Can I put him back in?

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:35 pm

Okay....
I waited forever for my current foal (him mom was WAY overdue)
and now I wish I could stick him back in...
He's evil.....

He was so horid this morning, I hid on the other side of mom while trying to feed him....after he had reared and come down on top of me.

I don't like to hit youngsters...but he does'nt care.....at all..... he just looks at you like "bring it"....and if you actually swat him hard enough to get his attention, he will "Kung Fu kick you" I am actually a little wary of him...

I have tried being nice (tried that first of course) he just bites, and then kung fu kicks....

Any ideas?

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:48 pm

Don't breed back to THAT sire next year. That's usually where the temperament comes from. In the meantime, you could try a little training. Make or get him a body harness, with surcingle, breatstrap, butt strap, etc. Get a halter on him and use side reins from the halter to the lowest rings on the sides of the surcingle, and give him a come to Jesus lesson, leading him, and let him fight it out with himself. He can't kick you if you have control of his head.

clh · Postby **clh** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:10 pm

How old is this baby

Geez - I'd be running for the hills probably but I've learned that if they know they can get you and you fear them that makes it worse - do what Madelyn says - she's an expert and then do what I do - practice the good old practice of "bob and weave, duck and dodge" .... Good Luck!

C

amanda1 · Postby **amanda1** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:39 pm

This wouldn't be a Silver Ghost baby by any chance would it?!?!?!?

We have an '06 Silver Ghost colt and he's actually pretty good, but when we went to see Silver Ghost they brought him out with a muzzle on, apparently he's quite the cannibal!

If your foal is just a newbie I would try to get the upper hand now while he is small enough to wrestle with, you have the weight advantage. I have found that getting hold of them and wrapping your arms around with one arm under their neck at the shoulders and one arm behind their butt works well. If you can hang on, they can't get as much leverage at you if you are close to them. We have a week old filly that will rear and kick but if I get her in this hold she gives up and then is fine to touch and will now lead.

Good Luck!

Cathyleabo · Postby **Cathyleabo** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:07 am

I had one like that. I called him Max after the kid in the book "Where the wild things are".
He was less than 2 hours old the first time he bit me.
He was spanked for the first time at 2 weeks old. I had to take him down and sit on him at 4 weeks.
He was okay after that, but not good until he went to the trainers for weaning. The other weanlings didn't put up with his crap and he came back with a whole new attitude.

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:13 am

Hang in there... my guy was a terror as a foal, from what I was told (hence his barn name, Freshi)... he grew out of it. Madelyn is right, in saying "control the head, control the horse"... hope you find a method to gain his respect! I feel for you, I'd be frustrated, too...

Good advice, about weanling turnout... sometimes other horses give better "life lessons"! :roll:

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:30 am

Well....
Stewart, after a bit of a "set down" is more agreeable-
I had "halter broke" him ie. gotten him used to leading via baby harness (rope around him chest to rear to control him) but the day after he attempted to take over the world (his world anyway)-given that he is actually big enough to be roughed up a bit-
Anyway, he seems to understand that, dispite the fact that he now outweighs me, I do have ways to "control him"...

I have raised quite a few foals, but none have challenged my authority so early, usually they seem to think I am the center of the universe-hugs, food, itches, food-He seems to think that I need to be "overthrown" for him to be "king"-

Usually it seems that foals, if they actually "get" me-they are playing and it is pretty obvious that once they get shoo-ed away they understand that they need to stay out of my space....

This one just keeps coming, and I don't get the "Play with me" vibe

The kids have been very business like with him-but he seems to get along with them really well-Maybe its a size thing?

Usually the kids play with them so much, I have to get after them for treating them like puppies, the kids have gotten older and hurt enough that they understand that horses are not dogs, and have been really "adult" around this little guy-

Raising this one is going to be fun.....

Stormchaser · Postby **Stormchaser** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:04 am

Good Luck with this young guy. We had a colt 4 years ago by With Approval that was the same way. He was a horror! We thought it was because his Mommy hated him so he took it out on us. Now we hear he is the same way on the track and tries to eat every other horse. It was tough but we have to stick these things out. Hockey pads for you might help! :roll:

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:40 pm

I feel for you, my little foal has a lot of not so nice nick names if you know what I mean :wink:

He is one tough little son of a gun and also likes to display his . . . athleticism! I agree with Madelyn re:controlling his head. I also believe in handling them a lot when they are like this - lots of squeezing and touching them all over. If you are at all nervous to handle him are you able to have someone help you? Even though they are young I think they know when they can take advantage of situations. Best of luck with him, mine is coming along well but I doubt I would breed his dam to his sire any time soon as his half siblings are little angels in comparison