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Re: [RC] Help! Behavior problems (long) - Paul LatiolaisJuli,I am very interested in what others will say about this problem. My paso, Pete, used to have this problem. My wife's nickname for him is "Butt", because he was such a one. Pete is a 9 year old gelding as well and the pasture boss of four horses. He can still be difficult on occasion, but in the last year he has gotten a lot better. I have been doing the natural horsemanship thing with him for a couple of years, but the real turn around was a year ago. I sent him off for a month for a mental adjustment with Bill Basham in Idaho. Bill gave me the edge I needed to get a handle on Pete's attitude and pass our Parelli Level I. With all of the riding we have been doing in the last year ( and groundwork too), he behaves well when he is under my control. He will now stand still untied, while I saddle him. He is still a butt in the pasture. When he went off to Bill's, I asked Bill to specifically put him in a pasture where he was not the boss, and I am sure that had an impact. My big change of attitude though in the last year has been to choose my battles. That is, I try not to get into situations where it is a serious fight. When we are in difficult situations, I work to get changes in him, but not complete compliance until I know I can get it. I did not do this at the beginning of the Santiam ride last summer. I apologize to whoever we bowled past. We have done starts a lot better toward the end of the season. Like when you ran Alpine. The only thing I would have done differently was to also slow him down and then let him go again, slow him down and let him go again. Make him realize that he is not the driver, even if he is getting to go fast, like he wants to. And do the same thing on the ground, lots of turns and gait changes. BUT... it will still take time. AND you might get a professional "natural" trainer to help. These guys get the big buck$ (?) for a reason. Good luck, -Paul L. On Saturday, January 3, 2004, at 09:31 PM, Agilbxr@xxxxxxx wrote: I'm asking for help from everyone here.? My 9 year old Paso gelding recently changed homes.? I moved him out to a boarding barn on the edge of a state forest where I could ride and condition for endurance.? He left a barn of 5 total where he was low man on the totem pole, and moved to a barn of 10, 7 mares, 3 gelding including him.? Because he was the oldest male at the barn ( I assume), he moved up the totem to be top boy horse.? There is only the dominant mare that will push him around.? 2 weeks ago, they added one more boarder, a 19 year old gelding.? Alpine has since started acting like "THE Stallion".? He runs the new horse mercilessly, won't let him anywhere near the herd, runs himself into a lather keeping the new horse away from everyone, and today managed to run him into the fence and the new guy got a nasty cut on his foot.? It's been about 10 days now, and he's no better.? We figured with time, he'd cut it out.
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