billylula
Well-Known Member
He's only been with us a few days but he is extremely grumpy in his field particularly around food. He puts his ears back as soon as he sees you with a bucket and circles around you quite menacingly. If you put your arms out to give yourself space he can turn his back on you and buck which never actually turns into a kick but nevertheless I find threatening.
I feed him some hard food as I feed our other pony at the same time although I think he is probably a very good doer. He is very very greedy. I wonder if at some point in the past he was starved which makes him so frantic around food. He's also impossible to catch without a bucket. When you do catch him he can be very strong to lead so I lead him in a bridle.
Thank goodness as soon as he is tied up to be groomed and tacked up he seems much more relaxed and ridden he is absolutely fine, in fact really took care of my youngest daughter who he seemed to sense was little and novice (he took baby steps and walked very slowly and carefully). All three of my daughters have ridden hiim and he was as good as gold and absolutely not bothered in traffic.
Fascinating to find out how they 'work' but I do want to try and set some boundaries with him in the field. This morning I held the bucket until he took a couple of steps backwards and pricked his ears forward and then I fed him. Not sure if this is right though so thought I would ask for advice as most of my pony care seems to be instinctive rather than informed!
I feed him some hard food as I feed our other pony at the same time although I think he is probably a very good doer. He is very very greedy. I wonder if at some point in the past he was starved which makes him so frantic around food. He's also impossible to catch without a bucket. When you do catch him he can be very strong to lead so I lead him in a bridle.
Thank goodness as soon as he is tied up to be groomed and tacked up he seems much more relaxed and ridden he is absolutely fine, in fact really took care of my youngest daughter who he seemed to sense was little and novice (he took baby steps and walked very slowly and carefully). All three of my daughters have ridden hiim and he was as good as gold and absolutely not bothered in traffic.
Fascinating to find out how they 'work' but I do want to try and set some boundaries with him in the field. This morning I held the bucket until he took a couple of steps backwards and pricked his ears forward and then I fed him. Not sure if this is right though so thought I would ask for advice as most of my pony care seems to be instinctive rather than informed!
