How do I handle an aggressive horse?

Question

I ride a young horse at my stables and she can be really sweet some days but other days she is just terrible. She bites, tries to kick, and somtimes bolts when you are holding her. I really love this horse but I would like to be able to hug her without getting bitten. What should I do?

Answer 1

YOUR HORSE MAY NOT TRUST YOU SO TRY FEEDING IT TREATS AND GAINING HER TRUST IN WAYS LIKE THAT.

Answer 2

I have horses....giving it treats will encourage it to bite the fire out of you...I have been bitten, bucked off , thrown over their heads when they slamed on brakes, reared up and fell off...rolled over on..in a period of 20 yrs.. I have had all different ages...you need an older calmer horse that will appreciate you...and that you can learn from and love on without fear..horses behave according to what the owner puts up with...if the horse has any dought that you are not in FULL control it will misbehave and hurt you....don't let that happen....there are way too many sweet and might i say good cheap horses available now that the economy is so slow....people are having to sell their horses because they can't care for them...if your horse won't stop trying to hurt you....you need to let it go and get yourself another...I know you hate to hear that...but your life is worth more than your horses...sorry sweetie...just my opinion...if they do that stuff they usually don't stop until they are older and had the hair rode off of them and even then they may not get better....I use to keep them and try my best to love them into better behaviour.....didn't work...they don't think like that...they live in the moment...one suggestion is lungeing it to get rid of excess energy before you try to ride her...is it stalled to much or fed too much molasses in its feed...does it get enough exercise outside...is it rooming with bad behaving horses...is it barn sour?..did the problem just start or has it always done that? could be many reasons.....could be its just an ornery horse...don't let it hurt you..ok....you would not believe the horror stories i have heard about and seen..one lady i know almost had her entire breast bitten OFF...the human is always the looser...my body is so hurt from my love of horses...now i have one twh that i ride(she is about 17 now) and 4 mini horses...they are fun...and tiny....good luck sweetie...

Answer 3

she's right, it may not trust you.  Try always having an apple in your pocket, that way it will associate you with apples which is good, so you become good.  No matter how advanced an animal (even humans in this case)  is evolutionary wise, you cannot over look simple Pavlovian conditioning.  

Answer 4

If you have to come here for advice on what to do with a horse like that I do not think you are ready for one.  I would get a new horse to ride.