advice please-kicking

R

rainer

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 January 2013
Messages
686
Location
herefordshire
Visit site
When we had our pony the first day he wouldn't let me catch him, when I got near he would turn his bum towards me threatening to kick :( after a few days off getting to know me he stopped doing this.
When he first met my daughter he did the same thing,spun round+lifts both feet up to kick.
He did it the other day to me when he didn't want to be caught. Only turned his bum toward me ( he was also acting nervous of me like he didn't know me ) and tonight my daughter went out to give him hay with her dad and he spun round and almost kicked her ( it was dark+her friend was also nearby in the gateway )
Now I'm pretty sure he does this out of nervousness and if he doesn't know you etc as I couldn't catch him the first day and now he walks up to you.
Also he's better when you let him come to you rather than u go to him in the field and 9 times out of 10 he will come when called unless he's got some fresh grass!
He is only 4 and still settling in and a bit nervous but it just unerves me a bit when he does it as its always when I least expect it! As most of the time he is quiet,enjoyes cuddles and not a lot fazes him,he also seems to enjoy our company.
Any advice appreciated :) we have only had him since 7th december but please note he has only done this a few times
 
Is he living out? Please be so careful, particularly with your daughter if he is likely to spin and kick. I personally would catch him first and do your checks on him and keep him in control while your daughter puts out feed.
 
It's just his insecurity. You need to spend lots of time just being with him and letting him get confidence with you. A month isn't a long time, fetch him in whenever you have the chance and just spend time quietly being around him, letting him get to know you better so he builds his confidence up. If your daughter is young it would be better if you caught him for her for a little while until you are sure he won't hurt her. With a nervous young pony things will come along leaps and bounds with patience and quiet handling.
 
He's young & nervous, & having had a very quick scan of your other threads its likely he's picking up on the fact that neither you or daughter are wildly confident. Could you get the instructor in to give you some advice for on the ground? And is it possible the kicking out in field was directed towards whatever he's turned out with in defense of the hay, rather than actually aimed at her? I think for now it would be better if daughter only hays in field with horses not at liberty.
 
Thanks guys I just needed a bit of reassurance, could almost cry as I was feeling so tense about it . He does live out and me or OH always catches him and we've been doing lots of handling and grooming with him,he is coming along well really, of course the friend being there tonite didn't help as he doesn't know her at all, he's great when he gets to know you although does have his moments. I just wasn't entirely sure if it was insecurity or bad behavior. :p thanks again
 
Thanks I've been a bit nervous with him but okay now,my daughter can be a it cautious with him too, as first time owners its something we are overcoming and I know he will pick up on this too and it will affect his behavior. We haven't got an instructor in yet,I did email her but haven't heard back yet. We're learning :) not to say I didn't have experience+knowledge coming into this but its very different when its your own and most of what I'm now learning is about equine behaviour more than anything else xxx
 
No-one should take food of any kind into a field of horses. Always take the horses out, then put the food in. And NEVER try to feed just one horse out of a herd in the field. It is much better to give your horse it's bucket feed in the stable. Forage should be put out in more piles than there are horses to share it.

Your pony is a little nervous and insecure, if he's in a herd (couldn't decide from your post), he will still be establishing his place in the herd and if not he will feel nervous, vulnerable and insecure on his own. As others have said, you, rather than your daughter, should catch the pony until you are certain that you can predict his behaviour, which may be many months down the line.
 
Are you on a yard? In which case ask yard manager for some help. Or if you are at home then it might be easier & cheaper to move to a good yard where advice is on hand.
 
He's on his own atm. He's in a small paddock which is part of a larger field which is next to our garden,he also gets let into the garden as its quite large
 
rainer said:
He's on his own atm. He's in a small paddock which is part of a larger field which is next to our garden,he also gets let into the garden as its quite large
Click to expand...
A young horse on his own will feel vulnerable to predators, you know there are no wolves in the area, he doesn't. IMO you should make finding him a companion a priority.
 
As pearlsasinger says, company has to be no 1 priority. Horses in herds take it in turn to be on the lookout, while others graze/rest/sleep/lie down etc in peace. On his own, yours has to be on constant high alert to any possible danger, & he isn't going to switch off from that just when you are around. Although I think the answer given its your first pony is a yard with experienced back up. A less than confident inexperienced child & a nervous young pony will be likely to both rub off on each other, & long term not do either any good.
 
Can I just add that at the very least your daughter (and perhaps you!) should have a hat and BP when handling the pony in the field.

When we first bought Dolly (and we are first time owners) she was quite, lets say, cheeky both ridden and on the ground (and she was 11, not 4!) but with the help and support of a livery yard, and lots of patience and hard work, all those early problems have gone.

As someone above said, a nervous pony and a nervous (or at least apprehensive) child will does not mix well.

About two weeks after buying Dolly, she kicked Daughter whilst in the stable eating her hay. Daughter (being very small and petite) was just walking around the back of her (about a metre from her bum - not smart) and Dolly kicked out. Daughter was unhurt, but very upset.

My initial thought was "send IT back"!!! Then I dissected the situation. Dolly was in a new place, with no "friends", daughter was small and moved quickly behind her whilst she was eating (protecting?) her food. We feel Dolly was lonely for company and also food defensive (we believe she probably lived out in the past and was down the pecking order when it came to food).

So we gave her a second chance, and she never (touches wood!) did it again. Daughter also learnt a valuable handling lesson (ie if you must walk behind a pony, then walk close behind, with a hand on pony's bum), without getting hurt (thank goodness). I did however make Daughter wear her hat whilst grooming and handling her in the stable for a while. Daughter wasn't impressed, but tough luck - I'd rather her alive and grumpy!


The point I'm making is, that although I don't know how experienced you are personally, if this is your first pony, there are a wealth of mistakes which can be made (we found most of them!!). If you can't stable pony at a yard with help on hand, are you be able to get an instructor to work on the ground with your daughter as well as ridden?

In the meantime, please be careful!!!

As a fellow first time owner, feel free to PM me if you want a chat. :)
 
I don't like leaving him on his own and at the moment where he is is free and I wouldn't be able to afford to put him on a yard although I will look into finding him grazing with others or finding a companion. The other problem is his field is only temporary untill the farmer wants it for his use so I need to find an alternative anyway. He's right next to us at home so we see him several times a day between us. I do take all ur comments on board, I will have a chat with my OH and see what we can come up with x
 
You should be able to pick up a small companion failry easily, the charities all have loads. They would also be able to give you a lot of advice about keeping the pair of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top