by Rindy Tietjen

Created on: April 15, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

There are as many re-training techniques for problem horses as there are trainers. Because each horse is an individual, no one system or magic formula will solve every problem you will encounter with your horse.

A full physical is a good place to start. Many problem behaviors such as avoiding a bit, spooking, or acting out while mounted can be traced to physical problems. Your vet can pinpoint vision problems, mouth or back pain which may be causing your horse's behavior.

Assuming your vet has ruled out any physical issues, the next thing you need to do is examine your horse's basic personality. A lead mare must be treated differently than a more passive horse. Experience is also important. Treating an aggressive or spoiled adult horse like a green colt will only result in a more dangerous animal.

Resolve to work with your horse daily and work from the ground first. Be safe. Break whatever task you are trying to accomplish into the smallest steps possible. Keep a log of your work and note any signs of progress.

I can't tell you how to "fix" your specific horse. What I can offer are a few examples drawn from my personal experience. I have included the stories of the three most challenging horses I have trained. Before I move on to these case studies, though, I'm going to debunk a few myths common to horse training.

Myth #1: There are no bad horses.

A horse may be naturally bad tempered and difficult to train. It may have been badly abused or neglected in the past. Any horse that bites, kicks, or otherwise assaults a human should be corrected immediately. No excuses should be made for this behavior. Some horses are downright dangerous. Chronic bucking and rearing fall into this category. If your horse is one of these, and you are not a pro trainer, you should sell the horse. Do not take chances with your safety or the safety of your children.

Myth #2: To communicate with a horse, you must speak his language.

This dangerous myth leads to injured horse owners. The horse must never, ever see you as another horse. You must establish dominance in a different manner than a lead mare. If you spend any amount of time observing horses in a herd, you will quickly notice the high number of kicks and bites used to establish intra-herd dominance. Trust me, you don't want to be on the receiving end of one of those kicks. Teach your horse to respect your two-legged status from the start. Make them learn your language.

Myth #3: Horses see humans as predators.

This is a nice fluffy

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