aggressive at feed times?

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Kiko

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Hey guys, is anyone else's horse quite aggressive at feed times? I only need to go near his stable door and he trys to bite me when eating and when I put his feed in its ears back and everything! He does tend to bite and threaten me a bit anyway which is starting to get better with a slap on the nose when he bites and a firm no! I think its just lack of respect to be honest! he hates being groomed as well and will try and bite me, lift his legs, especially round his belly, he's quite fine and was putting it down to sensitivity? all very odd! He's new one is not holding his feet, he was a right sod with the farrier last time so we've been practising that every single night lol x
 
Is he a tb by any chance?!

I think it's a very instinctive thing for a horse to protect it's food and whist he's eating I'd leave him we alone.
With regards to biting at other times you do have to pick your boundaries and stick to them. If he is a tb thn they can be very thin skinned and hate grooming. Use the softest brush you can and stand we clear, I dont tend to discipline mine for this (I am too soft though!)
 
It is not uncommon for horses to be aggressive when eating as they are trying to defend their food, it can be a sign that they are either very hungry or have been deprived of food at some point in their lives (horses that have been starved are often aggressive over their feed). Generally the aggression will lessen as the horse grows to trust you though this is not always the case. Have you had this horse long? Do you know much of it's past management/lifestyle to explain the aggressive behaviour?
Have you had him checked over by a vet or physio as there may be a physical reason for his behaviour.
 
Mine is anxious whilst you approach with food - especially in field; runs round you with her ears back until you put food down and then bolts her food (it is dampened with water and plenty of chop) We think she has always been in a large bunch of horses and may have ben bullied/had to eat her food fast in the past. Perhaps yours has had a nasty experience in the past?
 
Mine is aggressive to other horses with his food. He is fine with me, but rears up at the horse next door when he tries to steal his hay! Even though my horse will quite happily pop his head out of his stable to his other neighbour, open his hay hatch and eat all of his hay! I think it's pure greed with him tbh
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I tend to leave them well alone when they are eating, anyway
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hmph, I've had him since february and is a warmblood x, i think its going to take time to get him to trust me completely. Will definatly have to get a good physio out to put my mind to rest, especially with his grooming habits as I would like to clip him without sedating. Anyone reccommend any from kent?
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xx
 
my TB pulls terrible faces at me when I give him his food - he has gotten better over time and now no longer threatens me when I enter the stable and he is eating - he is getting used to the idea that I gave it to him and I am not going to take it away again! I can now touch him and put rugs on etc when he is eating (some people won't like that but sometimes time is of the essence and its tough really!) and he is far more relaxed about it all, but the ears still go back no matter what!

he was mistreated in the past (and is an ex-racer) so its understandable he has food issues.
 
My boy is aggressive towards other horses, but not towards me - I think this is due to having half walls with bars at the top, so he feels he has to protect his food (whcih he scoffs as fast as possible).... where he was before, the stable had solid walls - and it doesnt help that the mare next door gets spoilt rotten and hand fed treats right under his nose - he gets very grumpy about that!!! It has taken many months to build up his trust though - to start with I always put a headcollar on and left the door open a crack and made sure I positioned him so I could not be cornered... I left well alone at feed times untill our trust built up though... and still tend to leave him in peace if possible as it is natural behaviour...

I always bring him out for any vet/back man visits etc too (whcih he has had a lot of!!!), so he is not on the defensive for people coming into his stable and doing "nasty" things to him too...

He is also a ticklish chap and gets very grumpy about being groomed unless you curry comb in circles, which he loves (cos he is always itchy!) I dont reprimand him for pulling grumpy faces, and I tie him up so he cant swing round and bite... he does get told off if he lifts a leg though - he's too big to be allowed to get away with that!!
 
My TB was a nightmare when I first got him. Solution was to always pick his feet out before he got his tea. That way he learned that standing still and being quiet got him his tea. Then I'd leave him alone to eat it. Now, several years later I can faff about him as much as I like. Takes time and routine.
 
If you want to go near him feeding and still have problems, might be worth trying this. Its some thing they do to work with dogs with similar issues. They give them some of their feed and when they have eaten it, they go back give them some more, so that they learn that every time you approach the bowl they get more food. Then build it up so they are approaching while they are still eating.

With my horses I tend to put the feed in first then add carrots, apples while they are eating their feed (so they don't mug me while I get them out the bad!) and they are more than happy for me to approach their buckets, because they know I'm adding yummie stuff!!
 
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