas help
Thanks

Answer
Hi!

What you have here is typical behavior of a new horse in a new environment.  He is just showing you his authority over you.  He must have been either very high or very low in his previous relationships/herd.

You must dominate him and not thru force or hitting him in the head with a 2x4...LOL!  

I tell all my clients it can take between 12 and 18 months to form a true and trusting bond with a new horse.  If he performs under saddle well and follows his training 80% of the time, he is worth keeping and you just have to work on the other 20% of authority and trust.

First, assert your dominance in all matters of ground work.  Everytime you touch him he must feel you are the Boss Mare.  Rewards are fine but, correction must be swift and thorough.  I would grab a longeline with a stud chain and use it over his nose everywhere you take him.  A sharp shank for the smallest infraction.  He must understand there is no room for nonsense.  The length of the line allows you to not be jerked into him if he acts up during correction.

This is a simple issue to correct and you will find that by building a foundation of respect in his mind, he will stop the nonsense he is showing towards you.

Be firm, be consistent and be smarter than him.  

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange