Swift kick to my knee today

[CFFarm]

You have to train you horse to stand for cleaning just like any thing else. For future safety’s sake he needs to tolerate being “worked” on in case of injury or treatment.

Start by running a hose over his back feet (you may have to start with the front feet and work your way to the back) and work your way up his legs a bit at a time until he is accepting of it. This may take weeks/months so work slowly. When he stands still stop, tell him how good he is or give him a treat if he’s food motivated. Quit for the day. After he accepts the hose on his sheath start handling it and rinsing the inside. If you water is very, very cold use some warm water inside the sheath with a clean cloth to start. Make sure you keep one hand on his flank at all times (one should always keep on hand on the horse when working on the body) and stay to the side out of cow kicking range. Eventually you should be able to reach up and learn to feel the bean and clean it out. This is when they are most apt to kick. As I said this will take months and months and like in all training, timing is everything. Think approach and retreat. Be aware of what the horse is doing at all times and stay safe.

In the mean time get a large animal vet to come out and check (clean) him out.

[Palm_Beach]

@musicmaker5166 - consider subscribing to Warwick Schiller’s website for the winter so you can learn how to get your horse trained up so that you can safely work around him in just about any situation.

www.warwickschiller.com

I try not to bother my horses while they are eating. I consider it rude. But if I am in a hurry and need to put on a blanket or something, I expect then to continue eating and not do anything aggressive towards me as I complete my task. I am alone with the horses most of the time and cannot risk my health and safety with a poorly trained horse. They all get good ground manners installed beginning day one.

[musicmaker5166]

@CFFarm - thank you so much for the training input. It’s been a lot to learn. In my ignorance of horse ownership, I failed to realize that I also need to know how to train & desensitize. We had horses growing up for a bit prior to my becoming an adult and moving out, but I simply rode and nothing more.

@Palm Beach - thanks for the link, I will definitely look into it. I’ve only had him for three months and he’s come a very long way. My actions were rude - no doubt there. I had the best of intentions, but neglected to think first. Obviously I am no horseman and I’m doing the best I can having only had horses since June 2017.

Hoping for a vet today. I waited on three yesterday and had zero luck. Going to call other farms and vets across the state line. His sheath is more swollen this morning and looks like it is housing two limes. I’m appalled with the lack of concern. I will PAY whatever to help my boy, but I can’t do it myself this time. Next time - there will have been time to train him to accept these things.

[Horseman15]

@SonnysMom

http://www.equusite.com/articles/health/healthSheathCleaning.shtml

At this point I would have the vet out to tranq the horse and clean the sheath. They can show you how to safely do it for future cleaning.

Great article!

[candyappy]

I remember once when I boarded , my horse was tied in the aisle and at the same time I was going behind him a stalled horse lunged over and bit him. He managed to get me in both knees. Thankfully I was very close but his shoes cut my pants and gouged decent sized hunks out just under my knee caps. My horse never kicked before or after.

When I could get up off the floor, I was so thankful I could walk. I still bear the scars 30 years later. Never thought to discipline my gelding for it. It was not intentional on his part.

Discipline for kicking should go in line for the reason/ circumstances involved. Cleaning a sheath / removing a bean is best left to a vet in many circumstances as the pain involved can make even the best mannered gelding kick. I don’t blame them!

Glad you are ok.

[Scribbler]

Don’t try to clean his sheath yourself right now. Since he has edema get a horse vet out to examine and clean. The vet will probably tranq him. Maybe vets will be more willing to come out after the holidays are over.

If he turns out to be easy to clean there are often folks out there who will clean for a price, cheaper than the vet. Sometimes there are young women who will clip, sheath clean, braid mane for shows, to earn extra cash.

But get a vet out to do it first.

[musicmaker5166]

Vet came and there was a bean in his urethra. The vet refuses to work on him ever again saying that he is far to dangerous. The most spooky horse he’s ever worked on in 30 years. It took 3 doses of two different sedatives and his penis was still mostly retracted. My husband had to administer the first dose as the horse wouldn’t even allow the vert near him. My husband got thrown off his feet, landing across the run in when my gelding threw his head around and up giving my husband one hell of an upper cut. Who ever abused him sure did a number on him.

[MsM]

Glad he was taken care of. However he sounds like a major project regarding his behavior. I would strongly consider getting him to a trainer who you know can deal appropriately with his issues sooner than later. I’m afraid he might be too much for you right now.

[musicmaker5166]

@MsM - there is NO doubt in my mind that he is FAR TOO MUCH for us right now. My husband is attached to him and is the reason that I still have him. Have been planning to send him to a trainer in the Spring. I just wonder if he will ever be a horse that we can handle?

[bitranchy]

Sending him to a trainer is a wise decision. Probably one that’s better to do sooner rather than later, but weather and location may mean you need to wait. There’s no telling whether the horse will be one that you two will be able to handle safely and confidently in the future until a professional is involved. If it’s your husband that’s become attached to the horse, you may need to have a discussion about the possibility of moving on if the trainer of your choice later decides that even with training the horse is beyond your scope.

I wouldn’t imagine the horse is so far gone to the point he’s damaged goods. Most horses, IMO, aren’t. However, not all horses will be beginner or novice friendly, even with sound training. It’s not money lost to find a trainer worth their salt and see what they can do with the horse, even if you ultimately end up finding him a home with a more experienced hand. If that ends up being the case, the trainer may be able to find you two a mount that is more suitable.

Best of luck for all three of you. If you haven’t yet, I’d start pursuing looking for a trainer for him once the holidays are over. Don’t embellish, but do be transparent with whoever you get in touch with. It’ll give you and any future trainer the ability to decide if it may be a route worth exploring. Depending on your location, some COTHers may be able to recommend someone if you’re at a loss for where to start.

[Bluey]

@musicmaker5166

Vet came and there was a bean in his urethra. The vet refuses to work on him ever again saying that he is far to dangerous. The most spooky horse he’s ever worked on in 30 years. It took 3 doses of two different sedatives and his penis was still mostly retracted. My husband had to administer the first dose as the horse wouldn’t even allow the vert near him. My husband got thrown off his feet, landing across the run in when my gelding threw his head around and up giving my husband one hell of an upper cut. Who ever abused him sure did a number on him.

Not sure he was abused or just never trained properly.
Either way, he doesn’t sound like a horse that should be in other than a professional’s hands.

Your DH may just like that horse because he likes a challenge, but when you are put in real danger as it sounds you are there, reality ought to set in.
Moving the horse to a better situation for everyone, the horse, that needs some serious training/re-training and those that now are trying to handle a difficult horse without the skills to do so safely.

No horse or idea of what that horse may become if you keep trying yourself is worth getting hurt over.

A trainer could help evaluate the horse further.
Seems the veterinarian just did for you, told you the horse seems to be unsafe to be around.

[Ticker]

I had a horse that I raised from a foal that would go ballistic at the site of a needle…my guy was given a series of very painful injections that were not tolerated well.
I suspect you and most others would consider him dangerous to handle…he was dangerous in sight of a needle. When we gelded him the vet had to hang onto his neck as my horse swung him around…it was quite a spectacle…the vet did an incredible job.
We eventually desensitized him but it took a long time. For the record…I go ballistic at the sight of a needle too and I have to take Tylena PM before a blood test…I kick really hard.

I had another horse that you could not work on his teeth. He would get multiple tranquilizers and would still blow thru the medication to become a monster…a dangerous do not handle monster. He was our longest lived and most gentle soul…we were never able to desensitize him.

I would get a new vet and try to consider if you want to identify the problem and desensitize your horse to whatever it is that he is so violently objecting to. Of course find whatever help you need…a good vet might be a place to start.

[musicmaker5166]

@bitranchy - absolutely will have a trainer involved and already had one in mind prior to this event - just was planning to send him in the Spring. Hopefully he would work out for us, he has a super sweet side to him. I’m not one to embellish in the first place, but I won’t tell the trainer anything other than he is spooky. The rest of it - the trainer can figure out for himself, I don’t have the proper terminology anyhow :lol: the trainer is well known in our area and endorsed by people who have similar philosophies that I do in working with animals. He would pick up on what is most important and doesn’t need me trying to sound like I know anything. LOL

@Bluey - Well - I do know without a doubt that he was a bag of bones sent to an auction with a ripped ear. He is very easy to ride and lead in a halter - once you get in one. He stands very well to be tacked up and mounted, is very responsive in neck reigning - (but you’d better not leg steer). He lifts his feet almost instantly to touch and stands well for them to be cleaned when tied up. He really fears men, HATES straw hats, his skin tightens and often quivers when anyone so much as reaches toward him, took two months for me to gain his trust and be able to halter him. I’ve had two trainers (not people who are open to training for others at this point) both told me that he has all the signs of being abused in their professional opinions. One of these trainers (has 20 years experience and comes here to help me with our mare) told me that he wasn’t safe for us to keep only a month after we got him because of how he overreacts to little things - but my husband wouldn’t agree to move him out because he felt she shouldn’t make that call in one session with him (duh on him). The other trainer has 40+ years, even breaking wild horses and he is our farrier. He spent over an hour working with this horse in hopes to gain his trust - and never ended up even starting the job on him (he’ll be back soon - last time I had the horse in halter and tied before the farrier came). Both trainers have said that he will likely be a very good horse with some good solid training from the right person. My husband recently witnessed the horse’s old farrier beat a different horse that he was shoeing for a customer (he’s a local Amish and brother to my husband’s best friend). No - I don’t know for sure that he was abused - but I’ve trusted the experience of other people. My husband has ZERO horse knowledge - he is an angus farmer. I at least grew up a few years with them at home and took lessons as a kid fro a few years.

@Ticker - Sounds like a good comparison to what we had going on. Our boy is really sensitive (reactive) to most anything within 8 feet of him especially when he has no halter/lead. Sudden movement - such as talking to someone and moving your hand… my pulling a bale of hay down from the loft… if he thinks you are going to pet his body or his head (neck & rump is ok)… the sight of a lead rope, a straw hat, the sight of a halter, a new man (child/woman is ok), if my cell phone rings (LOL)…

[CFFarm]

It’s all well and good to have a trainer but unless you and your husband get trained also on how to handle him it’s a waste of time and money. I strongly suggest finding a home with a very experience horseman or someone who can come everyday and teach you.