QuestionI am a new owner of a miniature stallion that just turned a year in Feb.He has not been handled much. I have never owned a horse.He will be coming home wensday.I don't think he is halter or lead trained at all.Oh when i first saw him he didn't wont to come to me but i got close enough to pet him then i moved back .I done that a few times then he started to fallow me.I started petting him more but when i did he try to nibble me.I don't know if he is trying to bite me or not.I have read that when they do that if you smack him hard enough on the nose he wont do it no more.I don't wont him bitting my grandads or me.But i don't wont him head shy either.What should i do on his first day home?What is the best way to train him for grooming and lead?
AnswerHi Debbie and thanks for your questions. I do not think a novice horse owner or a young person should start with a stallion. Fist, I recommend that you get him gelded ASAP. Hopefully, he will have a halter on when he arrives. If not, that will be your first challenge. The first thing an untrained horse will do is to pull back or not move at all from the lead. Your job is to keep gentle pressure on the lead (don't pull on it) and when he gives at all and makes even a small forward step, praise him lavishly and pet his neck. You will have to do this over and over until he leads willingly. You must stop him nipping immediately- it can be stallion behavior. Also, do not feed him treats by hand as this can add to this behavior. Do not hit him on the nose as that can make him head shy. A loud NO! when he starts to do it may be all it takes but for the more stubborn I recommend a small crop and smack him somewhere other than his head. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders so the best I can recommend is to get some books on starting a colt and ground training (plus horse care) and go from there. Do you have a 4-H group in your area? They can be very helpful, too. Best of luck, Toni
