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HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Foals behaving badly » |
Discussion on Spoiled Orphan colt | |
Author | Message |
Member: Leanne |
Posted on Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 - 10:43 pm: I have a 8 month old orphan colt that I raised from birth. He has become a bit of a pain. He tries to paw at me, kick at me and rears up on me. Most of the time it is when it's time for his feeding when he acts out. I have to go in his lot with a plastic baseball bat to line him out. I don't want him to become jumpy. what shall I do with him. He is already halter broke and he stands well and lets me brush him and bath him its like he wants to play with me. HELP! |
Member: Mrose |
Posted on Friday, Nov 25, 2005 - 12:32 am: Rasing an orphan, esp. a colt, is really difficult just because of the type of problems you're having. Your problem is that your colt seems to think you are another horse; he doesn't respect your space, nor realize that he can hurt you. You need to discipline him (as it sounds like you are trying to do) just as his dam would. You need to be one step ahead of him mentally and as soon as he thinks about striking, nipping,kicking, etc. you need to "get on him."IMO I would think that a lot of work with him in a smaller space, or on a lead would be good; somewhere where you have more control. Try and "set him up" so that he wants to nip, crowd you, etc. and the minute he does, get after him. On the orphan colt we raised, I used to pinch really hard on his withers or his nose, and if he tried to kick, I kicked him back hard. I'm not sure these are recommended methods, but it worked on our colt, who was very "studdy" and a bit of a "live wire." I also spent a lot of time with the colt, as it sounds like you have, just working with him and playing with him in an acceptable way. I used to take him for walks around the farm and carried a dressage whip. If he would try to get too close to me, or run ahead of me, I would jab him in the shoulder or chest with the butt of the whip to remind him to respect my space. I think there are some books out that might have some good ideas. Seems to me that John Lyons has a book out on raising orphans, but I'm not sure. |
Member: Imogen |
Posted on Friday, Nov 25, 2005 - 2:59 am: Geld him.All the best Imogen |
Member: Ajudson1 |
Posted on Friday, Nov 25, 2005 - 8:11 am: I am chuckling at Imogen's suggestion, but she is right.I raised an Orphan too, and never had much trouble with him. I believe that was because he had a play mate who was 10 days younger than him. And actually, that one was the one who was a pain until we gelded him! Is it possible for him to be with another youngster, or anyone for company? Even a goat or other critter would help. Following Sara's suggestions will help alot. Working with him and getting him to respect a buggy whip will save you from getting hurt too. In a small space run the whip all over him, then start cracking it beside him, and swinging it around. In other words, let him know it's a friendly extension of you. Do one thing until he's bored with it, then change sides, change what you are doing. Then I would start tapping him in the chest with it to make him back up. Tap, tap, smack if he hasn't moved! Soon he will learn that he has to stay a safe distance from you or the whip won't be so friendly. Done correctly, he won't be whip shy, but he will get some respect for your space. I always carry a whip when putting hay out; and I swing it in a wide arc around me to keep everyone from mauling me over. And, please, wear a helmet when you are around him, and good solid boots! I've been pawed in the head, stepped on, kicked in the stomach and then some from colts who were just plain feeling good. Once you get past this stage, you are going to have a wonderful horse that you have a special bond with........... "Mom". |
Member: Leanne |
Posted on Friday, Nov 25, 2005 - 9:48 am: I have already asked my vet about gelding him, He said he was too young to know what he is yet. I have also put him in a lot with my filly that is 3 weeks younger than him. She is bigger and taller but he whips up on her all the time. when he was born I brought him to the house and he was treated like a pet for about 8 weeks he has been in house and played in the yard with the kids. I think he is just rotten. I knew better when I did it but he was so darn cute and I felt so sorry for him because his mother would have no part of him. He has had hernia surgery and has had 55 stitches in his chest from a bad cut about 4 weeks ago. He would let me scrub his wounds with no problem. He can open his gate so I have to chain it also. I have a picture of him opening my front door. Oh! by the way his name is "Mr. Pib" that stands for "pain in the Butt". Thanks for all of your responses let me know of anymore tricks. |
Member: Dres |
Posted on Friday, Nov 25, 2005 - 11:19 am: I agree above , GELD him..... they do show studdly behavior this young... and DON'T put him out with your filly till he is gelded.....Ok that being said , he needs to learn boundaries... and what better way to learn then to be put out with another horse ( without hind shoes on )... Let him learn boundaries that way and you follow up on them... Keep your plastic bat handy and USE it... He will learn.... On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with SPOTS.. |
Member: Sarahb47 |
Posted on Friday, Nov 25, 2005 - 12:25 pm: Leanne,See Dr. O's article about gelding. You can certainly geld him at 8 months, and I would definitely do that if I were you. I have a 3-month old colt that I'm planning to geld at six months, about a month after weaning. He'll be pastured with a very sweet two-year-old filly, and he doesn't need the testosterone confusing him. As for training, you'll have to be really tough on this boy. Since he causes problems mainly at feeding time, youl'l have to address that specifically. BEFORE you feed him, make him work for 15-20 minutes so he doesn't think he can rudely demand food and shove you round just because it's feeding time. What constitutes "work" for an 8-month old? Ground work with halter, lead and signal stick (for me, that's usually a dressage whip or a longe whip with the lash cut off -- but I like to call it a signal stick instead of a whip). Make him walk, stop, turn, back up in hand. Do turns on the forehand and turns on the haunches. If he's slow to back away from you on command, do a LOT of backing. If he crowds you, poke the butt end of the stick in his shoulder and push him away with a firm voice. Dont' try trotting in hand until he's REALLY solid with walk/halt/back, because the faster you're traveling the less control you have when he plays up. If he rears, strikes or bites, you MUST come down hard on him. Avoid the dangerous bits (feet and teeth), then move in swiftly and push or yank him off balance. Correct a nip with an elbow in his teeth -- not a violent move to scare him but a well-timed bump in the tender muzzle, plus a loud "QUIT!" so he feels maybe he hurt himself by biting. (This takes practice -- timing is everything.) Be sure you have a very clear NO signal that you use every time he misbehaves. (I like to use the word "QUIT" rather than NO, because NO sounds too much like WHOA.) And here's the really important part: When he is doing what you want -- standing quietly, backing promptly, turning or walking quietly beside you, PRAISE HIM with voice and hands. Make him earn his rewards (approval of the boss) but then BE SURE you deliver that approval. And NEVER feed him out of your hand until he's about 2 years old and has a solid work/respect ethic. If you've already fed him treats or grain by hand, quit right now. Treats are fine but make them rewards for good behavior, and put them in his feed bucket or on the ground, not in your hand. Right now, it sounds like you're rewarding him for misbehaving -- he cuts up, then you feed him. You'll have to break that pattern and feed him only after he's given you the right behavior. Don't give up -- he's not "just rotten"! All behavior can be learned, reinforced or extinguished. Sarah |
Member: Warwick |
Posted on Friday, Nov 25, 2005 - 1:37 pm: Hi LeanneYou can definitely geld at 8 months. I had to do it with one of mine as he was also a very studdy colt. Set up an appointment to get it done now and if your vet is hesitant to do it, I'd call another vet. Also agree with everyone else that you must be very firm and proactive in disciplining him. Don't let him fool you into thinking you are being mean - you are not. When a mare disciplines a foal, she means business! All the best Sue |
Member: Chrism |
Posted on Monday, Nov 28, 2005 - 2:16 pm: I agree with gelding.You also may want to borrow an old crabby mare or two to teach him some manners, too. Just be sure their hind shoes are off. |