Aggression in horses

[Paint it Lucky]

I was just wondering what people's experiences are of aggression in horses, particularly when directed towards humans. If anyone has known/knows an aggressive horse how does it react to people, why do you think it is aggressive and has anyone managed to cure a horse's aggressive behaviour? Just out of interest as we are studying it at uni at the moment so wondered what you guys thought!

 

[jumpthemoon]

I used to work with a horse who was so aggressive noone was allowed to handle him without muzzling him first. He ripped a girls leather jacket off and bit her breaking the skin and causing quite a serious injury and used to bite people whenever he got the opportunity.

I am a great believer in horses never being nasty without a reason, and after getting to know this horse he became one of my favourite horses ever. I ended up working with him without the muzzle and he used to whinny whenever I came onto the yard. He would watch everywhere I went and never attempted to bite me. He became a different horse in the space of a few weeks.

When the time came for him to return to his owners hunting yard, I voiced my concerns over the fact the I though he had a sore back as he sometimes bucked and ran backwards, which I thought was out of character. I was told all that was needed was a firm beating with a wooden stick

The horse came back to our yard a couple of weeks later, after breaking the leg of the 'stick woman'. He was unrecognisable and was vicious and angry. Sadly he was sold on shorlty after this ( I didnt have the money to buy him at the time) and I dread to think what happened to him.

Sorry this is a long one, but I think horses are naturally kind creatures and are only aggressive if that's what we've taught them. I also believe in some cases (not all) that with patience and kindness their attitude can be changed.

It still brings a tear to my eye to think of poor Ben

 

[horsegirl]

My horse is only aggressive when he is scared, he is clipper phobic but unlike most he does not try to run he attacks with teeth and front legs. The rest of the time he is a sweetie to handle.

 

[Shilasdair]

I worked with horses for years and only ever met one really aggressive horse. His owner was perfect, treated him well...and worked him appropriately. He was turned out in company, had no health issues, and 99% of the time was sweet as pie...which made it worse...he'd suddenly turn on people and literally try to kill them, with no trigger.
I had to vault out of his box a couple of times...but others weren't so lucky.
Then he's suddenly switch back to being sweet again.
Brain tumour? Who knows?
S

 

[carthorse]

Isn't this a sad post, I wish you could have bought him.
One of our horses last year had a group of riders gallop up behind him and run into him, since then he has kicked out a couple of times if horses come up close. We are being careful at shows because we would hate to injure anyone.Has anyone cured this or should we put a red ribbon on just in case?
Do we tell him off for it ?

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
We are being careful at shows because we would hate to injure anyone.Has anyone cured this or should we put a red ribbon on just in case?
Do we tell him off for it ?

[/ QUOTE ]

I woudn't tell him off as he is obviously worried about what happened before. Telling him off would just compound the issue an he would probably be worse IMO. I'd put a red ribbon on, as that will keep people away which will help. He should get better with time providing it doesn't happen again! bless him

 

[_daisy_]

I used to be liveried where there was an old pony mare. She was very aggressive towards people but even more so when the owners children had anything to do with her. They knew she was a bit nasty so they used to wind her up when they know she couldnt get to them (she would be in the stable and them outside on the yard) but one I came down to the yard and didnt know anything about what had gone off. I walked passed her stable and she lunged over the stable door with her mouth wide open, teeth bared - she grabbed hold of the side of my face and dragged me into the side of the stable way. She drew blood but one of the kids saw what happened and called their mum. I told her off and shut her top door, before going to sort myself off.
She was sold that night and the new owner came and collected her the following day.
I told them not to sell her on my behalf as I knew it wasnt directed at me. The kids got a bollocking for annoying her. Whenever I was on the yard I used to shut her top door just incase she tried it again/for safety.
With the right handling etc I think she wouldve been a nicer pony but she was hgetting on a bit and didnt want to put up with any [****] the kids gave her. I unfortunately got stuck in between them all without knowing. She went to e alovely man who wanted her as a field companion - she was going to live out 24/7 and wasnt going to have much time in the stable or withe kids so she would be very happy there.

 

[jumpthemoon]

I hate it when parents aren't responsible and let children tease animals - it's so unfair. The poor pony. At least she went to a nice home with no little brats to annoy her

 

[_daisy_]

Yes same here - i was more mad at the kids rather than the pony. It wasnt hers ormy fault. I can only imagine what damage she couldve done to one of them had she got them instead of me. Luckily I had only got marks on my face that were bleeding and only nearly bit the end of my tongue off so I was really lucky - everything healed fine.
Dont think the kids were allowed near their ponies again and certainly no friends were allowed on the yard after that.
I really hope she is enjoying her life now

 

[emma_lg]

My horse was aggressive when I bought her - TB ex-racehorse mare. I bought her 10yrs ago from a lady that had rescued her. She had finally been abandoned after turning on the brat who teased her and abused her. She would attack you, you couldn't touch her, get rugs on etc. She would attack you in the stable - lunging - and at times you would have to climb over the wall in to the next stable. I believed it was only because of how she had been treated that she was like that and felt she needed understanding (listening to her), time and care.
It was as if her thinking was that she would attack you first rather than you attack her. She would bite and cow kick. Just to change her rugs and give her a flick off I had to have someone hold her, with a muzzle on and still it could take a couple of hours.
I always considered her to be a vulnerable horse - not mad like some suggested.
I spent loads of time with her, had to always be aware of what I was doing and the manner in which I did it - from her point of view.
I had to build up her trust in people again...she is still not great with strangers and hates people talking to me when I am with her but she shows me such affection and I think she is marvellous!!
I would say it took two years to 'prove' myself to her...and there were times when we would get to a certain level and plateau for a while...I had to 'learn' from her and mst important 'listen' to her.
I think I wore her down eventually with the fact that I kept going back to her whatever she did!!!

 

[jumpthemoon]

great story Sparrow - she sounds like one lucky mare

 

[jenn72]

I bought my mare 8 yrs ago. She was lovely to ride but a complete nightmare on the ground. I was told she would bear her teeth but i was in for a shock.

she used to charge straight at me - teeth out and lashing out. She is still a narky girl now and then but it took alot of time for her to trust me.
I had a woman do a 'join up' with her at first and it did help. she was very aggresive but once she knew i wasnt going to hurt her in any way she came round. it took a couple of years and now when she is all lovey dovey with me its a great feeling.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks for your stories everyone, E_C_W I have known similar situations to you where kid 'helpers' at a yard used to wind up the grumpier horses, just making them more angry and upset, this behaviour disgusts me, I know they are only children but none the less they should know better. I think the trouble with a lot of aggressive horses is a lot of people don't give them a chance and act aggressively themselves around the horses, which the horse just sees as threatening behaviour and so is aggressive back. My first horse was very aggressive when I first met him, he didn't even like being brushed and it took years for me to totally get over all his issues, but it was so worth it because I ended up with a loving kind natured horse. I think the vast majority of aggressive horses are only that way because of human mistreatment, whether through cruel handling, incorrect management or other reasons. It is really sad that the horses tend to get the blame for it.

 

[vanessahook]

Yes my mare is aggressive!!!! It is only directed at humans as i have never seen her be aggressive to another horse.
She is an interesting one as i have owned her since she was a yearling, beofre then she lived in a Cornish field so i know nothing happened before i bought her.
From the word go she was aggressive, ears back as soon as you approach the stable, swings her bum round to the door so its difficult to get in.
All of her aggressive behaviour is centred around her stable or when she is tied up. Once she is saddled and bridled she is quiet although a very difficult ride (been over backwards, that sort of thing!).
She will bite when she is tied up and you are doing her feet or walking round in front. She kicked me week before last and im not the first person!!
She has never been cured of this aggression, she is now 8 and she is pretty consistent no matter who is handling her.