by Brenda Nelson

Created on: April 24, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Horses range from tiny miniatures, to giant draft, and any one of them can exhibit a behavioral problem. Most behavioral problems are the result of boredom, are learned from other horses, or may be the result of improper training, or poor handling. Let us look at what the most common behavioral problems in horses are, their causes, and solutions.

Hard to Catch

Some horses avoid being caught out of fear, others treat being caught as a game. An owner with a horse that is hard to catch, should keep it in as small of a pen as possible and find every opportunity to work with it. If, as a foal, a horse had a dam who was hard to catch, its fear of humans comes from watching her behavior. Offering a horse treats while you are putting the halter on is a good way of teaching it that being caught equals a reward. Some people leave the halters on horses who are hard to catch, but this is not without risks of the horse getting caught on a fence post.

Biting

A horse who bites people out of aggression is uncommon, except in the case of stallions or spoiled ponies. If your horse is biting you it needs to learn some manners. Hitting it will make it head shy, having a tack or sharp nail in your hand and poking the horse discretely with it at the exact moment the bit occurs will discourage the behavior. A person is best if they can "read" their horse well enough to be prepared for the bite, and be ready to respond.

Head Shy

Some horses hate to have their heads brushed, or their ears touched. This is often due to a person being rough when putting on, or removing the bridle. It also comes from situations where horses were not handled extensively when young. Desensitize a horse by touching it everywhere, with a soothing voice, but being confident, and not letting go, nor pushing too hard. Offer treats. Handle the ears (for example) a bit more and more each day. Finish on a positive note.

Pulling Back

In an extreme situation some horses do not respect being tied. This often begins when a horse is in training and tests being tied. If they were not tied firmly enough they will learn that they can break free. It is also formed by horses who were not taught to relax and be calm around people, a scared horse will respond by pulling back. There are two things a person must do. One, is to get a proper halter for training horses not to pull back. The other is to find a safe and secure place, to tie the horse, one that cannot be broken. Review sacking out and other techniques to get a horse to accept

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