Becky,
Part of the horse learning to obey you is building trust. But, in building trust, you MUST also build respect. If your horse doesn't respect you, he can't trust you. You have to be the leader of the herd, so to speak. That is how a horse thinks, and you must start thinking like a horse.
Proper round pen training will teach your horse to respect and, also to trust you. But, that training should be done by an expert. I am far from an expert, but I have learned the basics of round pen training from good friends who are experts. When I have a question or a problem, I am fortunate to be able to go to them for advice. I did that just today.
I've been working with a 2 year old filly that had a bad experience the last time she had a halter on. My husband has been gaining her confidence with treats. That's fine, except now he has a filly that looks for treats and only comes to him for the treats. He still can't put a halter on her.
I started working with the filly in the round pen yesterday. I use pressure and relief of pressure to teach her. When she starts looking at me as she is being worked in the round pen, I allow her to stop on my command only, & I back away from her when she looks at me. If she looks away, I step toward her with my hand out, palm up and fingers moving, and quietly tell her "Look at me." When she looks at me, I stop or take a step backwards. She now looks at me when I tell her to. If she isn't looking at me, she can't learn.
Your horse needs to learn to look to you for guidance safety.
This filly now follows me because me moving away relieves the pressure she is feeling. That is a very, very simplistic explanation of a complicated training session. An hour of work in the hot sun and lots of stops and starts.
Today, I worked her again, and she immediately started looking at me and following me because she is beginning to respect me as her leader. With respect comes trust. Today I was able to scratch her all over, and after introducing the lead rope she let me rub it all over her body, wrap it around her neck and nose and would follow me when I gave a gentle tug and clucked to her.
When I say worked her in the round pen, I absoutely DO NOT mean I was running her trying to tire her out. That is the opposite of what needs to be done & is harmful. I was using the movement of my body to intrude into her space and pressure her into moving, along with verbal cues. I watched her body language very, very carefully for cues and immediately followed up on those cues with relief of pressure or continuation of pressure.
See if you can learn more about training from a good trainer and look into attending seminars by Ray Hunt or Pat Parelli or John Lyons. My preference is in that order. Failing the opportunity to attend one of their training sessions, ask your local library to purchase their books and videos and see what you can learn from that.
The rearing up is a very, very dangerous habit that needs to be stopped. A good trainer can stop that behavior and substitute good behavior. If the rearing, however slight, isn't curtailed, you are going to have a very dangerous horse.
Good luck to you.
> I bought a nice little gelding
> last fall but have since found he
> was mistreated sometime in his
> past. Anytime you introduce
> anything new he freaks. He will
> rear up a little and try to flee.
> I gave him his dewormer twice and
> then the third time forget it my
> farrier had to do it for me. he
> thinks he may be having flashbacks
> also. When you move too fast
> around his head area he shy's
> away. I have bought both my horses
> sheets and fly masks. I got him to
> wear his sheet but the fly mask is
> a different story. Any
> suggestions. Thanks