Vanessa from Cumbria asks Melanie:
“I am having problems with my 20mth old Warmblood colt (Fernando). I believe the problem is there because my colt had been ‘hand-reared’ (his dam died before he even had the chance to suckle from her).
I purchased him at 7mths old and the problems began at about 1 year old. I myself use Natural Horsemanship and I indeed used my knowledge with my colt, but it seemed to have no response to him whatsoever, and he simply became more and more out of control. His actions include ‘nipping’, ‘charging’ and ‘rearing’. In the end I sent him away for some intensive work as I wanted to Show Him and attend Young stock Evaluations as I bought him to keep entire and breed from him. When he came back he was a lot better but there was a ‘whip’ involved and during the handover I was told to “always keep the whip in his eye line, and don’t feel guilty for using it if he tried it on”. On his return he was definitely improved but we always had to be ‘one step ahead’, anyways he had a accident ‘got his back leg over the bottom of the electric fence and cut the front of his back OS Hock) 1 week before his Evaluations.
So we treated his leg, rested him appropriately and then turned him away for 2 months. The day quickly came around for us to start working with him again, all we do is a little walk out in hand (10mins) and lunging (5mins in walk & trot), on the occasion Fernando was extremely aggressive and he kept challenging my partner, definitely not out of confusion as he knows how to lunge on both sides, and indeed had lunged as expected for a couple of minutes, but then he seemed to just wanted confrontation, the 8th confrontation he got the better of my partner and reared up and then charged at him with his head back and ‘decked’ him (in fact hospitalised him).
So then I tried the tactic of COMPLETELY IGNORING him, of which I did and Fernando’s attitude completely changed, he was respectful, walked up to us with his head low and things finally were on ‘the up’…. But 2 days ago he started again, and is so bad that I cant even lead him to turn him out, or even get in the stable to change his water, rugs, hay-nets without him trying to bite and trying to barge me out of the way at the door. Please can you help?”
Melanie’s Response
Hello Vanessa. Interesting email from you. One for me to really get my teeth into!
Unfortunately my first thought is how unsuitable the basic nature of your horse is to ultimately become an entire or future-covering stallion. They don’t all make it that far, by any means, for the very real reasons you are talking of. Think 2 years further on down the line when he is under saddle and you are starting to ask real questions…. not merely manners, as is the case just now.
Once he covers (which you must never do until he is trained and doing a job) will he be able to relax working and cover when required?. On the face of it just now then I think not.
Sadly my words of wisdom as seen from outside of your box , will not be what you want to hear. I feel that your boy has a strong and very dominant character and will somehow always be in trouble for feeling how he feels naturally… simply because it does not suit our dreamed of plans.
Look at Winnie Jackson. He had a miserable life as a dressage stallion abroad. When he was completely sick and virtually un-ride-able he ended up with Malcome Pyrah to try show jumping. Same thing till they finally cut him…now he jumps for the Irish team.(hopefully happy)
We had a 4 year old here last year…So out of control, angry, dangerous, huge (16.3), strong and impossible. Sure we changed his way of being and he became more settled and easier BUT as a career dressage horse he had to be cut…. (.not long after he left me) not because I had failed in any way but because his life was always going to be miserable because he could not help feeling the way he felt naturally. He was always in trouble and found it so hard to work and concentrate as needed and expected. He is now being groomed, hidden away from public glare, for the London Olympics. (Hopefully happy)
Sorry for telling it how I see it . I will be very happy to help you guys BUT just think on 1 or 2 or 3 years down the line…… How trainable is he if he stays entire? How will he ever find pleasure in simply being alive?
Please don’t feel that I am choosing the easy path, I’m not. Saying all this to you is extremely hard but I need you to think on and be completely honest with your selves.
If you feel that I am wrong then I will concede happily and help all I can.
My fantastically bred horse Yorkie was bought to event… He turned out to be agoraphobic! Not helpful. I tried for 2 years (and a huge amount of money I hasten to add!!)! It did not suit my plans to fail. How ever he is now working at Advanced Medium and I show jump 1.20m with ease. NOT MY ORIGINAL PLAN!!!!!!! But he is happy all safe in an arena!
Please get back to me when you feel you can. I will support you any way I can.
Kind regards Melanie
This blog was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
