If you've only had him a week and a half it's quite likely his behavior hasn't shown itself.

It sounds to me though like he's being handled too roughly and is fighting back.

 

This.

Some horses don't tolerate anything rough, it doesn't necessarily have to be outright abuse.

Years ago, my horse was kept in a rather small paddok for the night, and turned in a bigger one during the day. The BO did it. He's a person I know and I am 1000% sure that he's not abusive. Anyway, one day he turned him out and something happened when he was releasing him. No idea what it was. He said "nothing", but it had to have been something. What can go wrong when you just have to release a horse in a paddok? No clue.
But the horse hated him for years, was extra nervous with him around, and I think that once he half reared and hit him in the leg. He was that displeased. Over something that was likely some minor misunderstanding.
It didn't help the fact that, after seeing that the horse was so uncooperative, the BO didn't have a great opinion of the horse. He never did anything wrong, but he had a "I don't like you" attitude.
If there was something trivial, but then your BO came towards the horse already thinking that he'd be trouble, that might have worsened everything.

 

I'd for sure go to the barn and watch... If your child can handle him, and you can, then the barn owner should not be having any issues.
I'd go see if she is being too rough, too loud, or whatever.
You certainly can not afford to have her change this horses attitude in a negative way.
Also, since your trainer recomended this barn, I'd get them involved.

 

I would be returning to the trainers barn. It sounds like the barn manager/owner whatever they are , are not qualified to handle livestock. I would never call a stud owner and complain to them , that their stud did XYZ, I would have just handled it as I am getting paid to get a job done .

 

I don't believe this is a trainer's fault. He can't train the horse to be magically okay with any type of handler or person.

Perhaps the horse is testing or taking advantage of your barn owner. Trying to scare her? I would def go watch what happens.
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Roman, I agree its not the trainer's fault. I suggested returning to the trainers barn, as there was not a problem there. Nothing worse then having someone create problems, like what it sounds like this barn manager/owner is going to do.

 

I misread that! I thought you meant have the horse go back to training.
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I've had completely quiet horses that know me and respond well to me suddenly act nervous and be in "prey" mode. I have figured out they hate the smell of sheep LOL (have sheep at my parents house with my own but not at the barn I work at). Or maybe you shocked them taking a blanket off.

Little subtle things.

Doesn't sound like that as the horse is being more aggressive/reactive than afraid/reactive, but I would be convinced it's the way he's being handled. Some people think getting in the horses face and being firm and intimidating them is ok handling and some horses react fearfully and then become aggressive in self defense. This is what is sounds like to me. There are plenty of things that while not "abuse" are not good horsemanship and shouldn't be ok, but people still try them.

 

Some horses just don't like some people. Plain and simple!

I had a 1/2 Arabian 1/2 QH gelding that was amazing! He was good for pretty much everything. He let my dad trim his feet no problem, never tried taking his foot away or even tried moving. My dad hurt his back and I had a farrier come out to trim my boy and that horse would not stand for the farrier. He would rear, jerk away, and even stomped on the farrier's foot and wouldn't get off. I had to pick up his feet and hand them to the farrier because he wouldn't budge for the farrier.

My current horse dislikes my dad and my oldest brother. When they try to ride or handle him, he spooks at everything! He jumps at the slightest movement, balks, takes off, and when they try to trim his hooves he jumps around and jerks away. I can take this horse and while galloping, tell him to 'settle' and he slows down, he spooks about 1/10 the amount with me that he did with them, and the other day when I had the farrier out they just dropped his rope on the ground and he stood like an angel, even with all the other horses going crazy.

I agree with the others about going out and watching how the BO handles him. Maybe your horse just doesn't like her.

 

I actually have a horse who is different with different people, and we can never 100% trust him with new folks. He will test everyone he meets, and will take advantage of them if he is allowed to. Honestly-with him you HAVE to get a bit "in his face" to get him to back down sometimes. I would bet that the person having the issue is a teen age girl who is likely rather inexperienced. Thus, no issue with the trainer. Horse can read folks and their abilities pretty well. I would suggest that you and your daughter be careful and consistent with him and not let him get away with ANYTHING. If he so much as pins his ears at you he should get a sharp-"EHHH" in his face. Get big…..and learn how to look mean. If he makes any move to move his butt toward you-move it away-and make him keep moving. If you don't already, you should get good at ground work. I personally do not tie my guy most of the time (he ground ties perfectly) and if he makes a wrong move-he knows it. (I bend his head around and go after his butt) He really is pretty good but will still test at times. I will tell you tho-the instant his former owner shows up-and she has a few times-he treats her just like he used to-and he double barreled her. She made (and still makes) excuses…..so he gets away with it, unless I am standing there. Typically though-BO and myself have no issues at all. he is a perfect gentlemen. Now.

Yes, it also likely has taken a bit of time for him to be a little accustomed to his surroundings and you are now getting the real deal. Consistency is key.

 

So my daughter and I got out to the barn today before the horses were brought in and before the barn manager left for the day so we could see how she handled him and so that we could talk to her. He hasn't been turned out yet since she has been having problems with him. She said that he would let her move him to other stall so she can clean his and that he is ok when she is cleaning to part of his stall near the door but he trapped her in the stall when she did the far corner. So I asked her if she could show us how she handles him. So we go to his stall and he sticks his head out and lets her put his halter on. She said this is the first time he has let her put the halter one easily. So I ask her if I can take him out an turn him out in a pasture for a bit since he hasn't been out. So he walks down the aisle easy as pie and out the overhead door from the indoor arena to outside and we turn to head towards the pasture at the far end of the barn which is across a patch of grass with 3 or 4 trailers parked on it and the pasture we are heading for has a metal boat shelter that is the run in for that pastern. He is also going to have to go past another horse that is in the pastern next to it and in the round pen is a horse racing around maniacally. So as we head towards the pasture he snorts and gets stiff and then all of a sudden he starts backing up quickly and when he comes to the end of the lose lead his feet come up a tiny bit. I backed up with him and he calmed down. So then we headed back into the indoor where he relaxed almost immediantly and I hooked on a lunge line and put him to work trotting to get some energy out. He wasn't freaky on the lunge line at all and I trotted him both ways, asked him to change directions a couple of times and he halted when I asked. After lunging him, I took him back out and walked him closer and closer circling back and then walking him closer. Eventually I got him into a pasture closer to the barn. However, as I walked him out he startled and scooted forward. My daughter who was watching said the horse in the pasture adjacent was running up and down the fence bucking when he startled. The good side is he seemed mindful of my space. Sorry this is so long but the short of it is that he seems to be more frightened than aggressive and my impression is that the barn manager is timid and doesn't have the inclination to try to work him through his fear slowly, instead she just decided not to put him out. So my plan is to go out every day slowly get him used to things.

 

Does sound like he's taking advantage of her which isn't ok fear or not.

Do correct him when he misbehaves. Say he backs up and pops up a little bit. Obviously getting mad or coming on strong isn't good if he's afraid so I would use my voice and say "EHH!!!" (or some other BAD! sound) low but loudly, then a little tug if he doesn't listen.

DO praise him when he's good if he's worried, but make sure he's being good and do NOT baby. A simple "good boy" and a rub then back to business.

If you are a confident leader, firm but encouraging, he will follow easily.

Be careful of his bullying behavior.

Since you haven't had him long my guess is he is still settling in. Also, make sure he is GENUINELY nervous and not just being a turd since he's been getting away with it (see that a lot, or horses that are both due to poor handling).