How do I get my horse to trust and respect me?

What can i do to get my horse to listen and respect me?

• i have a rescue horse i have had him for 2 yrs it has taken a very long time for him to let me get close and when i brought him home it took 3 days to get him in the barn. I started to train him this spring, but after a couple days i noticed he had lumps hanging on his stomach. Anyway it was a hernia all the way across. Now that is fixed and we've been trying to get him to do just basic ground work he's awful worse than before and he's started running from me not like hes afraid i will hurt him but like a game. He gets out of the fence and runs from me but if i go in the barn with the other horses and call his name he comes right in. I love him and realize he is a one person horse (don't like other people at all) I just want him for lazy riding and love. Also i have noticed he's mean to other animals (or playing) i think. I've recently wondered if i am just not the right person for this animal and he's a bully and gets jealous of the other horses? Any ideas how to approach this. When i am grooming or bathing him he pushes against me or seems to try to hoof me with his front leg. Is he just worthless?

• Answer:

  I have three horses and one is just like that. He was abused by a previous owner so he took a while to trust others and listen to them. Just try to work with him as much as you can. Don't ride him everyday, just try catching him on a daily basis and feed him a treat each time you catch him. That way he'll build trust. Horses are really sensitive and if they've been hurt in the past they'll take a while to learn to get over it and trust people again. You just have to be patient and gentle with him and eventually he'll come around. Don't give up on him.