Horse Problem - Facility-Destructive Young Horse - And other horse is claustrophobic
QUESTION: I have several horse problems with 2 different horses. Last year I had e-mailed you about a PMU Belgian mare that we purchased. I just love her and she is getting better and better. Her colt is now 16 months old and just about as tall as she is. He is a big sweet moose of a horse. The only problem we have is his destruction of stalls and fences. I have an electric fence around the pasture and the horse pen and he still leans into them, they snap and then he tears down the wire fence and steps out of the pasture and pen. Several days ago he destroyed the front of the stall. We laugh about it, but what can we do to break him of this destruction? I know he doesn't know he is that big. I added more electric wire to the horse pen fence and he has stayed in there.
We also have a big bay thoroughbred that is a love and normally an easy ride and fairly well trained. But the last time my husband and I went riding, I rode the thoroughbred. We were riding in a wooded section and going in and out of little open areas. My husband went thru a small hole in the brush to the next open area. The thoroughbred and I were going right behind my husband, when he panicked and reared and reared and whirled and whirled. I was talking to him to try to calm him down. On the last whirl, I whirled off onto the ground.
We then walked him for a while. I got back on, but he was all squirrely and acting like a ninny and trying to rear again. My husband even tried to lead him with me on him. I finally got off and we walked home.
After that ride I got some side reins to work with him in the round pen. But I am worried he will do this again when we go out. Any hints on how to break him of this rearing and panicking?
REPLY: Hi. Thanks for writing. For your youngster question there...he's still a baby, and like human babies, they try to stay occupied, often with their mouths. You need to "baby proof" as best you can there, but also let me direct you to a link on my web site that, though is not the same problem, you can borrow from the solutions you read there:
Your other questions there regarding your other horse....you're dealing with foundation holes I can see from here. Your horse is probably claustrophobic (most horses are early on in training, it's a natural trait), but that can be worked out on the ground safely first. Let me direct you to a link on my web site for an exercise you can do, teaching the horse to be driven from the rear (which is like "riding" them from the ground):
After you've taught the horse to be driven from the rear, next, start driving her through gate openings (not leading her, but driving her from the rear), then drive her in and out of a stall, in and out of a trailer. Put two barrels close together and drive her through the middle of them. Put a barrel close to a fence line, making an alleyway and drive her through that alleyway. And so forth. In other words, drive her on the ground from the rear through as many "claustrophobic" setups you can manufacture there, to get her past that fear issue.
The other foundation hole you're dealing with there is...you need to teach her the one-rein stop and let me direct you to a link on my web site that will teach you how to do that and why it's so important (and it is far more than just about a "stop"!):
Work on all the above and you should see improvements there.
All of the above (and much, much more) is taught in my Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD set. Usually it helps to see this natural horsemanship art taught visually, to really understand how it is all done. You can get that DVD set here: CLICK HERE
And incidentally...my Whispering Way Complete Training Package contains all my videos and training tools that you need to train or retrain your horse yourself the natural horsemanship Whispering Way. You can check out/order the Whispering Way Complete Training Package on my web site here: CLICK HERE
By the way...when she overloaded there, it's often smart to climb off the horse immediately. Too many people get hurt NOT getting off a horse when common sense is telling them things have escalated out of control and they need to get off and go back to ground work -- fixing the real problem safely on the ground first. Getting off before things melt down too dangerously is very smart. And keeps you safer! Without safety as our primary focus with horses at all times, we've got nothing! There is absolutely no shame in getting off a horse and walking them back, aborting a days' ride plans and then committing to work safely on the ground to get the horse past crucial issues. Just back up now and work on the above, and you should be able to get your horse safer and progressing positively forward now. And once you've done all the above, don't hesitate to go back to that "scary" claustrophobic spot in the woods and ground drive her there as well so she can see that nothing bad happens to her when she listens to her leader, who is watching out for her safety at all times.
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