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Not Sure how to stop this...

1K views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  mom2pride 
#1 ·
Lakota's normally fine with just one other horse in the ring with him. And if there's 2 other horses, he's usually fine except trying to go faster when they pass us. But out in the field, he'll challenge other horses over the fence. He's struck out at a few when we were trail riding and he's struke out at my friend's was taking her horse for a trail ride.

Now he's pinning his ears at every horse that goes past us in the ring. He'll stop, raise his head up, and pin his ears back. I want to show him next year but I can't take him to a show if he's gonna get aggressive everytime another horse goes past him. Is there a way I can stop this? Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Don't let him even turn his head or stop. As soon as you see that coming, try to get him to start doing something else, rather than allowing him to even stop and aggress the other horse. You need to get and keep his attention focused on you...probably doesn't matter what you do to accomplish that, but do it! He needs to learn that when you are on him that is 'your time' not his...
 
#3 ·
I tried that, he becomes very focused on that horse and nothing I do makes him focus back on me. But I'll try some more different ways to keep him focused on me. Thanks! =)
 
#4 ·
You may have to really escalate your cue then; remember, pretty much nothing you will do will actually injure your horse, so if you have to use a crop and spur, to shake his attention, then do it...that is a much better alternative then him escalating HIS attitude to where he not just stops and pins ears. If you have to, have a trainer, or another adult get on him and give him some corrections, then have them show you what to do, and apply it yourself. When you're riding, is not the time for a horse to act all territorial...it's extremely dangerous!

I used to ride with a young lady who had a horse that was like yours, and one day while she was leading him, he stopped, put it in reverse and laid into my horse with both hind feet...Fortunately neither of us was really hurt (he caught my foot, and my horse's chest) but I was able to put it in reverse on my own horse, so we got out of there fairly quickly. So definitely try to keep his behavior from escalating...it won't be pretty if he attacks someone else's horse/rider, and they decide to pursue legal action.
 
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