Franklin Levinson's
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Mean Young Stallion
Hello Franklin
Help! Help! Help!
My mom and dad purchased a young colt. He showed signs of being mischievous then, but nothing to hard to handle. He is now 2 and very mean. My parents sent him to a trainer, and I believe he came back more aggressive then when he left. The trainer stated he was too immature to deal with. He has been exercised on a lunge line and been allowed to roam in a pasture on his own. We can not “bond” with him as he is not trustworthy at all. He has attacked both of my parents leaving them with bite marks on their arms and he continues to charge, lunge and kick. We have employed a dog shock collar, but he is smart enough to know when it is on his halter or off and it doesn’t seem to faze him any more. We have never had to deal with this in 30 years of breeding. I’m not sure gelding will help. I feel he should be put down, but Im looking for help if correcting the problem is possible. I honestly believe he has a mental problem. CAN YOU HELP???
Thank you for any help you can offer
Melita
Hi Melita,
Trust me...here is what is going on for this horse...horses need leadership and guidance from day one. If there is no leader around the horse fends for himself. This is how they survive. A 'colt' left pretty much on his own for a few years develops into a stallion who is used to fending for himself and therefore has no need to listen to anyone because no one ever showed up in his life to lead (or who was capable of leading) the 'dance'. The trainer he was sent to did not know what he was doing because with proper training any horse will come around (even stallions). I do not like shock collars. I think they make a horse more fearful and anxious. Folks who use them are generally looking for a quick fix to a training problem that is beyond them and they do not want to take the time or spend the money to really get the animal trained. You say your family has been breeding horses for 30 years, yet this colt was left pretty much on his own and then was sent to a trainer who obviously wasn't qualified. These were not good choices. Gelding would help settle the horse, as he is young enough. He is just a horse who's training has been neglected.
If you have a round pen and someone who really know how to use it to interact with the horse and not just chase a horse around that will be the key to his training. I have worked with dangerous stallions quite a bit (especially in Europe where their methods are frequently abusive and their horses come out very aggressive). I have yet to find a horse that did not respond to the type of training I do. It is gentle yet with a high level of 'leadership' (even with a big, dangerous stallion). If you have a round pen and your folks are interested in this horse 'coming around', please let me know. I offer 'training coaching’ via the telephone, as well as travel to train and teach around this country and internationally, and would be happy to help in this situation. How experienced are your parents really? Do they have a hands-on relationship with their horses or hire out for trainers and handlers? I am certain you all feel dedicated to the well being of all your horses, but I think you have missed the mark here. How many horses are on your property? How many foals do you produce a year? Are there other stallions on the property and if so, how many? This is important background information I can use to help me help you. Please remember, this horse has developed this behavior over time from neglected training. He is innocent even with his aggressiveness. He is just a horse. I look forward to hearing back from you. You do not have to give up on him.
Sincerely, Franklin