My horse is pushing me against the fence!?

Question

My gelding has come a long way in a short time with suggestions I have gotten from this site. Now I have another problem. When I am saddling my horse or trying to mount him he has started pushing into me and trying to get me up against the fence. I of course tried pushing him back with not a lot of luck because he is like 1000lbs and I'm not. So last time I was trying to mount him he did it and I just smacked his neck by his shoulder and he seamed suprised, but then when I tried to mount him again he pushed me against the fence again. I know this is very dangerous and I want to do something to make him stop. He is very aggressive, no biting, or kicking just pushing, but I'm afraid of getting hurt. I know people are against hitting animals but I don't know what else to do. Should I get a crop and hit him on the shoulder? Pinch him on his shoulder, acting like a bite from another horse? Elbow him in the shoulder? Wave my arms? HELP!!

Answer 1

the crop

Answer 2

You do not mount inbetween a horse and fence you mount in the areana ect. but not between a fence and a horse, and do not hit ur horse to hard srry and have to say cause i am turning my best friends grandfather in for abuse to his horses.

Answer 3

Where do you saddle and mount???  

Try setting up a set of cross ties properly spaced away from walls for grooming and tacking up..and mount him away from the fence so he can't push you into it..  Do you use the fence to climb to help you get on the horse?  If so, try a mounting block.

Does he do the same thing when ridden in a ring?  Push you into the rail?

Answer 4

Pull the rein towards you and hit him in the butt with the crop. If this doesn't work hit him in between the ears with the crop.. Not too hard just enough to show him that you are the boss and you mean business..

Answer 5

This behavior needs to be nipped in the bud (as you well know)

I would have a person there to hold him for you if he becomes difficult to handle. Have a nice heavy crop in your hand. Make like you are getting on, and when he moves (as soon as he starts) give him a good poke with the handle (poke the shoulder if he moves the shoulder. Rump if he moves his rump). After he calms down, repeat the process. This may take several tries, but by no means attempt to mount until he stands flat footed. If he swings as you are mounting, have the person on the ground help you hold him in place. Do not ride off right away. Make him stand until you ask him to move up.

Answer 6

Pull his head around when mounting him, he'll stand and won't be able to push you.

Answer 7

u need to show it whos boss

Answer 8

i had the same problem with mounting but the horse was moving away... so what i did was just put pressure on his (outside) butt while we were walking to the mounting bock and she did move a little when i was on the mounting block but after a while she got used to it and now i can mount her like an angle! but with your problem it sounds like he/she is trying to find a way to not get ridden! no offence or any thing but what ever you are doing isnt getting to her/him! or then she would have stoped just like the horse i rode...

i think you just need to get your crop out and show him/her whos incharge and show him/her she cant get away with anyting naughty!! hopefull she will learn this and stop if not it could also have to do with your rides! i have always been told that you cant make a ride with your horse boring (like dont do the same thing over and over again) make it interesting for him/her!  maybe its one of those two if not GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

i am not against hitting animals if they need it .

A horse of course liek urs needs it

when he does it, give him a wack on the neck or shoulder and say NO. in a growl.

He wont feel alot of the hit so dont worry,

Gd luck.

Answer 10

I would get a crop

Answer 11

Your horse needs to be round penned because he hasn't properly learned that your space isn't his space. Establish the hula hoop. Put him on a 14ft lead line and draw a hula hoop around you.

Any part on the horse that is touching tap with a handy stick. Don't move with him, just get him out. If he doesn't move hit harder and if comes back tap him again. He hasn't learned personal space and it'll get worse if you let it go.

Answer 12

Keep it simple. Place a nail between your fingers an let him move into it. DO NOT POKE HIM WITH IT. When he feels the pointed pressure, he will move away. You can then place it in your pocket to use later. Horses generally will not injure themselves. This is not intended to injure the horse, just let him know he is in your space...

Answer 13

Round pen

Answer 14

poke him in the belly with you're knuckles and he should move over. thats what i do.

goodluck =]

Answer 15

The horse is trying to stop you.

The longer you let him do this (get away with it) - the worse it will get - and probably the worse behavior you will get out of him .. he may become more aggressive as he discovers that he can do this to you.  It could eventually lead to you getting hurt.  The horse will think he can control you.

I was riding one of my horses in an arena one night - and the horse ran me upon the fence - just as you are telling about - and it injured my leg .   It can eventually get you hurt.

Being cruel to an animal is different than training one.  To ride a horse, the horse HAS to know that you are in command.   If you do NOT have control of that horse - that horse will take control.   AND - it needs to be done now - and it should not continue.

You need to do something that the horse will not like when he runs you into the fence.  You need to do this thing to the horse when he does the bad thing with the fence -- so he will know why it is happening to him .   The horse needs to learn that he can't get away with it.   And the horse will learn that if he runs you into the fence that something will happen to him that he does not want ... believe it or not - he can be made to stop this behavior.   And above all, the horse needs to know that you are master.

I dislike telling you this -- but you should wear a pair of spurs - and have a quirt.   When that horse starts to push you into the fence - you will need to use the spurs which is on that side of the fence .. (say the fence is on your left side - you would spur the horse only with the left spur).  You need to know HOW to spur the horse away from the fence .. the horse will not like the spur .. he may go into doing something else.   You need to know HOW to spur - and where to spur - because some spurring could lead to the horse bucking you off ... and .. he may try it because he has alread got away with everything .. so he will try something else.   You need to know the flank area, etc.     If you are afraid to do this - or don't know how to do it .. you need to get someone who has done it before, to help you.

If you could first .. get the horse away from the fence .. and use a light & gentle spur on him .. just to let him know what a spur is .. and that you have them on yourself .. then the horse might become more aware of the tool you are using.    If you just use the spur in a big way - when he pushing you against the fence - it might surprise the horse so much that he could really go into a panic ... a professional trainer would expect the reaction probably.   OR - you could first try to gently spur the horse away from the fence .. if that did not work - you could try using a little more spur each time until it worked.   Just always be ready for the unexpected.

Just be aware, that some horses will do worse things when they are tried to be corrected of one bad habit.    If that horse thinks you are scared of him -- he may try many, many things on you.   And  - the horse knows.   Always know that there is danger in training a horse.  You need to know how to handle yourself, and how to handle the horse.   Even professional trainers get hurt.

If this horse has been getting his way - then you have more problems to contend with.   The horse has to learn that you are boss.   AND - you have to become boss within yourself.  You have to be able to handle the horse .. and you must always be the winner.    When you allow a horse to get away with something - then walk away from the horse - the horse is the victor and he knows it.   The horse can tell it's power over someone.

For awhile - take no nonsense from the horse.   Don't allow him to get away with anything.   Get it corrected on the spot.  Eventually, the horse will know that you are his boss - and he will respect that.   If this never happens - then bigger problems will probably arise.

Be very careful.   Big injuries can come from horses.    Horses are wonderful -- but they all have to be trained -- and some horses are just not as trainable as other horses.   Some horses are very dangerous to contend with.

Answer 16

Hitting a horse is a tough call. They are so big, you really have to mean it to make them respect you. If you just smack them, it is only irritating and they will probably just act worse. Here is a trick that has saved me from being smashed...

Tie your horse loose enough to turn his head. Then put another rope on his halter and hold onto it. When he tries to push on you, pull his head sharply towards you and into the fence.

This will work because a horse's body can not be where his head is. If his head is turned towards you, his body will have to move away.

Most horses figure out pretty quickly that they can't mash you and stop trying. Keep the rope on until he hasn't tried it in a long time.

When mounting, it would be best not to be between the fence and the horse. Could you put the horse between you and the fence, so he can't move away when you try to mount? That way, if he tries to get in your space when you are mounting, you can do the same technique of pulling his head towards you, but he can't move away too far, so you can still get on.

Just remember, hitting or threatening the horse in any way won't work unless the horse KNOWS that you can hurt him badly. Wild horses rarely make contact with each other when fighting; it's all about attitude. It is possible to make the horse respect you without even touching him. Just be serious and make him believe you.

Good luck!

Answer 17

So, if you push back, that'll just give him something to fight against, and he will. If you roll your knuckles over his sides, you'll teach him a new command, but it won't actually solve the problem.

There is a huge difference between hitting an animal and disciplining it.

My QH gelding used to be the same way. He was super sweet, but was pushy and rude.

What's helped with him is carrying a crop everytime we do any in hand work or anything. My suggestion would be to take a crop up with you, and if he moves in to you, give him a tap. Don't beat him, but let him know that your space is YOUR space, not his.