I have a three year old paint gelding. He was gelded as a yearling, and as a stallion he was a complete gentleman. He was extremely mild mannered. About a week after he was gelded, on our daily walks around the barn to help him stretch, he started acting up. He would spook at nothing and get really testy. My vet told me not to worry, because all newly gelded horses go through a bit of a hormone rage for up to two months after they're gelded. Well my horse never really grew out of that.
His ground manners are superb, except for the farrier, but that's a story for another day. He is sweet and gentle all other times. He's even great around small animals, including my barn cats, chickens, and MinPins.
The problem is, as soon as you get him on the lunge line and try to get him moving, he kicks at your head. I've even had him do this for a professional trainer. It's not even him kicking just to kick. He turns his butt at you and will back up in your direction. He's even chased me once or twice. He managed to get me in the chin once. It dislocated both sides of my jaw and split my lip.
To be perfectly honest, I'm a bit afraid of him now. Even just in his pasture at liberty, I don't trust him. I feel like I'm always making up excuses not to be with him or handle him. Now don't get me wrong, I love him very much, and he's definitely a loved member of this family.
I guess what I'd like to know is
A: Is there a way to keep him from kicking out, or any excersizes I can try to relax him?
B: What can I do to build my trust back up in him?
C: (this seems like such a newb question, but) can I progress in his training without lunging him?
His ground manners are superb, except for the farrier, but that's a story for another day. He is sweet and gentle all other times. He's even great around small animals, including my barn cats, chickens, and MinPins.
The problem is, as soon as you get him on the lunge line and try to get him moving, he kicks at your head. I've even had him do this for a professional trainer. It's not even him kicking just to kick. He turns his butt at you and will back up in your direction. He's even chased me once or twice. He managed to get me in the chin once. It dislocated both sides of my jaw and split my lip.
To be perfectly honest, I'm a bit afraid of him now. Even just in his pasture at liberty, I don't trust him. I feel like I'm always making up excuses not to be with him or handle him. Now don't get me wrong, I love him very much, and he's definitely a loved member of this family.
I guess what I'd like to know is
A: Is there a way to keep him from kicking out, or any excersizes I can try to relax him?
B: What can I do to build my trust back up in him?
C: (this seems like such a newb question, but) can I progress in his training without lunging him?