My Miniature Horse Shadow

Question
QUESTION: ok so my step moms co worker loaned me one of her miniature horses so i can get the feel of caring for one.... he is a very un happy gelding. they gelded him at too old of an age. but i actually have a few concerns. when i go to clean out his feet he wont let me. ill even tie him up and just hold his hoof for a few minutes. but he starts bucking and rearing. and even trys to bit. so i haven't tried to clean them for a couple of weeks. Also since we live in you common neighborhood (small yards) i take him out for walks, but sometimes he will stop and wont wanna go anywhere or will come up and nip my knee. and i have no clue why. he is also very skittish. mostly to fast movements

ANSWER: Hi Alysa-
Thanks for your question. I think we have a couple of things maybe going on here. The first is that you didn't say how long ago he was gelded but it sounds as though some of his issues are due to that. He may be very nervous about being handled because of what he went through as well as the new environment. You are doing the right thing by holding his feet, etc, but sometimes you have to start slower by just getting him to let you touch his legs then run your hands over them. The other issue is he is trying to show you who's boss so you need to set that straight. Try holding him by his lead rope and having someone else gently work their hand down his legs. If he starts to rear, pull smartly down on the lead rope and loudly say NO! Same for biting- that cannot be tolerated and it is definitely a stallion thing. I know people say that if you hit a horse around the head it makes them head-shy but in a biting situation a light smack or quick hand movement with a NO! has worked very well for me. They usually stop after one or 2 times. Remember, a correction needs to occur within a a couple of seconds of the transgression. Horses are not like dogs about walks- he may be nervous as it is in his new environment without a lot of outside stimulus. Maybe the outside walks need to wait until he's more comfortable in this new situation? Have you consulted the owner? I can't help but wonder where she is in all this or if these are new issues? Hope this helps. Best, Toni

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QUESTION: my dad helps when it comes to the feet. he doesnt seem to mind us touching his legs. its just when the foot is lifted up. i have no clue when he was gelded. all she told us is that they had gelded him too late of an age. i actually have had him for a couple of months. and when it comes time for the walk he gets really excited. he is trained to walk righty by my siide. but you can feel his excitement and tell he wants to walk faster. the biting is usually only when were not going on the walk he wants or if were standing talking to someone to long..... but thanks for you help. the owner had told me before hand that he is a trouble maker...... and im not having him for much longer. she is loaning me a different one that is pregnant and the baby is for me to keep. baby is due any week!

ANSWER: Hi Alysa-
It sounds as though you are doing the right things and I wish you much happiness and success with the new baby! Best, Toni

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QUESTION: heyy again
so one of my friends that worked on a horse farm with miniature horses and miniature ponies helped me out some
and i had told her how he isnt trained to be ridden but we still put little kids on him and ride him for a few minutes
but she told me not to until i trained him to be ridden
i asked how to do that and she told me i had to ride him myself befor letting other kids get on his back
and i weigh 110 and i wounldnt think he could hold that much weightm he is i would think 38 inches and bout 5 or 6 hundred pounds
i have laid over him and put a little bit of my weight on him but i dont want to put it all on him and cause him to get hurt
is she right on me having to brake him in by me riding him?

Answer
Hi Alysa-
Thanks for the question. It sounds as though you may have a small pony rather than a miniature and if your estimates are right, you're probably not going to hurt him, particularly for short time periods. The general rule is up to about 80 lbs. on a miniature. If he has willingly accepted kids on his back, I would continue to lead-line him as well as possibly ground drive him. Many horses accept people on their back right off because they have been handled correctly from the beginning and they just have a willing attitude. The trick will be getting him to understand cues which is important before you let a child take him for any length of time. The good news is that it's a short fall from a little guy to the ground! Hope this helps, Toni