Have you done a join up with this horse? This works if done right.Someone or more people have obviously dealt with this horse badly!! Tell me a little history on this horse.Like how old when you got it etc,just what you know about it in general. I might be able to elaborate on it.Thanks, Angie

You obviously have not gone through any of Monty's methods either I would suggest also that you do.This will help you like you wouldn't believe !! Take his online course it is worth every penny along with purchasing a dually halter and learn to use it properly you will be amazed at the difference in your horse and yourself if you listen closely to what he says!! He'll show you how to do all of it the dually halter use and the join-up. Know this will help you!! Angie

I'm obviously not with it today as I did forget to say welcome to you as well. Forgive me for that please. By the way their are Sloans in our family as well. Angie

Hi Angie! Thank you for your reply. I am actually new to Monty Roberts methods (obviously I knew about them but until now had not yet started to learn them properly). As such I have just enrolled in the online university and planning to do the Introductory course here in Ireland in the coming months. I am also addicted to the videos in the online university! Just wish I had more hours in the day available to watch more of them! 

So yes I am beginning to understand that all the manifestations of bad behaviour should be solved by going back to basics and starting with Join up and getting that relationship between horse and person. 

My horses are actually out for the winter and I will be bringing them back in in April. As such I hope to start implementing all that I am learning with them when they come back in :-) I cannot wait. 

It would be great if you have any advice for me starting out on this adventure. I see you are a very accomplished member of the forum. Also in terms of the online university, I am watching from the start as in following the recommended 'next video'. However do you think there is a particular method / order I should do things in? 

Thank you again, and where are you based? Sloans in your family?! We have a lot of us spread over the world :-) 

Hi & welcome to the Uni. I'd like to look at this question from the horses point of view. Horses naturally would live in wide open spaces where being in a herd is their protection from predators. However, when a horse is born in captivity a good deal of its natural behaviour is denied to it. That's a harsh fact. On the whole the majority of horses cope with the unnatural equine environment that we humans provide very well. They indulge us hugely & sadly often receive little, if any, recognition of that. Often, if any of them offer even the slightest protest they are labelled 'PROBLEM HORSE', which as Monty has pointed out is, in reality, HUMAN PROBLEM. The answer is simple - meet the horses needs. Easier said than done! 
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The human sees a stable as a safe, comfortable, dry, protected place where your horse can be easily accessed for work or can recover from illness or injury. So why would any horse not find a stable a good thing? Well, many horses do love their stables. However, if it becomes a place of boredom or is in a place where for long periods through the day there is noise & high activity ( given horses do not sleep like we do but short nap throughout any 24 hour period ) or a place they cannot call their own ( horses are territorial ) then perhaps we can see why some horses show displeasure. We put their name on the door but is it really THEIR PLACE? After all, we own or rent that space. We clean it out, we provide the food. It's OUR place for OUR horse. 

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So, from the horses point of view, what makes the BEST stable? One that they want to be in. A place of safety & comfort? I think I can sum it up in a single word - RESPECT. 

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Respect the horses natural tendency for quiet gentleness. Be calm & quiet around them so as to ask they to behave the same. Enter gently & take the time to greet & scratch them. Don't march in full of intent & adrenaline. Try to keep the time your horse is cooped up to a minimum or, if turnout is restricted, try & split outdoor times to break up the day. If you are limiting food intake make the food access a game. Feed little & often but putting hay/fodder in a small holed net inside a second small holed net makes getting it more work as does hanging the net in free space not against a wall - if your stable roof is too high to do this create a cross member in a corner with a rope loop to hang nets from ( yes, I am a person of little height! ). You can suspend all kinds of treats & toys in this way, threaded turnips/swedes - boredom busters. Make grooming a time of relaxation not just a cleaning mission. 

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I appreciate that we all have busy lives & we need to fit in all the chores. However, if the only way we can do that is in a way that disrespects our horses sentiment needs & stops us from taking the time to appreciate the enormous gifts they offer us - trust, friendship, companionship, partnership, then rather than blame the horse for their input ( grumpy & selfishly non cooperative ) we should reassess our own motives. Cheers, Jo.

Whoops - predictive text! Not sentiment, sentient needs. Sorry, failed to spot that before posting.

Your on the right track now h.l.sloan!! Glad to hear you have gone on to the online uni. I am sooo happy for you as you are now on your way to learning alot more then you could ever imagine!!The uni is awesome!! I just can not say enough for it. There is always sooo much we can learn,we will learn as long as we live,if we have a mind to. It is all according to what your horses need you would know that better than I,as to where you should start,as I know nothing about your horses at this point,but, I will suggest to you to go over and over any of the lessons that apply to you or your horses that is the only way to learn them well. You are on the right path now. If I may be able to help you with anything specific feel free to let me know I would be glad to help!! I live in N.B. Canada by the way. As far as a method or order to do things in,just start from the join-up and go from there you will then find out more about your horses and what you need to work on from there. Definitly leading properly,backing,etc,the basics that way your horses will be able to communicate to you what they actually do need to know more about. Aren't the video lessons great? I still enjoy going over and over them!! Have you been with these horses long? Or have you just gotten them? The horse you mentioned that put its ears back etc,what could you tell me about this one that might help? I would love to be able to help you in any way I may!! Let me know how your getting along with this one. Have fun most of all!!      Angie

Hello;  I am coming late to this thread, but I think that you can cure this behavior very quickly with a flag on the end of a whip.  Here`s the scenario, when your horse BEGINS to flatten his ears, go after him with the flag shaking it modestly and watch for his reaction.  If there is no reaction or very little, AMP UP the shaking into hyper speed and give him a reason to back off.  As soon as he does and turns to face you with EARS UP, lower the flag and turn your body away from him, taking the pressure off.  Let him stand off away from you quietly as long as he continues to look at you.  If he should turn away slightly, bring the flag out for him to see immediately without shaking it, until he is focused on you once again.  Then lower the flag and turn away from him again.. This is a conversation that you two are having and you are telling him that putting his ears down and being pissy will not be tolerated.
Allow him to settle and become relaxed, then invite him into your space only if he is polite in his approach while standing near you.  Be very mindful of his body language so you can be at the ready to correct any signs unwanted behavior.  However, if he does cross over the line be sure to allow him to cross the line BEFORE you correct.  
I hope this helps. If your timing is on spot, this will NOT take a long time to fix.

Bud

Hi Bud
just read your advice. I can see how your suggestions should be effective if used and timed correctly. Really super. 
I don't have this particular problem, but I am a student on the uni, and I love the lessons and the terrific advice from other students to various handling difficulties.
I wish  h.l. sloan success with the horse(s) that express this behaviour and look forward to feedback :-)
all the best,
Bella

Hi all! Sorry for not writing sooner. I am actually taking part in the Monty Roberts introductory course in the UK over these weeks and am absolutely loving it. Also the uni is a big help. Thank you so much all for your comments and advice on here. Really great tips and things to think about and implement. The horse has been out for the winter but is coming in again next month and cannot wait to work with her on everything I am learning here. I will let you know how it goes!! Thank you all again :-) Holly