Long story/intro

[buttercup132]

I co own a pure Halflinger named Trigger hes 6 years old and a pain in the butt. Heres the problem. The lady who owns the barn has her own horses wich go into one paddock plus another one whos not hers. Well Trigger started kicking his old paddock mate who is old so they took him out , the only other place they could put him for now is the paddock with her horses. Well all the mares are in heat(there 4 of them) and theres one gelding whos been like leader of the herd for a long time and now Trigger has come in and they keep fighting Trigger has bit the other gelding making him bleed. But now he's attached to this one mare who he's been barn to barn with for a few years and hes not allowed to go with her because he will get attached and act up..well what does the barn owner do, of course she puts him in ith her! So now he wont stop whinnying and acting up especially in the cross ties! The other day I went out with my freind(because he also wont go out on his own hes bucks and spins backs up what not) and she has professional training by olympic riders and she had to get on him the other day cause he was being so bad and got thrown off twice! She had spurs and a crop and nothing would stop him acting up! But then today I decided I'm done with his crap hes going out on his own no matter what it takes! But before that I decided to give him a sip of my cold green tea jus to see his reaction and he LOVED it so I gave him some more and I took him out and he was EXCELLLENT! Like he couldnt even be 2 inches away from another horses without freaking out but I took him out rode him for 3 hours on his own and it was like a whole new horse! The owner wants to sell him because he's causing so much trouble and cause he cant go out on his own. I hope to buy him she said 6000 for people she doesnt know 3500 for people she does but my freind said no way should he be sold for that much 1300 , 1500 at the most! I could probly make 1300 wich means I could get him!! I dunno so he was either being really good from the green tea or me and him were ment to be bacause he does behave better when I'm on him and my freind had known him longer then me Ive known him for a year and shes known him since he was like 3. *sigh* one can only hope.

[Bilbo12]

Green tea?? That's an idea! lol

[MTAussie]

That is something! If the green tea works go with it! haha.
I know what you are talking about with the barn sourness and freaking out when you take them away from the other horses.
Is there anyway he can be put in a more secluded stall? Although I guess that might make it worse when he actually gets to see other horses. But that is what I would try.
Well I hope the owner's let you buy him for 1300! After all the work it sounds like you have been doing too! Well good luck and keep us updated!!

[buttercup132]

You guys dont think green tea would hurt them? Good then I will make a tea before i go leave it for 10 minutes to cool and give it too him :D
There is paddocks but he frreaks out when hes alone and so I said but him in the paddocks with electric fence so he cant kick them down but she wont because the grass is growing and hell rip it up and then theyll have none to eat for summer.:rolleyes:

[MTAussie]

Hmmm... Well if you get to buy him then you can do whatever you want right? :) I don't know if green tea will hurt horses, but I am guessing no :D let us know how it goes!

[buttercup132]

True but my mom parts up at that barn too so i dunno dont think I would want to switch I'm not sure though cause I found a place that is cheaper.But I just hvae no idea how I'm going to make 1300. Any ideas? I have a job but i only get 4 hours per shift and 3 shifts a week wich then pays only hundred and something every two weeks. But in 2 more months I will be off the pobation thing and get a raise and more hours seeing as I wont be training anymore. But I want to get him asap.

[KellyP]

I highly doubt that it was the green tea that made him calmer. Maybe he's just getting over his case of seperation axiety?

[buttercup132]

I highly doubt that it was the green tea that made him calmer. Maybe he's just getting over his case of seperation axiety?
No he wasnte getting over it because when we got back to the barn he started actin up again.I'm going to go riding with him soon I'm going to try the green tea and see what happens if hes good again then I have no doubt that it's the green tea.

[BearStepinHoley]

I agree with KellyP, it could have been an out of sight out of mind type of thing. Doubt it was the green tea.

[buttercup132]

Ya but he threw off my trainer twice the day before and then with me he was fine...I dont think he would change in a day...I gave him his tea this morning and he was good again and I rode him farther all by himself

[lneill84]

Green tea isn't going to do anything-sorry. There is nothing in green tea that would make him act better. I would be concerned with the stuff in green tea-excelerants like cafeine, and other "fillers". Unless its from a health food store, and you checked the ingredients, i would not give it to your horse. He's barn sour, and a brat, and has gotten away with too much. I would start cracking down on him, and making sure he knows you are the leader, and he isn't going to get away with being naughty. When you hop on him, do not let him walk away from the block without you asking him to do so first. How are his barn manners? Horses are herd animals, they don't like going any place alone-there is safety in numbers. I would never expect a horse, particularly a flightly and barn sour one, to go away from the barn on his own. You're asking too much of him right now. I had one horse that would willingly leave the safety of the barn area alone. You can't expect him to be perfect overnight, its going to take a lot of firm handling and leadership

[buttercup132]

I was wondering if the green tes would hurt him I asked before but noone answered...
And his real owner is the problem she doesnt listen and lets him get away with everyhting. If he acts up then she will turn around and go back letting him win. He's been doing that all his life until I came. And I have been working with him thee past 2 months...
He's been going out with his old pasture mate cause my mom co owns him so we go together and I kept getting farther and farther ahead so he'd get more used to being alone and now he can go on his own. He leaves fine it was just in certain areas he would quickly turn and dash back.
I know I asked for opinions and your aloud to say them but some of you are being kind of rude..or thats how I'm feeling.
:hamster2:

[lneill84]

You are thinking that feeding a horse green tea will magically make him better, yet there are many factors at work. If you are concerned with his flightyness, try Relax Him/Her. Its an herbal supplement that does calm them down with homopathetic remedies, but do not give within a week of showing. He will test postive for illegal substances on a drug test. Things arent going to change until that woman gets away from him. How many times a week does she ride/interact with him? Im sorry if you found me to be rude, it wasn't my intention at all, and why the internet is so difficult to work with. Every step foward you take with him, she is going to undo. Horses naturally do not like to be alone-don't punish him for that, but rather, bulid up his confidence enough to be able to go away from the herd. I wish you luck, because its going to be very difficult to get him to listen and have a working relationship, while she is undermining everything you do. How are his barn manners?

[MTAussie]

I think that the green tea could be at least breaking up his regular routine, and could be making a difference.
And even though the owner may let him go back to the barn when he throws a fit, I think if you keep doing what you are doing he will work for you. Horses will take advantage of a weak or scared rider. They may test you out at first to see how you react. My horses difinitely can tell what level rider is on them at the time. My first horse Jiggs, would not go faster than a trot, if even that, when a little kid was on him. But as soon as someone bigger got on he would do whatever you wanted. He was also barn sour, depending on who was riding. He would throw an intial fit, and if you didn't let him go back he would be fine the rest of the ride.
Also with a barn sour horse, do not let them run back to the barn, although it is a lot of fun :), make him walk back. That will help too.
Good luck and keep us updated!

[buttercup132]

I cant tell the lady to stop riding him its her horse...she's just too scared to hit him with a crop or spur him and so ya she is undoing all my work. She only rides about once a week though.

[lneill84]

At least you lucked out with her only being around him once a week. Horses are smart, and learn from routine. He knows when he sees you, fun time is over, and when he sees her, he can get away with anything. Spurs and a crop are useful as long as they aren't abused. Has your trainer tried talking with her? Understandably, she might be nervous about using spurs, but she can buy dull baby spurs if she is concerned. Horses are big and strong, and can reially hurt someone if they don't behave. Some horses just need to see the spurs and crop and they will behave. I had a great young horse, and as long as you carried a stick and had spurs on, he was an angel. Try riding him without, and he was a freak and nearly impossible. I think that you're doing a good job with the best situation you can, but try to get your trainer to have a chat with her.

[MTAussie]

Buttercup, just wondering how everything is going with the horse?