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Post by carrie17491 on Mar 11, 2012 19:52:07 GMT
I have a yearling colt that has quite an attitude.
Whenever I ask him to do something he doesn't want to do, he runs back and rears vertically.
I used a halter that is an "anti-rear" halter but to no avail. He doesn't do it all the time, just if I ask him to do something he doesn't want, he leads fine(normally) ties up fine and let's me groom him. I took him for a walk today and asked him to walk passed some traffic comes which weren't very near to him (about 8m away) and he flipped! I even tried him following the others but he just kept going up.
Anyone know how I can get him out of this habit? Luckily he's only a small colt (section a) so can handle him but rearing is dangerous and I want to nip it in the bud now.
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Post by speedysally on Mar 11, 2012 20:03:29 GMT
well obviously smacking him isn't the way forward (some people who've no patience would result in this!) but i personally would definitely work on the ground with him in the school, just by lunging him and getting him to listen to you, ask him to do simple things like 'back' and when he takes a step back praise him and give him a treat of some sort! i noticed when my thoroughbred was out of work for 7 months and i had to result in just lunging her that she started to listen to me much better and it worked so much! hope this helps :-)
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Post by carrie17491 on Mar 11, 2012 20:33:26 GMT
Hi, I don't think lunging will help as he's only a yearling ;D
He's usually fine but it's when he doesn't want to do something he just goes up!
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Post by sageandonion on Mar 11, 2012 20:41:03 GMT
Maybe it is time to geld him and you may find him easier to handle. Presumably he lives out with others his age for playing and is not fed any grain.
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Post by Sasha on Mar 11, 2012 20:52:21 GMT
We had a highland yearling who we long reined using a dually rather than trying a bit as he was too young, it's a great way to get them going forwards with positive commands it gives them a much better respect for you and also you are in a good position to read the signs of him potentially rearing and you are able to push him forward calmly without being in the danger zone!
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Post by carrie17491 on Mar 11, 2012 20:52:43 GMT
Hes 8 months old....there isn't anything there to remove. No he doesn't live out but gets turned out regularly and is fed stud mix and hi fi chop.
As I say he's fine 9 times out of 10 I just wondered if anyone has any tips to stop the rearing.
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Post by carrie17491 on Mar 11, 2012 20:56:52 GMT
He isn't being castrated, there is nothing to castrate.
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Post by rubydoo on Mar 11, 2012 21:07:28 GMT
ive had a few welsh colts ,balls dont usually drop till after 12months , but personally i wouldnt castrate if you wanting to show id keep him entire as long as you can , he will fill out better. but being a colt is no excuse for him to have bad manners . Id to lots of walking on a ling line carry a crop and if he miss behaves i would give him a tap and firmly say no . as hes to young to bit bit you could try putting the leadrope through his mouth for a bit of extra control but not too harshly  hth |
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Post by Sasha on Mar 11, 2012 21:09:14 GMT
Ooh not sure about rope through his mouth!!! I do agree it's about manners and respect which can be taught long reining,
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Post by elmere on Mar 11, 2012 21:11:39 GMT
I would take him off the mix and put him on a balancer.
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Post by speedysally on Mar 11, 2012 21:12:38 GMT
Ooh not sure about rope through his mouth!!! I do agree it's about manners and respect which can be taught long reining, totally agree with this ^ |
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Post by brt on Mar 11, 2012 21:21:29 GMT
Probably get shot down for this, but to me he sounds like a typical yearling colt!
He's is just pushing the boundaries, seeing how much he can get away with.
I shout a big ARH!! when mine do it, and as they are about to go up i turn them to unbalance them. They soon learn what is unacceptable behaviour, they aren't daft.
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Post by kilnstown on Mar 11, 2012 21:29:07 GMT
I am not going to shoot you down brt, this is perfectly natural behavior for a young pony/horse, he's just trying to get away from whats making him uncomfortable, in this case some traffic, I generally use a nice soft head collar and a long lunge line, when they walk beside me lots of praise, when they stop I ignore them and carry on walking, I have never gotten to the end of my lunge line, before they have decided to catch up, then lots of praise.
I would also do as elmere suggests and get him off the mix, and give him a balancer with his chop instead, if your worried about him losing condition, just make sure he has plenty of good quality hay, ad lib.
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Post by carrie17491 on Mar 11, 2012 21:54:10 GMT
Oh I'm glad to hear it sounds normal! I was thinking of something deeper.... I really don't want to get him cut  will Try ignoring it and carrying on though, I guess it's like a child. Ignore the bad reward the good? Definitely going to try the balancer though. |
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 11, 2012 22:21:30 GMT
Well I'm gelding three Welsh "yearlings" soon jaimie, so actually 9/10 months old and all checked by the vet as physically ready to geld. I've never had a problem with any of mine regarding cutting them when I choose, even occasionally while still on the mare in the autumn.
Yes, reward the good and ignore the bad - although I do give a growl or similar to discourage bad behaviour, it does have to be instant though. My now 4yo A colt would occasionally go up - and come down with one foot over the lead rein. He did it by accident at a show and got loose (Northleach - how to embarrass the handler!) and decided it was a good plan so tried again a few times at home, putting the leg over on purpose. Luckily though I was ready and he didn't get loose so rather lost the will to try and seems to have forgotten it now.
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Post by brookviewequine on Mar 12, 2012 7:55:36 GMT
hi carrie, sounds like a typical disrespectful youngster.
lets hit each of the following in order, no disrespect to anyone who has posted though. firstly no lunging, sorry but not developed enough, bones still soft, muscle not matured, tendons weak etc, will look great for a few years then problems in later life will emerge.
no treats ever, example mints, carrots, etc etc. makes your pony always "on the look out" for whats in your pocket. reward all the time with the release of pressure.
my colt is 2 now and i m keeping him entire. i got him unhandled about 6 months ago and with a "little and often" approach with handling, i.e. a few minutes a few times a week and not endless hours you can get him respectful.
feed in my experience doesnt make that much difference at this level. a disrespectful youngster will be disrespectful no matter what you feed him.
you re not a million miles away from me, i m in widnes and do problem clinics.
pm me if you re not having success
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Post by Jessica on Mar 26, 2012 14:10:48 GMT
I'd also be curious if he is rearing at you for asking him or fear of the cones, if it's you then i'd definitely be growling at him etc as mentioned above, colts are naughty little monsters! If you are planning on keeping him entire, try to find him a friend to play with in the field. We have two out together now and have gone from very cheeky/nippy to handle to absolute bliss! (not that they ever got away wih being naughty) Also from the feed prospective, you can always give then cubes instead of mix |
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Post by carrie17491 on Mar 26, 2012 15:38:27 GMT
I'd also be curious if he is rearing at you for asking him or fear of the cones, if it's you then i'd definitely be growling at him etc as mentioned above, colts are naughty little monsters! If you are planning on keeping him entire, try to find him a friend to play with in the field. We have two out together now and have gone from very cheeky/nippy to handle to absolute bliss! (not that they ever got away wih being naughty) Also from the feed prospective, you can always give then cubes instead of mix I have had him out at weekend with another gelding and he's totally changed. By his field is a football pitch with lots of loud noises, cars and bright colours. He is really chilling out, I am not too worried about his feed as he is coming along nicely on it, but his behaviour had changed so much! He even walked passed the same cones without batting an eyelid! |
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Post by lisa on Mar 26, 2012 15:44:21 GMT
I had this trouble with my colt a few weeks ago, he was a total nightmare rearing up and striking out at me, I cut all the mix out of his diet he now has alfa a oil and spiller's balancer twice a day and is like a kitten to handle.
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Post by 09rebel99 on Mar 26, 2012 16:05:35 GMT
Please dont use a rope through the mouth :-( I saw a horse a few years ago have this done and they had real problems getting it bitted properley and at 1 point couldnt even get a bridle on for about 12 months!!
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Post by mandylf on Mar 26, 2012 18:43:27 GMT
My Section B 2yo colt was a naughty yearling, he'd rear and that. Bit of a biter too, he just kind of grew out of it when he realised he was still going to have to do what was requested of him. As a 2yo, he's as good as gold |
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Post by carrie17491 on Mar 26, 2012 20:10:39 GMT
Please dont use a rope through the mouth :-( I saw a horse a few years ago have this done and they had real problems getting it bitted properley and at 1 point couldnt even get a bridle on for about 12 months!! I'd never do that  it's a ridiculous way to handle them. He really is settling down now. Nto loads but a noticable difference, we only have 1 or 2 rears a week as opposed to a minute lol! |
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hth 
will Try ignoring it and carrying on though, I guess it's like a child. Ignore the bad reward the good? 
it's a ridiculous way to handle them.