My horse is herd bound, and i hate it?

Question

he was eating his bucket of food today and saw the horses in his paddock running, so he ditched 1/2 abucket of feed for them

when i was holding him waiting for the saddle fitter. he broke his lead rop and ran

when i was catching him to ride the other horses left so he tried to throw me off to stay with them

i try to catch ihm now and he trots away

i dont so anything mean to him and i dont over work him. and im not always at the paddock just to ride, so he cant think that i am always there just to ride. so i dont get it. and i want to fix this

please help, him being herd bound is and solving it will take away 1/2 of the problems im having with him!!!

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problem 2 ( dont answer about this) he dis repects me, but we are starting groundwork lessons so dont worry about that

Answer 1

You can try the things suggested here, but in my experience you don't have the options at this facility that you need in order to solve your problem.  Horses that are herd-bound are sometimes like panicking weanlings and getting their attention can be all but impossible.  Sometimes a change of venue is the only viable solution.

I have never tried the Clinton Anderson method...sounds like the best one to try.

Answer 2

if possible, keep him in a pen away from all other horses. the only interaction he gets with horses is when you are with him, while he is away from the horses, go out every day and pet, brush, and just love him. this will build his trust and confidence in you and build a wonderful relationship. i hope all goes well!!

Answer 3

All horses are, to some extent, herd bound. I dont think the problem you are having is that which you have stated, but instead I think your problem is that your horse is poorly trained. (sorry, the truth hurts)

It takes time and patience, but try taking a treat out to your horse when he is outside, even when you dont want to ride. As soon as he gets the treat, walk away. He learns to think that you coming out to get him may not be such a bad thing. Also, try scolding him if he tries to buck you, or bolt towards the other horses with you on/with him. He needs to learn that he can do that later, but you are his herd and he should respect you. Bring your horse in sometimes, and just groom him for an hour or so, then let him back in. He (again) learns that when you bring  him in, it is time for YOU TWO and he should not fret about that. Besides, he will enjoy the grooming and you will build a bond with him.

Hope this helped!

Answer 4

I follow Clinton Anderson's training methods, this is his method for solving herd-bound issues.  It has worked wonders with our horses-

When you work him next, either lounge (sp?) or ride him at a fast canter/fast trot near the other horses, until he absoluely cannot move anymore.  Don't stop too early, work him until he is ready to collapse.  Then, lead him away and let him rest for a minute or two, then bring him back and work on backing or disengaging his hindquarters.  Then lead him away from the herd and let him rest.  If he still has problems, repeat.

Good luck!

Answer 5

my 17 year old mare has severe herd bound issues. i've had her for about 5 years and rescued her, she's a sweet horse but due to her distrust of humans has become overly attached to horses. I cannot keep her near the other horses, she's ina paddock away from all other horses near the house. but she can still sometimes spot them and goes insane bucking and galloping all around the paddock. we had to double electrify the fence with two strands and put it on 6000 volts to stop her smashing through the fence. sometimes she doesn't eat for days and paces for days if a horse comes near her paddock and then leaves. someone suggested getting a goat for company for her, but she killed it. We got her a cow and she wouldn't have anything to do with it, so we bought her a mini pony and she attacked it, so we put her with an average gelding and she beat it up, we tried her with a few different horses all with  the same result she just tries to kill them...so we just have to keep her alone...funny she can't live with em, can't live without em

Answer 6

My first horse, an 18 year old Arabian gelding, was maddeningly herd bound and he tossed me, and ran off with me many times just to get to them. It was crazy frustrating but if you work on it you can improve the problem.

What I did was ask a few of my friends to bring their horses into the arena with my horse and I. Then I worked him first on the lunge then under saddle. I made him work harder when he was close to the other horses and let him rest and relax either next to me or on the other side of the arena away from the herd.  

Slowly but surely he began to associate being with the herd as work and with me as just a little work and more rest. If you do this every time you get to go see your horse  it should help some.

As for the leading issues, whenever my horse stops and refuses to move I make her back up or turn circles. Get the feet moving, if you can control the feet you can control the horse.

Hope I helped and good luck =)

Answer 7

is it possible for when he runs away to crack a whips and make it YOUR i dea to run away. eventually he will stop.