How do you deal with a pushy horse  

Hi, Thanks for your response. Joey doesn't listen to anything but the crop. I don't hit him but I do smack the stall wall it makes a loud smack then I have his full attention , ears forward and chewing. He is just responding to pressure with my finger in his shoulder, the other night I must have stood there pushing into his shoulder with my finger for 5 minutes , my arm was tired but I wasn't giving in, finally he stepped over and I rewarded him. we do this every night he is getting better, but very slowly. I don't think he is the problem ,, in fact I know I am . I have been working more with not letting him win.

Thanks for the tips,, we just put up a new barn and are in the process of putting up a riding ring and round pen,, right now I don't have any place to work him ,, we usually lunge him on the lunge line but we haven't done it in awhile,, I won't do it alone and my husband has been working very long hours. Once we are settled he will be worked more. I can't wait till my round pen is done ,, I know they learn alot in there

Joey and I are getting better. It's been about a year that we have had the horses home and I am learning the hard way. I have been working with Joe in his stall and we are doing great. I started bring the crop in the stall and I hit the wall, it's just like a warning kick to him and he behaves. He also had a habit of turning his bum to me and pretending to be interested in his hay , I started banging on the stall wall (lots of noise) until he turned and faced me, he is really starting to listen. I am proud of our accomplishments even if it is only baby steps.
Thanks for your comment

A lot of the natural horsemanship trainers have exercises that can be done without a round pen. I think Brad Cameron is one of them. Working in the stall is a good idea and never interact with him until he turns to look at you first. Also, you may want to work with him on giving his head around to his shoulder from pressure on the lead rope (in small steps, using release as the reward). Then down to the ground. Then try to get him to disengage his hind end in a circle. When he has the concept down in the stall, when he gets pushy outside, yo ucan make him disengage the hind end in a couple turns as a way to refocus his energy. I think Clinton Anderson has a few good ways to accomplish this. It will also translate into riding, as it is the beginning of the training for a one-rein stop.

Thanks for the advice , We already do circle in his stall ,, we are pretty good at that. for last couple of weeks he has been good. Maybe he was sore and that was making him cranky. When he first came home, he was a sweety, then my mare got hurt pretty bad and he got cranky and pushy now he seems to be back to his sweet self. I wish I could read their minds.