Wow can’t say enough about the gift of healing you have . You are bringing the best out in this Horse ♥️ All these years that soft Spirit was inside of Him . Great video Mike ❣️Your New Horse Friend, Laura
Great video Mike! You explain it more precisely and concisely than a lot of so call horse whisperers. I'd like to point out to the public how precise your timing is. Every time you've put pressure on the horse and that he gave you what you wanted, you gave him release right away. I think that timing is the most crucial thing in communicating with horses.
+Pierre Gagnon Hello, I hope you have enjoyed following my horse training videos, I would like to invite you to my Horsemanship Members page, Don’t wait and get started, there are over a 100 horse training video’s in full length, Let me know what you think of the site and I hope to see you all there, Just click on this link to get started mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
I know this is an older video but you may see this. You're such a great guy! Your heart is so big and open for these poor abused horses. God Bless you Sir Keep up the great work!
+Kathy O Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Beautiful to see your work. Wonderful for you to show others that abused horses can come back. Killing should not be a solution to any abused animal and you must move at a pace that each one can handle. Not all could move as fast as this couragous horse did. And, feeling sorry for them when you are working with them will set them up for failure. What animals can forgive and move on from should teach humans a great deal. We need stronger Laws on Animal Abuse. What Mankind is capable of is terrafying in Abusers and inspirational in those that are willing to rehabilitate them properly with no pain nor anger.
+Linda Maria de la Rosa Thank you so much, This horse took a few weeks to start getting him past his abuse and aggression but he did come around really nice
+Linda Maria de la Rosa Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
I've been working with horses all my life and the very first aggressive horse I encountered was when was aged 10. I have always used the same methods as you as I was taught by an old man who had also worked with horses since boyhood. The 'horse whispering' behaviour therapy isn't anything new and people have used it for a really long time. I really enjoyed your video it's nice to see methods like yours and Monty Roberts getting wide coverage because, believe me, there's still the 'breaking the spirit' school of thought alive and kicking all over the world (scuse the pun).
Thank you so much, I never understood the breaking the horses spirit at all, but teaching horse step by step is the way to go, when you get a chance you should check out my members page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
I was also taught this method by "old" trainers back in the 90's. I trained for a while but now I only take on clients that are referrals and they are normally like this or worse. Had a stallion who was kept in a stall and was an orphan the first two years of his life and he was charging the stall and grabbing at kids and people with his teeth to yank them over and bite them. Even the barn manager wouldn't clean his stall because no one wanted to get trampled, kicked, bitten, etc. Been doing this since age 10 and took on younger 4H clients at 16. Happy to have had the older trainers and some of the trainers who don't have their own DVD collections in my life because I learned much more from them about riding and training and happy to have had the horses I have had and worked with to teach me along the way. Men like you who don't do it for DVD sales and really see the horse.
Great video! I've owned/trained horses "forever", but over the years I've learned to never think that I know it all. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on horse behavior and training, this will help a lot of horse owners.
+Maxstables Hello, I hope you have enjoyed following my horse training videos, I would like to invite you to my Horsemanship Members page, Don’t wait and get started, there are over a 100 horse training video’s in full length, Let me know what you think of the site and I hope to see you all there, Just click on this link to get started mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
You are absolutely amazing! I'm so impressed with how you're able to get so much done in such a short amount of time. I just love how you obviously care a great deal about these beautiful animals. God Bless you Sir
mike thank you do much I was just given two horses, ones hoofs are in very poor shape and the other afraid of almost any noise or sound, I have been working with both of them for about two weeks. amazing the changes just with affection and love. Your videos are awesome as I have not owned a horse that has been abused or neglected, So we are learning together, I will be watching all of your videos you are a GREAT TEACHER
Mike Hughes is amazing! I own a feisty Arabian who wasn't gelded or ridden until he was 13. His first real owner was unable to ride him because he was so challenging so he went a year without being worked with. When I got him from her, he was extremely head-shy and would snap his head up high the moment he had been haltered or bridled. After using the method Mike taught in his video about the head-shy horse, he was a different animal. Even when I would struggle with him in other areas I could place my hand on his poll and he would say, "Oh! I know this one!" and instantly drop his head. Now his head is actually his "sweet spot" and his reward for a job well- done is to have it scratched and rubbed all over. I've watched videos from a lot of famous trainers and clinicians but have never experienced the dramatic improvement that I saw after watching that first video of Mike's. He's got a fan in me!
+Lynnette Packham Thank You so much and I am so happy my video's have helped you out, Keep your eyes open in the next few weeks for a new project coming out where you can see all my video's in full :)
I just can't help but comment on this. He's using body language- the horse's first language- to communicate with this horse. He's doing exactly what the herd mare would do in a wild herd with a sour colt. Pushing him out and controlling his movements until he shows submissive behavior, and then releasing and "letting him come back in." All horses understand this. This man truly knows the language of the horse, and has the "feel" to speak it.
+Gail Redd Hello, I hope you have enjoyed following my horse training videos, I would like to invite you to my Horsemanship Members page, Don’t wait and get started, there are over a 100 horse training video’s in full length, Let me know what you think of the site and I hope to see you all there, Just click on this link to get started mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
Susan McAlister Yes Ik that & see it w/ my herd but the lead mare does not run the herd or make too many decisions when it comes to leading or protecting the herd. Yes the mare will get after a yearling if it's acting up but if that stallion says no then that it
Gail Redd My stallion put the lead mare in her place when she annoyed him. She is used to controlling the mares and terrorizing geldings. Don't count on lead mare or mother horse behavior to work with every horse. Especially the herd stallion. Become his partner instead.
if you have a open pasture you would still do the same exercise or you can build an area about the size I am working in. The most important part is that the horse leaves when you ask him to leave. If you can build a round pen that would also work good.
I didn't know about the "ear shy" symptom and what it represents. Yes! I understand what abuse and how it can be indicative in/from the horse, particularly the head region (human beings-Glory be to God my saviour; we humans can stuff up a lot of things, especially me....( oh! I never whipped an horse into submission and any abuse whatsoever) I'd love to fly to the States to, just ask permission to ride that truly magnificent horse. Mike! It's just glorious indeed. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, yes these horses do go through so much in the wrong hands and need a someone who will care for them and love them along with treat them in the way they should be treated. check out my new Horsemanship Members Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
+Anna Skla Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
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If it comes to you think the horse is going to go through the fence then there is to much pressure, when I have to do this in a pasture like that one I only put on enough pressure to get the horse to make the turn. If I think they are going to go through then I will find a round pen to get then into and do it that way.
I think you did a super job I have an agressive biter and I´´m kinda hesitent when I work with him on the lunge line can you do a video with an agressive horse on a lunge line???
Hi Mike, I've been watching your videos on curing aggressive behavior over and over because the big paint in your video somewhat mirrors the emerging behavior of Rocky, the horse I've just started working with. He's not mine, I started patting him over the fence last summer when I went for walks. He's the only horse on an edge-of-town property of about half an acre, divided into 3 pastures. He has access to all 3 through open gates, also a barn, so he doesn't have to hang out by the sidewalk if he doesn't want to. In fact he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do. He's been a neighborhood ornament for a number of years. Probably he would be satisfied to keep it that way, except that he does seem bored. I got permission from the man who pastures him to go visit and work with him a little. He said Rocky was ridden in years past, but I don't know details. The first day he came right over and seemed amused that I was inside his fence. After he tasted my hair and jacket and pulled my shoelaces, he decided it was alright at least for the moment, and became very interested in what was in my gear bag, pulling out a rubber brush. Even when his eyes are soft, he is pushy and uses his head like a battering ram. I've had about 4 sessions with him and have haltered and walked him. He backs up, moves forward, moves his hindquarters out of he way when asked. But his manners are almost non-existent, cooperation is short-lived and his attention span is very short. He bolts when I lunge him longer than about 4 feet, and I have to constantly push him out or he walks on me as if he doesn't know I'm there. It's apparent someone worked with him in the past, but he's not had to submit to anyone or take direction or even get himself moving in a long time. I don't know how old he is, but he's huge, big in neck and shoulders, gorgeous when he sheds out. He acts very stud-like, holds his head up and shakes it around, often his neck is arched, tail out, ears forward, snorting and making all kinds of racket. Likes to stomp when he runs. He is gelded, but he sure doesn't act like it. Now that I've had a few sessions of moving him out a bit, he seems to have decided he liked me better on the other side of the fence. That is why I say that the aggressive behavior is emerging. Today his head butting was escalating and he was pushier than ever. He seemed uptight and I couldn't keep his attention for more than a few seconds. So I closed the pasture gate so he couldn't leave that 1 area, and waved him away with the rope to get him moving. He immediately reared and kicked and snorted and bellowed and tore off around the fenceline. It was a lot like your video here, except that when he got winded and stopped to face me, he was still across the paddock, his head was high and his eyes showed white, his ears forward, and he headed toward me watching the gate, not me. So I whacked the ground with the rope to send him away again. We did that over and over for a good 10 minutes. He didn't trot or canter, he ran, and I know he got tired, but instead of winding down he seemed to get himself more worked up. I let him take a few breathers because I know he hasn't been worked and I don't want to stress him physically. But I don't see a convincing nod toward my authority, and we've got to get to that understanding. Although the overt behavior is really similar, this seems different at it's root than the horse I'm watching in the video, and I get a different demeanor from him as well, like he's tired and wants to stop, but isn't going to concede anything. Does this make sense? I want to be sure I'm reading him right, whether this is a fear/trust issue or a respect issue. He can go from a curiously engaged, interested, cooperative state to tense, rigid, high alert, possibly fearful in a blink. I'd sure be happy to hear your thoughts on this, and I'm game to try whatever you suggest. Thanks very much! Cheri Sullivan
Hey Mike we r facing a very violent male pony at a rescue centre in Bangalore India.. two of the staff have been hurt. Going to try this out this Saturday.
+Diane Reiser Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Good Morning, I will go through these exercises as long as it takes to rebuild the horses confidence and trust in people. Sometimes it takes a month some times it takes 6 months. But as time goes on will see your horse coming around and not being so aggressive. This horse was aggressive from past abuse. To answer your question you go as long as it takes and be sure to break each lesson down into steps the horse can understand. https;//mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv
+George Galvan Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Yes, just make sure you do only out side turns with the horse, the inside turn will only set him up to charge you. Then secondly make sure you do it enough. with horse like that I want complete submission on the first lesson and if that means they have to work really hard and they are really tired and sweaty by the end of the lesson then so be it. Also with the outside turn make sure you are far enough back to where if they kick out you do not get kicked, let me know how it turns out;
i have an 8 month old mini filly pony who is hard to catch and halter. she is being agressive, trying to bite, kick etc. i tried this method and she did the turning out circles great but when i would ask her to come in she wouldnt. she would just stand and ignore me. should i just keep going and going or should i just leave jer and do small bits at a time??? thanks
Hi Bill, I don't think you have really been around horses for very long, but this stallion and charged, kicked out as he was going by, and other things, He does show aggression in the video if you were to watch it and instead of just putting up a comment.
Hi my name is Nicole I own a warmblood cross thoroughbred cross arabian horse he is bay and 15.3 hands tall . I need help . His name is Romeo ; these past few months he has been difficult to brush , because he would try to bite me and while I am brushing he would be throwing his head up and down with ears back and also pawing . He also would pull his ears back the whole time when other horses are around . Is there something I can do about this ?
Hello, Yes there are several things you can do to solve this problem, e-mail me at info@crib-free.com and I will be able to direct you to my Membership site where I have over 150 horse training video's in full length with step by step easy to follow methods and direct access to me for any questions you may have. This is a common problem that is easy to solve through training
Hi Carolyn First thing you need to do is take her out of the therapeutic riding and focus on solving these aggressive problems she has. I have other video's on youtube on biting and kicking that you may want to look at. Do you have a round pen there or small arena. get back to me and let me know if you do so I can tell you how to go about fixing these problems the mare has
Great tool to know, about outside turns, thx! My mare used to aggressively rear and turn into turns. A question, what if they run backward at you to aim in a kick? On thing that would prevent this, is not let them lug out in that turn, right? I have a young mule who stalls out very badly on turns. Also, she pulls very hard on the rope when working her on the line in a circle. Do you have a vid of a very disrespectful, hard-to-move donkey or mule?
+KK Icons If they fly back at me I will get them going forward and away from me with how ever much pressure that may take, as soon as they do start going forward I would take off the pressure and then repeat the exercise for as long as it takes to get it done, I don't have any video's on Donkeys or Mules but I train them the same
+Victorea Luminary Hello, I hope you have enjoyed following my horse training videos, I would like to invite you to my Horsemanship Members page, Don’t wait and get started, there are over a 100 horse training video’s in full length, Let me know what you think of the site and I hope to see you all there, Just click on this link to get started mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
i recently purchased a mini abused horse. She rears up and strikes walking towards you. I was told it was a trick but i highly doubt that as she does it to any and everything that may seem diffrent. What can i do to stop this she also doesnt stand still or stop unless i drag her into me
I'm working with a mare that you have to sedate to trim her back hooves. The more time I spent trying to desensitize her, the more aggressive she has become. I did all of the touching with ropes, plastic bags, running the whip on her back legs and she didn't flinch. I looped a rope around her leg and she kicked every time. Then she wouldn't stand still anymore to loop the rope around her leg. She kicks out like a donkey. So I ran her in the round pen, she stopped on command and walks in. Go to use the loop again and she kicks. Ran her more. This went on for two hours, she didn't give an inch. The kicking actually became more violent. Now she pins her ears and behaves aggressively when I catch her. I don't back down ever. What am I doing wrong?
+susanne archer You need to solve one problem at a time instead of trying to concentrate on everything at the same time. Take care of the aggression first. then take care of the kicking and then go to teaching her how to pick her hind feet up, Then go on from there, I am opening a membership page which will have all my video on them at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ Hope to see you all there
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Hi Mike . .. . .I am saving a 8 year old (apparently she might be younger) Quarter Horse Mare now I don't know this horse from a bar of soap. Her current owner will be sending her to the slaughter house this weekend if she doesn't sell her. So I said I would buy her. I was told by the current owner who has had her for three weeks that you are able to touch her hind legs and she doesn't do anything but as soon as you touch her front legs even lightly she pins her ears back and grinds her teeth at you. The current owner also says that she will push her back end towards you or into you. I was wondering what your thoughts was on this behavior and how to correct it when I finally get her home and start working on her. Bear in mind this mare has never bit anyone.
Hi, If she is pinning her ears and grinding her teeth at you then she is thinking of biting or striking you, the thought is there. If you have a round pen or can get to a round pen I would do the exercises I did in this video and along with other round penning video's I have on you tube, Then when it comes to touching her front legs start with some where she is comfortable at and work you way down, be sure to do plenty of round penning. Then when she does go to turn her butt at you pin her ears, grind her teeth at you put her back to work, but the 3rd or or 4th time of doing those things she will think long and hard about it. Let me know how it goes
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Hi mike I have a 2 yr old palomino horse that was put to pastures with other horses. But never worked with.. I got him two weeks ago.. well my problem is that he tries to charge me bit in kick me turns his but to kick me. I have tried to use a lead rope to get him to move away from me in he doesn't he comes charging back at me.. I really need help on getting this problem corrected..
+Kristina Ciaramella Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Hey I have 8yo Q-H mare. She bites, kick, rear, buck, charge when lunging, she do these things when she can't get her way. She bucks during gallops and trots. She bites when leading, mounted, and when I'm on her. She can get real aggressive towards me. Don't know why. She rear at me and actually try to hit me with her hoof when I tried to lung her.
Maybe start with some ground work to gain some respect first. Make her respect your space. What this guy did with the outside turns in an arena or round pen wouldn't be a bad idea. He has a video about a horse that wouldn't stop bucking. He kept moving the horses hips away from him. You can also do that while on the horse but it's probably safer on the ground.
+Destiny Cheely Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
my friend has a mustang that resists correction by leaping in the air and kicking out. She has developed a fear by anticipating him doing this. How can she break him of this habit as the more she attempts to correct him the more he resists.
Go to what I was doing in this video but in a round pen, if you can, be firm but gentle, her horse has to work in order to over come him be aggressive with her. the work is the modivater to help him over come his aggression.
This is very helpful and she has done a lot of groundwork. But he is doing this while she is riding him. How does she correct this while she is in the saddle? She is an older lady and has developed a fear of him doing this and she believes he is picking up on her fear and taking advantage of it.
If he's fighting correction, the correction your friend is giving could be too aggressive and more about her trying to release anger than teach. Is the correction gently making him work via lunging or is she hitting him? Did she take the time to earn his trust before jumping into the saddle via petting his body slowly and doing lots of groundwork preferably with a good trainer that does not promote striking the horse. Here you can see there are trainers that can teach you to lead, that you can have a horse willingly follow you because you are secure and kind not because they have been beaten into giving up or fearful of any 'correction'.
Try starting from the ground with flexing the horse and moving the horses hips over, try son long driving, also have the horse checked out he could be in pain :)
I have an 12 year old mer she is an arena horse who has started to be aggressive and not wanting to put a halter on it takes at lest half an hour to get a halter on her she leans her head in and then pulls away right at the last minuit i have to get her in a small round pen to catch her but even then it take half an hour. i can't catch her in a field. Her head is always up, and she wont go into arena alone.
+Grace Vickers Hi Grace, you should go to my website at www.crib-free.com and get the downloadable video called, The Aggression Stops Here, It is Downloadable to your computer and is only 4.95, It will help you out with your problems with you mare
I would put your horse in the round pen and teach her how to do the inside out outside turns, going left and right along with having her face you and then face you where you go in the round pen with out walking up to you, I do have several video's on roundpenning on TH-cam that you can see and then I would go into re teaching her how to accept the halter
Hey Mike I know the ears indicate alot of there frame of mind but I noticed he purses and licks his lips alot too... Is this another sign of nervousness and anxiety? I know when a dog does this it means there anxious... BTW fantastic work and communication 😁🐴👌
I have a young mare who can be a bit aggressive and pushy. When I go to lunge her she will try to come in on me ears pinned and ready to bite. She does ok under saddle, gets a bit of attitude but after a few circles it will stop. I just am not sure what to do on ground. Would working her like this help?
If you have a roundpen or somewhere you can work her do what I did in that video to get here out of it. the outside turn are great for that type of problem until they are ready to submit to you
You’re controlling his feet he’s not controlling yours. Get control of their feet you get control of their mind interesting lesson I never thought about this with charging horses. But when you’re riding you always turn to the outside anyway so this is a good exercise for future I like this
hey i have a horse that i got three years ago and she stays in flordia with my grandparents and i live in georgia she is very agressive and she charges at me every time i go to get another horse to ride she used to be a very nice horse she never charged at people and i could ride her bareback with no hands and no bridle or head stall now she wont let me ride her with a saddle i dont know what happend can you help me please
I would go to doing what I did in this video with the out side turns in a round pen if you can. Only do this if you feel safe doing it. The outside turns are a very submissive turn for the horse to do when asked to do so. After doing them for a while your horse will become submissive to you again. Do not do an inside turn because that will only give the horse a chance to charge at you. also look at my video's on here when it comes to round penning horses and do that. Good luck
So it usually takes to dominate a horse one way or another? Isn't there a way to calm him by staying nearby for some time, put some food on the ground next to you so he could see, then feed from your hands? I mean, is it possible to teach a horse who's been abused that you wont hurt him by actually just not hurting him?
With this horse you get near him and he would attack you, showing him one I am not going to hurt him and also showing him a pattern of control helped him understand that I was not going to hurt him which in return brought him around.
Mike Hughes How did he know you weren't going to hurt him? You turn your face to his running path, if I get it right horses will always try to avoid crossing your eye-sight/intercept line, and he runs the other way as if there was a wall. Then he kept running between these imaginary walls and eventually got tired of it, maybe even realized it's silly. And then he moves less and less until he stops and lets you touch him, is that right? So... to make him trust you you had to invade his personal space and wait til he gives up? I'm just trying to see why sharing a carrot wont do but pushing to the corner does, I do wonder how the horse sees it
RedGallardo Not quite right, I would rather control his movement with out pain or fear to have him come into me then take my eyes off of him and get hurt
this sounds like my mare.. shes any where between 4-7 years old came from a rescue center and hates everything. she came to me not halter broke at all and a little on the wild side.... iv had her for about 5 months now and shes calmed down a little bit and im finally about the catch her fully haltered at all times within about 5-10 minutes but shes agressive. she kicks bites charges and has absolutely no respect or boundaries and is completely against being touched any where but her neck when shes willing if shes not willing watch out more less.. she has been in and out of a round pen with me and outside the round pen on a lung line she seem okay but in the round pen on and off the lung line her true colours of all aggression show through and she will only lung to from the left she gets anger when you ask her to change sides.. shes also very aggressive to men that she literally charged me fiance out of the grading yard cleaning up crap that flys in from the wide.
If you are interested in really solving this problem e-mail me at info@crib-free.com and I will be more than happy to talk with you more abut your horse
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Hi Mike, Your vids are the best. I ride a horse who can be v. sweet sometimes, cranky most days, & a demon on some days. Yesterday he lunged at me & smashed his teeth in my arm right through his box stall.I was just visiting him as I'd ridden another horse earlier. (lease situation; I ride a gentle giant;18 hands! 2 days/week & "cranky" 1x/week.) I'm to ride "cranky" tomorrow, but don't want to take him out of his stall if he's going to attack me. The trainers/instructors say "oh that's just the way he is walk up to him with some hay" I guess like a bribe?...(a priest & some holy water may be more appropriate though lol) But isn't that reinforcing his bad behaviour? It's a rather delicate situation as I'm merely the student, & the teachers call the shots. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated! (Btw he also hates other horses, kicks them, & everyone is warned to stay away from me & "cranky" in the arena) Thanks for your brilliant work!
That really needs to be taken care of, If the aggression is nipped in the butt after a while you will have a 1,200 pound attack dog charging you, The trainers there don't sounds much like trainers or they are very lazy or they don't know how to deal with an aggressive horse, you can always join my membership page where all the video's are in a lot more detail on how to solve these problems step by step with easy to follow methods. The link is mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ If they are not willing to take care of the problem or won't let you take care of the problem then I would find another barn to ride at. at any rate you or the trainers can give me a call at 916-218-8136 and we can over it a little more.
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Mike Hughes actually, 'Flight" to run away. I know he struck out, but a horse will flee if they can & only strike if cornered. . .horses are gentle & aggression is not one of their traits.
Sable Phoenix love your comment! I dont agree fully with the last sentence but yeah I was considering it - horses seem to avoid hurting anyone/anything
The Liberum Spiritus Thank you. It's terrible what some 'people' do. It takes someone that's aware to make things better for the victims. As far as horse talk, you hear them by your eyes; body language, that horse wanted to 'join up' be a part of the visiting horse. If you noticed him licking & chewing? that's a passive gesture. The horse is suffering, very lonely, & for all his behavior is just his emotional pain. Not to attack them, but to be involved. Everyone needs love.---Sable & Tornado.
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+Julie Evans Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
So it sounds like your biggest problem is the buddy sour problem. Do the exercise first on the ground until you can get to the point where you are out of site from the other horses. You will want to do this with all your horses. Let me know where you are, I live in California. So just do the ground exercises for now, take your time and let me know how it goes.
I need your help. I have a stallion that I rescued he has been by himself away from other horses his whole life from what I understand. I have been taking care of him for approximately three years now. I decided that he should go to my moms house to be gelded later on this year. And also to start training. He is 10 to 15 years old ( I know that is a risk to geld this old) just today my mom put him in the round pin to start basic ground training well he charged her mouth wide open and stomping she barely got away. She is telling me that he is way to dangerous and wants to put him down humainly of course, but he was Never aggressive towards me I mean he kicked me pretty hard once but I immediately started lunging him when he did to show dominance, he never kicked me again. I really don't want him to be put down I love him too much, but she won't listen to me she says he is a danger to everyone at this point. Can you help? Please contact me if you can. Melody.
Just watched your video. Very good but the stallion I have is a 6 year old black and white mustang. There is no way that pen would have held him. He has torn panel Gates to pieces. Five foot corals will not stop him. He will take food from hand. Will let grand kids pet him. I on the other hand have not ever touched him in two years. It is not my way of doing it I have two other mustang stallions that will let me climb all over them.so how do I start with him???
+Keith Mitchell Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
First where do you live, second horses are going to make there own pecking order, all you can do is feed them apart from each other. Your first problem is buddy sour behavior. When you take them apart go to an area about 20 or 30 feet away and start a longing exercise that takes work on the your horses part. Do the exercise for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then give your horse a break. If he continues to be sour then start the exercise again until he is calm.
+HiDjo B Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
+Prvacy Goune Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Thank you, I would really like to come out to New Zealand, if you are on facebook type in Crib-Free and become a member there then we can talk more about training in New Zealand, When you do become a member leave me a message in the pinned post on The 2014 Crib-Free Tour, Thank You
We can all learn so much from Mike. Makes me really feel good that this beautiful stallion is getting the care and understanding he deserves. I'm pretty sure that I've read articles about Mike in The Western Horseman and got a lot from them. If a person has practiced poor horsemanship, it is difficult to learn better ways Some of the progresses hinge on having a program
Thank You, People should always have a step by step program in mind when working with their horses. Today this stallion has turned out to be a great riding horse and no longer has those behavior issues ;)
+Becky Alexander Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Susan McAlister I don't care about Pirelli or Anderson. Mike treats horses with compassion when circumstances have made them a bit difficult to handle.
Mike Hughes I missed this comment last year so I didn't know you had a Facebook group. I'll join right now. I enjoy your videos a lot because you are compassionate with horses that have been abused into aggressive behavior.
Horses acting like he is going to continue walking nicely beside you when being led, but out of no where runs as fast as he can off to the side. Pulling hard on my body and making it hard to keep Control.
+Pferde Blog Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
i dont like 2 heels facing me i like 2 eyes facing me its ok in a big spot like that in a small spot you dont want heels but if you get a horse in a small spot it will think the good thing to do is give you 2 heels if a horse is going to run at you you got to hit it to make the horse think thats was not good and make it think you will kill it i had a horse come at me when i frist started working with the wip and she cam at me and i hit her so hard in the head she never done that again now i can ride her but she would jump at me and everything
+k95831 There are many ways around the barn and training horses, I do the outside turns for a number of different reasons but in this case it was to prevent this horse from charging me and then later in the video we went into inside turns,
Hi, I just adopted an amazing 11 yr old gelding quarter horse. He was abandoned by his owners after the son ended his life, from what we know and what the vet said he was abused as well as used on the rodeo circuit. He has a permanent white ring of hair round his entire neck from the old school way of gelding and as such he has some aggression. He stood fine for the vets blood draw but as soon as the vet changed to a smaller needle to tranquilize him for a teeth float, he actively struck one of the vets. And reared while continuing to strike. My vet won't see him again unless he has a dart gun due to safety. He is very loving, smiles for treats, gives kisses but he is a danger and this is the first time I've ever had to ask for help with a horse. We live in Va. Can you help me at all? My direct email is michellebraithwood@gmail.com
+Michelle Corson Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
One you couldn't get near the horse to do anything about his tail in the beginning because of his aggression. Two, I have worked several horses with braided tails and they are just fine.
hello mike .. have a question i just bought a horse recently that had been sitting for a while and her daughter rode him apparently a lot supposably he's been on trails and when i went to see him.. before i bought him the lady actually was tacking the horse up in front of me as she was doing this his ears pinned a few times , but as usual nothing went wrong she climbed on him and walked him around for me he seemed very docile was falling asleep with her on him .so i was really thinking he was a decent docile horse that probably just needed some tuning . after she delivered him to my home . i could then clearly see he had some serious pent up energy that needed released , so i made its point to get up the next morning to lunge him keep in mind she told me that he just likes to buck a little bit because he has not been worked in a long time ..so as i started to work him the next morning, i noticed he threw a bit of attitude but then he started to walk and trot as i asked and being good when i asked for a lope he then really started to act up a bit he reared a few times. and was pulling away from me until he rope burned my hand and got loose and ran through the feild and my husband caught him and we met in the middle to get him back to me but i noticed i took him back down to the feild where he ran off to remake him lunge again so we could stop on a good note .as i was loping him to the right he seemed more willing to want to lope and not act up but when we loped to the left he was more acting stud ok well the bit I'm wondering if it wasn't hurting his mouth because he was more focused on the bit and trying to pay attention to me and trying to be lazy about lunging the previous owner never said anything about these habits she treat fed him all the time so there seems to be some spoiled ness going on with him to where he gets pissy if sometimes you don't have a treat for him and not to mention he has found a corner in the paddock now after 24 hours of being here just stands there and completely stares and gives me the impression he waiting for his previous owner to come back to get him because he stands calling and running up and dan the paddock as if he doesn't want to be here and going crazy when he sees a truck and trailer and will do this all day long. but last and not least i have lots of experience with horses but its been five years forgot some stuff because my heart isn't into training like this any more just wanted something already finished and trail ride with ..but mike i need your help because in a 24 hour period my gut feeling keeps telling me i can't trust him like the gut feeling that tells me i don't know if he's going to bite me , kick me or hurt me at any giving time , i don't want to give up on him but this isn't what i wanted in a horse i feel she dooped me and yes i could have asked her to do more with him when i was there but it all happened so fast . now i have a horse that seems he doesn't want nothing to do with me unless i have treats , i took the treat reward away cause that could play a lot into why he is the way he is and her not handling him properly plus she used a o ring twisted wire snaffle on him he doesn't like for training but will let you ride him with it has me confused , so now i feel stuck because i have a horse that i want to help so to speak but then i have a horse that i some what fear to an extent to even want work with him again.. feared me in the last 24 hours with his behavior that puts me in 2 positions 1 sell him and get the horse i want or hire some one to adjust his attitude????? what do you suggest mike??i need all the help i can get!!!
+Kimberly Gohm Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Wow can’t say enough about the gift of healing you have . You are bringing the best out in this Horse ♥️ All these years that soft Spirit was inside of Him . Great video Mike ❣️Your New Horse Friend, Laura
Great video Mike! You explain it more precisely and concisely than a lot of so call horse whisperers. I'd like to point out to the public how precise your timing is. Every time you've put pressure on the horse and that he gave you what you wanted, you gave him release right away. I think that timing is the most crucial thing in communicating with horses.
+Pierre Gagnon
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I know this is an older video but you may see this. You're such a great guy! Your heart is so big and open for these poor abused horses. God Bless you Sir Keep up the great work!
Thank You
mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
Can't say enough about how much I appreciate and learn from your videos
+Kathy O Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
I'm so glad you said this was a 45 minute video. I thought you cured him in three minutes. :)
Beautiful to see your work. Wonderful for you to show others that abused horses can come back. Killing should not be a solution to any abused animal and you must move at a pace that each one can handle. Not all could move as fast as this couragous horse did. And, feeling sorry for them when you are working with them will set them up for failure. What animals can forgive and move on from should teach humans a great deal. We need stronger Laws on Animal Abuse. What Mankind is capable of is terrafying in Abusers and inspirational in those that are willing to rehabilitate them properly with no pain nor anger.
+Linda Maria de la Rosa Thank you so much, This horse took a few weeks to start getting him past his abuse and aggression but he did come around really nice
+Linda Maria de la Rosa Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
A true pleasure to see a brave kind man work with an unsure horse
I've been working with horses all my life and the very first aggressive horse I encountered was when was aged 10. I have always used the same methods as you as I was taught by an old man who had also worked with horses since boyhood. The 'horse whispering' behaviour therapy isn't anything new and people have used it for a really long time. I really enjoyed your video it's nice to see methods like yours and Monty Roberts getting wide coverage because, believe me, there's still the 'breaking the spirit' school of thought alive and kicking all over the world (scuse the pun).
Thank you so much, I never understood the breaking the horses spirit at all, but teaching horse step by step is the way to go, when you get a chance you should check out my members page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
Mike Hughes Thanks I will have a look at your site.xx
Great job mike. Your timing with this horse is spot on. This is how it should be done, nice to watch.
+Jude Campbell Thank you so much :)
Hey Mike, Enjoyed it. The level of respect for the animal and what he is, is impressive.
Thank You :)
Peter K The reason I like Mike's way around horses is both his respect and his compassion for horses.
Respect for everything you do... You give horses in need there selfexteam back ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Thank You, mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv
I was also taught this method by "old" trainers back in the 90's. I trained for a while but now I only take on clients that are referrals and they are normally like this or worse. Had a stallion who was kept in a stall and was an orphan the first two years of his life and he was charging the stall and grabbing at kids and people with his teeth to yank them over and bite them. Even the barn manager wouldn't clean his stall because no one wanted to get trampled, kicked, bitten, etc. Been doing this since age 10 and took on younger 4H clients at 16. Happy to have had the older trainers and some of the trainers who don't have their own DVD collections in my life because I learned much more from them about riding and training and happy to have had the horses I have had and worked with to teach me along the way. Men like you who don't do it for DVD sales and really see the horse.
Great video! I've owned/trained horses "forever", but over the years I've learned to never think that I know it all. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on horse behavior and training, this will help a lot of horse owners.
+Maxstables
Hello, I hope you have enjoyed following my horse training videos,
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You are absolutely amazing! I'm so impressed with how you're able to get so much done in such a short amount of time. I just love how you obviously care a great deal about these beautiful animals. God Bless you Sir
Thank you so much, he turned out to be a really great horse mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
mike thank you do much I was just given two horses, ones hoofs are in very poor shape and the other afraid of almost any noise or sound, I have been working with both of them for about two weeks. amazing the changes just with affection and love. Your videos are awesome as I have not owned a horse that has been abused or neglected, So we are learning together, I will be watching all of your videos you are a GREAT TEACHER
Thank You :) let me know if you need anything
Have a BLESSED DAY ! again thank you so very much for all of the wonderful teaching ;-)
Mike Hughes
You're really amazing with horses !!!
Thank You Very Much :)
Mike Hughes is amazing! I own a feisty Arabian who wasn't gelded or ridden until he was 13. His first real owner was unable to ride him because he was so challenging so he went a year without being worked with. When I got him from her, he was extremely head-shy and would snap his head up high the moment he had been haltered or bridled. After using the method Mike taught in his video about the head-shy horse, he was a different animal. Even when I would struggle with him in other areas I could place my hand on his poll and he would say, "Oh! I know this one!" and instantly drop his head. Now his head is actually his "sweet spot" and his reward for a job well- done is to have it scratched and rubbed all over. I've watched videos from a lot of famous trainers and clinicians but have never experienced the dramatic improvement that I saw after watching that first video of Mike's. He's got a fan in me!
+Lynnette Packham Thank You so much and I am so happy my video's have helped you out, Keep your eyes open in the next few weeks for a new project coming out where you can see all my video's in full :)
I just can't help but comment on this. He's using body language- the horse's first language- to communicate with this horse. He's doing exactly what the herd mare would do in a wild herd with a sour colt. Pushing him out and controlling his movements until he shows submissive behavior, and then releasing and "letting him come back in." All horses understand this. This man truly knows the language of the horse, and has the "feel" to speak it.
+Gail Redd
Hello, I hope you have enjoyed following my horse training videos,
I would like to invite you to my Horsemanship Members page, Don’t wait and get
started, there are over a 100 horse training video’s in full length, Let me
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What do you mean by a herd mare? Mares do not run a herd if that's what you meant.
Susan McAlister Yes Ik that & see it w/ my herd but the lead mare does not run the herd or make too many decisions when it comes to leading or protecting the herd. Yes the mare will get after a yearling if it's acting up but if that stallion says no then that it
Gail Redd My stallion put the lead mare in her place when she annoyed him. She is used to controlling the mares and terrorizing geldings. Don't count on lead mare or mother horse behavior to work with every horse. Especially the herd stallion. Become his partner instead.
Crystal Roy I have one who does unless she dares to challenge the stallion. That's a bit different than pushing the geldings around.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video.
if you have a open pasture you would still do the same exercise or you can build an area about the size I am working in. The most important part is that the horse leaves when you ask him to leave. If you can build a round pen that would also work good.
Thank you so much I'm going to try this I bet it will be the only thing that has ever worked for me
You are very welcome, Let me know how it turns out
A horse,. Such a forgiving animal..
Hard to believe there are thumbs down on this
Every body is entitled to their opinion but that was a great horse and he is still doing really good today :) mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv
I didn't know about the "ear shy" symptom and what it represents. Yes! I understand what abuse and how it can be indicative in/from the horse, particularly the head region (human beings-Glory be to God my saviour; we humans can stuff up a lot of things, especially me....( oh! I never whipped an horse into submission and any abuse whatsoever) I'd love to fly to the States to, just ask permission to ride that truly magnificent horse. Mike! It's just glorious indeed. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, yes these horses do go through so much in the wrong hands and need a someone who will care for them and love them along with treat them in the way they should be treated. check out my new Horsemanship Members Page at
mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
Thank you, he was a lot of fun to work with once he over came his aggression towards people.
this video is great! you really know how to properly train a horse!
Anna Skla
Please read the book "If you see Budha on the side of the road, Kill Him".
+Anna Skla Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Wow! What a nice, fast transformation.
Mike- Thank you for making these videos. I am subscribing, and will view more, and put your suggestions into practice with my mare.
You should join my Members page at
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If it comes to you think the horse is going to go through the fence then there is to much pressure, when I have to do this in a pasture like that one I only put on enough pressure to get the horse to make the turn. If I think they are going to go through then I will find a round pen to get then into and do it that way.
I think you did a super job I have an agressive biter and I´´m kinda hesitent when I work with him on the lunge line can you do a video with an agressive horse on a lunge line???
Fix the aggression first.. then worry about lunging..
Hi Mike,
I've been watching your videos on curing aggressive behavior over and over because the big paint in your video somewhat mirrors the emerging behavior of Rocky, the horse I've just started working with. He's not mine, I started patting him over the fence last summer when I went for walks. He's the only horse on an edge-of-town property of about half an acre, divided into 3 pastures. He has access to all 3 through open gates, also a barn, so he doesn't have to hang out by the sidewalk if he doesn't want to. In fact he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do. He's been a neighborhood ornament for a number of years. Probably he would be satisfied to keep it that way, except that he does seem bored.
I got permission from the man who pastures him to go visit and work with him a little. He said Rocky was ridden in years past, but I don't know details. The first day he came right over and seemed amused that I was inside his fence. After he tasted my hair and jacket and pulled my shoelaces, he decided it was alright at least for the moment, and became very interested in what was in my gear bag, pulling out a rubber brush. Even when his eyes are soft, he is pushy and uses his head like a battering ram.
I've had about 4 sessions with him and have haltered and walked him. He backs up, moves forward, moves his hindquarters out of he way when asked. But his manners are almost non-existent, cooperation is short-lived and his attention span is very short. He bolts when I lunge him longer than about 4 feet, and I have to constantly push him out or he walks on me as if he doesn't know I'm there. It's apparent someone worked with him in the past, but he's not had to submit to anyone or take direction or even get himself moving in a long time. I don't know how old he is, but he's huge, big in neck and shoulders, gorgeous when he sheds out.
He acts very stud-like, holds his head up and shakes it around, often his neck is arched, tail out, ears forward, snorting and making all kinds of racket. Likes to stomp when he runs. He is gelded, but he sure doesn't act like it.
Now that I've had a few sessions of moving him out a bit, he seems to have decided he liked me better on the other side of the fence. That is why I say that the aggressive behavior is emerging. Today his head butting was escalating and he was pushier than ever. He seemed uptight and I couldn't keep his attention for more than a few seconds. So I closed the pasture gate so he couldn't leave that 1 area, and waved him away with the rope to get him moving. He immediately reared and kicked and snorted and bellowed and tore off around the fenceline. It was a lot like your video here, except that when he got winded and stopped to face me, he was still across the paddock, his head was high and his eyes showed white, his ears forward, and he headed toward me watching the gate, not me. So I whacked the ground with the rope to send him away again. We did that over and over for a good 10 minutes. He didn't trot or canter, he ran, and I know he got tired, but instead of winding down he seemed to get himself more worked up. I let him take a few breathers because I know he hasn't been worked and I don't want to stress him physically. But I don't see a convincing nod toward my authority, and we've got to get to that understanding. Although the overt behavior is really similar, this seems different at it's root than the horse I'm watching in the video, and I get a different demeanor from him as well, like he's tired and wants to stop, but isn't going to concede anything. Does this make sense?
I want to be sure I'm reading him right, whether this is a fear/trust issue or a respect issue. He can go from a curiously engaged, interested, cooperative state to tense, rigid, high alert, possibly fearful in a blink.
I'd sure be happy to hear your thoughts on this, and I'm game to try whatever you suggest.
Thanks very much!
Cheri Sullivan
give me a call at 916-218-8136
Hope you called him, you are in danger.. you have told him in too many ways you are subordinate.
Hey Mike we r facing a very violent male pony at a rescue centre in Bangalore India.. two of the staff have been hurt. Going to try this out this Saturday.
Be sure to let me know how things go with the pony
mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
Beautiful horse.
Thank You, mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv
I like your work, so far you're my favorite.
+Diane Reiser Thank you so much ;)
+Diane Reiser Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Thanks Mike
Your very Welcome, be sure to check out my Horsemanship Members Page at
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Hi ,I have a rescue horse who is dominant , I have worked in this way with him and it does work. But how often do you do this procedure?
Good Morning, I will go through these exercises as long as it takes to rebuild the horses confidence and trust in people. Sometimes it takes a month some times it takes 6 months. But as time goes on will see your horse coming around and not being so aggressive. This horse was aggressive from past abuse. To answer your question you go as long as it takes and be sure to break each lesson down into steps the horse can understand. https;//mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv
Stopping for a moment like you did letting him soak in what you just did head down meaning relaxed good sign
awesome vid, your great at what you do.
+George Galvan Thank you so much
+George Galvan Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Thank you, it is always nice when an aggressive horse becomes submissive.
Yes, just make sure you do only out side turns with the horse, the inside turn will only set him up to charge you. Then secondly make sure you do it enough. with horse like that I want complete submission on the first lesson and if that means they have to work really hard and they are really tired and sweaty by the end of the lesson then so be it. Also with the outside turn make sure you are far enough back to where if they kick out you do not get kicked, let me know how it turns out;
i have an 8 month old mini filly pony who is hard to catch and halter. she is being agressive, trying to bite, kick etc. i tried this method and she did the turning out circles great but when i would ask her to come in she wouldnt. she would just stand and ignore me. should i just keep going and going or should i just leave jer and do small bits at a time??? thanks
Why don't you e-mail me at info@crib-free.com and we can go over this a lot more :)
Hi Bill, I don't think you have really been around horses for very long, but this stallion and charged, kicked out as he was going by, and other things, He does show aggression in the video if you were to watch it and instead of just putting up a comment.
Hi my name is Nicole I own a warmblood cross thoroughbred cross arabian horse he is bay and 15.3 hands tall . I need help . His name is Romeo ; these past few months he has been difficult to brush , because he would try to bite me and while I am brushing he would be throwing his head up and down with ears back and also pawing . He also would pull his ears back the whole time when other horses are around . Is there something I can do about this ?
Hello, Yes there are several things you can do to solve this problem, e-mail me at info@crib-free.com and I will be able to direct you to my Membership site where I have over 150 horse training video's in full length with step by step easy to follow methods and direct access to me for any questions you may have. This is a common problem that is easy to solve through training
Thank you , I will do so .
How did you get the halter on? Absolutely some other ground work proceeded this supposed first session.
That was my first lesson with him and tbe halter was already on when i got there
What is the key to getting a horse to do an outside turn?
They key would be staying at least 20 feet in back of them and walking or putting pressure on the head or nose and having them turn away from you
Hi Carolyn
First thing you need to do is take her out of the therapeutic riding and focus on solving these aggressive problems she has. I have other video's on youtube on biting and kicking that you may want to look at. Do you have a round pen there or small arena. get back to me and let me know if you do so I can tell you how to go about fixing these problems the mare has
Great tool to know, about outside turns, thx! My mare used to aggressively rear and turn into turns. A question, what if they run backward at you to aim in a kick? On thing that would prevent this, is not let them lug out in that turn, right? I have a young mule who stalls out very badly on turns. Also, she pulls very hard on the rope when working her on the line in a circle. Do you have a vid of a very disrespectful, hard-to-move donkey or mule?
+KK Icons If they fly back at me I will get them going forward and away from me with how ever much pressure that may take, as soon as they do start going forward I would take off the pressure and then repeat the exercise for as long as it takes to get it done, I don't have any video's on Donkeys or Mules but I train them the same
Thank you for sharing this video!
+Victorea Luminary
Hello, I hope you have enjoyed following my horse training videos,
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i recently purchased a mini abused horse. She rears up and strikes walking towards you. I was told it was a trick but i highly doubt that as she does it to any and everything that may seem diffrent. What can i do to stop this she also doesnt stand still or stop unless i drag her into me
e-mail me at info@crib-free.com and we can talk more about it
I'm working with a mare that you have to sedate to trim her back hooves. The more time I spent trying to desensitize her, the more aggressive she has become. I did all of the touching with ropes, plastic bags, running the whip on her back legs and she didn't flinch. I looped a rope around her leg and she kicked every time. Then she wouldn't stand still anymore to loop the rope around her leg. She kicks out like a donkey. So I ran her in the round pen, she stopped on command and walks in. Go to use the loop again and she kicks. Ran her more. This went on for two hours, she didn't give an inch. The kicking actually became more violent. Now she pins her ears and behaves aggressively when I catch her. I don't back down ever. What am I doing wrong?
+susanne archer You need to solve one problem at a time instead of trying to concentrate on everything at the same time. Take care of the aggression first. then take care of the kicking and then go to teaching her how to pick her hind feet up, Then go on from there, I am opening a membership page which will have all my video on them at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ Hope to see you all there
+susanne archer Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Hi Mike . .. . .I am saving a 8 year old (apparently she might be younger) Quarter Horse Mare now I don't know this horse from a bar of soap. Her current owner will be sending her to the slaughter house this weekend if she doesn't sell her. So I said I would buy her. I was told by the current owner who has had her for three weeks that you are able to touch her hind legs and she doesn't do anything but as soon as you touch her front legs even lightly she pins her ears back and grinds her teeth at you. The current owner also says that she will push her back end towards you or into you. I was wondering what your thoughts was on this behavior and how to correct it when I finally get her home and start working on her. Bear in mind this mare has never bit anyone.
Hi, If she is pinning her ears and grinding her teeth at you then she is thinking of biting or striking you, the thought is there. If you have a round pen or can get to a round pen I would do the exercises I did in this video and along with other round penning video's I have on you tube, Then when it comes to touching her front legs start with some where she is comfortable at and work you way down, be sure to do plenty of round penning. Then when she does go to turn her butt at you pin her ears, grind her teeth at you put her back to work, but the 3rd or or 4th time of doing those things she will think long and hard about it. Let me know how it goes
+StelleKAus Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Hi mike I have a 2 yr old palomino horse that was put to pastures with other horses. But never worked with.. I got him two weeks ago.. well my problem is that he tries to charge me bit in kick me turns his but to kick me. I have tried to use a lead rope to get him to move away from me in he doesn't he comes charging back at me.. I really need help on getting this problem corrected..
e-mail me at info@crib-free.com and let me know where you are located at and we can go from there
+Kristina Ciaramella Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Hello Sir , i would like to personally train under/learn from you , please...
I would be more then happy to help you, you can start by join my facebook pate and my members page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv
Hey I have 8yo Q-H mare. She bites, kick, rear, buck, charge when lunging, she do these things when she can't get her way. She bucks during gallops and trots. She bites when leading, mounted, and when I'm on her. She can get real aggressive towards me. Don't know why. She rear at me and actually try to hit me with her hoof when I tried to lung her.
Any suggestions I can use to help me with this or something. I just need help fixing her problem
Well don't back off when she does it or give her her way. That will only reinforce her actions.
Maybe start with some ground work to gain some respect first. Make her respect your space. What this guy did with the outside turns in an arena or round pen wouldn't be a bad idea. He has a video about a horse that wouldn't stop bucking. He kept moving the horses hips away from him. You can also do that while on the horse but it's probably safer on the ground.
+Destiny Cheely Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Thanks yall for the suggestion
my friend has a mustang that resists correction by leaping in the air and kicking out. She has developed a fear by anticipating him doing this. How can she break him of this habit as the more she attempts to correct him the more he resists.
Go to what I was doing in this video but in a round pen, if you can, be firm but gentle, her horse has to work in order to over come him be aggressive with her. the work is the modivater to help him over come his aggression.
This is very helpful and she has done a lot of groundwork. But he is doing this while she is riding him. How does she correct this while she is in the saddle? She is an older lady and has developed a fear of him doing this and she believes he is picking up on her fear and taking advantage of it.
Hellen Rowe Take him to the ground.
If he's fighting correction, the correction your friend is giving could be too aggressive and more about her trying to release anger than teach. Is the correction gently making him work via lunging or is she hitting him? Did she take the time to earn his trust before jumping into the saddle via petting his body slowly and doing lots of groundwork preferably with a good trainer that does not promote striking the horse. Here you can see there are trainers that can teach you to lead, that you can have a horse willingly follow you because you are secure and kind not because they have been beaten into giving up or fearful of any 'correction'.
Try starting from the ground with flexing the horse and moving the horses hips over, try son long driving, also have the horse checked out he could be in pain :)
I have an 12 year old mer she is an arena horse who has started to be aggressive and not wanting to put a halter on it takes at lest half an hour to get a halter on her she leans her head in and then pulls away right at the last minuit i have to get her in a small round pen to catch her but even then it take half an hour. i can't catch her in a field. Her head is always up, and she wont go into arena alone.
+Grace Vickers Hi Grace, you should go to my website at www.crib-free.com and get the downloadable video called, The Aggression Stops Here, It is Downloadable to your computer and is only 4.95, It will help you out with your problems with you mare
Does she have dental problems making it painful to have anything near her mouth?
+kayBTR she has problem with her owner
I would put your horse in the round pen and teach her how to do the inside out outside turns, going left and right along with having her face you and then face you where you go in the round pen with out walking up to you, I do have several video's on roundpenning on TH-cam that you can see and then I would go into re teaching her how to accept the halter
Where are you located,I'm having lot of problems with my horse and looking for a trainer who can help me,I live in West Virginia
I live in California but I can still help you, call me at 916-218-8136, you can text me at info@crib-free.com or join my facebook page
Hey Mike I know the ears indicate alot of there frame of mind but I noticed he purses and licks his lips alot too... Is this another sign of nervousness and anxiety? I know when a dog does this it means there anxious... BTW fantastic work and communication 😁🐴👌
Warwick Schiller explains this well.. he delves much deeper into the animal's perception/thinking than in this video..
I have a young mare who can be a bit aggressive and pushy. When I go to lunge her she will try to come in on me ears pinned and ready to bite. She does ok under saddle, gets a bit of attitude but after a few circles it will stop. I just am not sure what to do on ground. Would working her like this help?
If you have a roundpen or somewhere you can work her do what I did in that video to get here out of it. the outside turn are great for that type of problem until they are ready to submit to you
Mike Hughes Ok so I tried this but she would turn and run at me instead of doing outside turns. How do I stop that?
Yes working her like I did would help you out a lot, she will learn how to submit to you and become very willing instead of being pushy and aggressive
Laecey Worthington
I am going to put another video on in the next few day
Laecey Worthington
of a mare who does what your mare does
You’re controlling his feet he’s not controlling yours. Get control of their feet you get control of their mind interesting lesson I never thought about this with charging horses. But when you’re riding you always turn to the outside anyway so this is a good exercise for future I like this
hey i have a horse that i got three years ago and she stays in flordia with my grandparents and i live in georgia she is very agressive and she charges at me every time i go to get another horse to ride she used to be a very nice horse she never charged at people and i could ride her bareback with no hands and no bridle or head stall now she wont let me ride her with a saddle i dont know what happend can you help me please
I would go to doing what I did in this video with the out side turns in a round pen if you can. Only do this if you feel safe doing it. The outside turns are a very submissive turn for the horse to do when asked to do so. After doing them for a while your horse will become submissive to you again. Do not do an inside turn because that will only give the horse a chance to charge at you. also look at my video's on here when it comes to round penning horses and do that. Good luck
thanks i tried that and she is ridable now i galloped her
So it usually takes to dominate a horse one way or another? Isn't there a way to calm him by staying nearby for some time, put some food on the ground next to you so he could see, then feed from your hands? I mean, is it possible to teach a horse who's been abused that you wont hurt him by actually just not hurting him?
With this horse you get near him and he would attack you, showing him one I am not going to hurt him and also showing him a pattern of control helped him understand that I was not going to hurt him which in return brought him around.
Mike Hughes
How did he know you weren't going to hurt him? You turn your face to his running path, if I get it right horses will always try to avoid crossing your eye-sight/intercept line, and he runs the other way as if there was a wall. Then he kept running between these imaginary walls and eventually got tired of it, maybe even realized it's silly. And then he moves less and less until he stops and lets you touch him, is that right? So... to make him trust you you had to invade his personal space and wait til he gives up? I'm just trying to see why sharing a carrot wont do but pushing to the corner does, I do wonder how the horse sees it
RedGallardo
Not quite right, I would rather control his movement with out pain or fear to have him come into me then take my eyes off of him and get hurt
You might be interested in Friendship Training.. no round pens halters or leads needed.
this sounds like my mare.. shes any where between 4-7 years old came from a rescue center and hates everything. she came to me not halter broke at all and a little on the wild side.... iv had her for about 5 months now and shes calmed down a little bit and im finally about the catch her fully haltered at all times within about 5-10 minutes but shes agressive. she kicks bites charges and has absolutely no respect or boundaries and is completely against being touched any where but her neck when shes willing if shes not willing watch out more less.. she has been in and out of a round pen with me and outside the round pen on a lung line she seem okay but in the round pen on and off the lung line her true colours of all aggression show through and she will only lung to from the left she gets anger when you ask her to change sides.. shes also very aggressive to men that she literally charged me fiance out of the grading yard cleaning up crap that flys in from the wide.
If you are interested in really solving this problem e-mail me at info@crib-free.com and I will be more than happy to talk with you more abut your horse
thank you
how would you get through buddy sourness
I got other videos, e-mail me at info@crib-free.com
Great horse handling
+matt subbi Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Hi Mike,
Your vids are the best. I ride a horse who can be v. sweet sometimes, cranky most days, & a demon on some days. Yesterday he lunged at me & smashed his teeth in my arm right through his box stall.I was just visiting him as I'd ridden another horse earlier. (lease situation; I ride a gentle giant;18 hands! 2 days/week & "cranky" 1x/week.) I'm to ride "cranky" tomorrow, but don't want to take him out of his stall if he's going to attack me. The trainers/instructors say "oh that's just the way he is walk up to him with some hay" I guess like a bribe?...(a priest & some holy water may be more appropriate though lol) But isn't that reinforcing his bad behaviour? It's a rather delicate situation as I'm merely the student, & the teachers call the shots. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated! (Btw he also hates other horses, kicks them, & everyone is warned to stay away from me & "cranky" in the arena) Thanks for your brilliant work!
That really needs to be taken care of, If the aggression is nipped in the butt after a while you will have a 1,200 pound attack dog charging you, The trainers there don't sounds much like trainers or they are very lazy or they don't know how to deal with an aggressive horse, you can always join my membership page where all the video's are in a lot more detail on how to solve these problems step by step with easy to follow methods. The link is
mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/
If they are not willing to take care of the problem or won't let you take care of the problem then I would find another barn to ride at. at any rate you or the trainers can give me a call at 916-218-8136 and we can over it a little more.
Great video. I'm all for hiring a competent professional though in such a situation. It sounds expensive but it saves on medical bills.
مهند
مشاالله عل هذ الفرس
+vivaloriflamme Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
great vid!
+TylersAutomotive Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
my horse keeps freezing and booking everytime your go on m
Tell me a little bit more about your horse and I may be able to help you
With in time you will be able to go up to 50 feet away then 100 feet away. this exercise will take you some time to get through as in 4 to 6 weeks.
Nice technically awesome good job mate
+leif jensen Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
what if the horse is in a stall and you don't have as much space as you have here?
Don't try that in a stall.. the horse's apprehension will be much higher and your risk of a major aggression will be higher.
so what was the reason for the horse to be so unpleasant?
He was abused most of his life so in his mind the only way out was to fight
Mike Hughes actually, 'Flight" to run away. I know he struck out, but a horse will flee if they can & only strike if cornered. . .horses are gentle & aggression is not one of their traits.
Sable Phoenix
love your comment! I dont agree fully with the last sentence but yeah I was considering it - horses seem to avoid hurting anyone/anything
The Liberum Spiritus Thank you. It's terrible what some 'people' do. It takes someone that's aware to make things better for the victims. As far as horse talk, you hear them by your eyes; body language, that horse wanted to 'join up' be a part of the visiting horse. If you noticed him licking & chewing? that's a passive gesture. The horse is suffering, very lonely, & for all his behavior is just his emotional pain. Not to attack them, but to be involved. Everyone needs love.---Sable & Tornado.
+Meteorite's sound Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
I have a 4 year old aggressive when she doesn't want to do something, wont lunge on the one rein etc, rears and tries boxing you. help :)
Where are you located at, or you can e-mail me at info@crib-free,com
+Julie Evans Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
So it sounds like your biggest problem is the buddy sour problem. Do the exercise first on the ground until you can get to the point where you are out of site from the other horses. You will want to do this with all your horses. Let me know where you are, I live in California. So just do the ground exercises for now, take your time and let me know how it goes.
He’s also putting you in the eye he’s comfortable with when you get I am to put two eyes on you then he’s focused and connected
I need your help. I have a stallion that I rescued he has been by himself away from other horses his whole life from what I understand. I have been taking care of him for approximately three years now. I decided that he should go to my moms house to be gelded later on this year. And also to start training. He is 10 to 15 years old ( I know that is a risk to geld this old) just today my mom put him in the round pin to start basic ground training well he charged her mouth wide open and stomping she barely got away. She is telling me that he is way to dangerous and wants to put him down humainly of course, but he was Never aggressive towards me I mean he kicked me pretty hard once but I immediately started lunging him when he did to show dominance, he never kicked me again. I really don't want him to be put down I love him too much, but she won't listen to me she says he is a danger to everyone at this point. Can you help? Please contact me if you can. Melody.
Give me a call when you get a chance at 916-218-8136
Cesar Millan for horses, :-) Very good, man!
+MrWave58 Thank you so much
+Mike Hughes You are welcome. Horse and dog have the same grammar, but different words.
Just watched your video. Very good but the stallion I have is a 6 year old black and white mustang. There is no way that pen would have held him. He has torn panel Gates to pieces. Five foot corals will not stop him. He will take food from hand. Will let grand kids pet him. I on the other hand have not ever touched him in two years. It is not my way of doing it I have two other mustang stallions that will let me climb all over them.so how do I start with him???
+Keith Mitchell Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
First where do you live, second horses are going to make there own pecking order, all you can do is feed them apart from each other. Your first problem is buddy sour behavior. When you take them apart go to an area about 20 or 30 feet away and start a longing exercise that takes work on the your horses part. Do the exercise for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then give your horse a break. If he continues to be sour then start the exercise again until he is calm.
May God Bless You! AMAZING:)
+HiDjo B Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Wish I saw the whole progression.
+Prvacy Goune Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Thank you, I would really like to come out to New Zealand, if you are on facebook type in Crib-Free and become a member there then we can talk more about training in New Zealand, When you do become a member leave me a message in the pinned post on The 2014 Crib-Free Tour, Thank You
We can all learn so much from Mike. Makes me really feel good that this beautiful stallion is getting the care and understanding he deserves. I'm pretty sure that I've read articles about Mike in The Western Horseman and got a lot from them. If a person has practiced poor horsemanship, it is difficult to learn better ways Some of the progresses hinge on having a program
Thank You, People should always have a step by step program in mind when working with their horses. Today this stallion has turned out to be a great riding horse and no longer has those behavior issues ;)
If I need help I'll contact you though.
+Becky Alexander Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
Susan McAlister I don't care about Pirelli or Anderson. Mike treats horses with compassion when circumstances have made them a bit difficult to handle.
Mike Hughes I missed this comment last year so I didn't know you had a Facebook group. I'll join right now. I enjoy your videos a lot because you are compassionate with horses that have been abused into aggressive behavior.
Mike Hughes I still haven't replaced that lawn chair the silly horse tried to climb into.
Horses acting like he is going to continue walking nicely beside you when being led, but out of no where runs as fast as he can off to the side. Pulling hard on my body and making it hard to keep Control.
what,s happen with your video cam can't see your face
That was a old video camera lol
nice !
+Pferde Blog Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
poor guy needed a leader. wish he had a clean paddock
Yes, I felt very sorry for him to , but he is so much better today and doing so great with children riding him :)
i dont like 2 heels facing me i like 2 eyes facing me its ok in a big spot like that in a small spot you dont want heels but if you get a horse in a small spot it will think the good thing to do is give you 2 heels if a horse is going to run at you you got to hit it to make the horse think thats was not good and make it think you will kill it i had a horse come at me when i frist started working with the wip and she cam at me and i hit her so hard in the head she never done that again now i can ride her but she would jump at me and everything
+k95831 There are many ways around the barn and training horses, I do the outside turns for a number of different reasons but in this case it was to prevent this horse from charging me and then later in the video we went into inside turns,
Hi, I just adopted an amazing 11 yr old gelding quarter horse. He was abandoned by his owners after the son ended his life, from what we know and what the vet said he was abused as well as used on the rodeo circuit. He has a permanent white ring of hair round his entire neck from the old school way of gelding and as such he has some aggression. He stood fine for the vets blood draw but as soon as the vet changed to a smaller needle to tranquilize him for a teeth float, he actively struck one of the vets. And reared while continuing to strike. My vet won't see him again unless he has a dart gun due to safety. He is very loving, smiles for treats, gives kisses but he is a danger and this is the first time I've ever had to ask for help with a horse. We live in Va. Can you help me at all? My direct email is michellebraithwood@gmail.com
+Michelle Corson Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses
dont work a horse with a platted tail its a whil u set this horse too fk up
One you couldn't get near the horse to do anything about his tail in the beginning because of his aggression. Two, I have worked several horses with braided tails and they are just fine.
hello mike .. have a question i just bought a horse recently that had been sitting for a while and her daughter rode him apparently a lot supposably he's been on trails and when i went to see him.. before i bought him the lady actually was tacking the horse up in front of me as she was doing this his ears pinned a few times , but as usual nothing went wrong she climbed on him and walked him around for me he seemed very docile was falling asleep with her on him .so i was really thinking he was a decent docile horse that probably just needed some tuning . after she delivered him to my home . i could then clearly see he had some serious pent up energy that needed released , so i made its point to get up the next morning to lunge him keep in mind she told me that he just likes to buck a little bit because he has not been worked in a long time ..so as i started to work him the next morning, i noticed he threw a bit of attitude but then he started to walk and trot as i asked and being good when i asked for a lope he then really started to act up a bit he reared a few times. and was pulling away from me until he rope burned my hand and got loose and ran through the feild and my husband caught him and we met in the middle to get him back to me but i noticed i took him back down to the feild where he ran off to remake him lunge again so we could stop on a good note .as i was loping him to the right he seemed more willing to want to lope and not act up but when we loped to the left he was more acting stud ok well the bit I'm wondering if it wasn't hurting his mouth because he was more focused on the bit and trying to pay attention to me and trying to be lazy about lunging the previous owner never said anything about these habits she treat fed him all the time so there seems to be some spoiled ness going on with him to where he gets pissy if sometimes you don't have a treat for him and not to mention he has found a corner in the paddock now after 24 hours of being here just stands there and completely stares and gives me the impression he waiting for his previous owner to come back to get him because he stands calling and running up and dan the paddock as if he doesn't want to be here and going crazy when he sees a truck and trailer and will do this all day long. but last and not least i have lots of experience with horses but its been five years forgot some stuff because my heart isn't into training like this any more just wanted something already finished and trail ride with ..but mike i need your help because in a 24 hour period my gut feeling keeps telling me i can't trust him like the gut feeling that tells me i don't know if he's going to bite me , kick me or hurt me at any giving time , i don't want to give up on him but this isn't what i wanted in a horse i feel she dooped me and yes i could have asked her to do more with him when i was there but it all happened so fast . now i have a horse that seems he doesn't want nothing to do with me unless i have treats , i took the treat reward away cause that could play a lot into why he is the way he is and her not handling him properly plus she used a o ring twisted wire snaffle on him he doesn't like for training but will let you ride him with it has me confused , so now i feel stuck because i have a horse that i want to help so to speak but then i have a horse that i some what fear to an extent to even want work with him again.. feared me in the last 24 hours with his behavior that puts me in 2 positions 1 sell him and get the horse i want or hire some one to adjust his attitude????? what do you suggest mike??i need all the help i can get!!!
+Kimberly Gohm Be sure to join my Horsemanship Facebook Page at mikehugheshorsetraining.vhx.tv/ you would really enjoy it and It will help you with your horses