Aggressive horse in field

[Roasted Chestnuts]

well unless you know the horse well the one i spoke about had a bad up bringing so put 2 and 2 together thought would be getting a beating and protected its self when it seen a whip horse was mine and had never caused trouble before it was not even him that was the problem but woman flipping a whip around and he reacted friendlyest horse ever has never kicked or been a problem before or after just a freak accident he reacted to the whip flying about

If it had never caused a bother before then why was a person trying to move it away with a whip? Must have had previous form for a person to feel like they needed it moved out of their space. So the statement of never done anything before doesn’t quite ring true to me.

I stand my by experience.

 

[adamntitch]

If it had never caused a bother before then why was a person trying to move it away with a whip? Must have had previous form for a person to feel like they needed it moved out of their space. So the statement of never done anything before doesn’t quite ring true to me.

I stand my by experience.

was a diffrent horse they chased away he just happed to be near by at the same time she had known him for years as well was just a complete accident she went to scare other horse off and ended up between a few and he reacted

 

[Arzada]

We're on heavy clay soil so any hay would just get trampled into the mud.

We spent one wet winter on heavy clay. We used a round sheep feeder and filled it once a day for 5 horses. Yes some hay circled outside the feeder but this had benefit of getting the front feet off the clay. Relocated the feeder periodically.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Yes, sounds familiar. We have a mare exactly like this, and she has caused a bad accident. Farmer/landowner refuses to get involved, so life has been made rather uncomfortable for the mare's owner and she is moving on after Christmas. Think this will be her third move in eighteen months....

 

[TheOldTrout]

It doesn't have to be directly on the ground. It's no wonder horses become aggressive if they are out for hours with nothing to eat.

There's still some grass, they're not out there with nothing.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

There's still some grass, they're not out there with nothing.

That doesn't seem to be what the horse is saying.

 

[Pinkvboots]

There's still some grass, they're not out there with nothing.

A little bit of grass in winter is often not enough remember they are standing in a wet muddy cold open field, they need hay to keep them warm and content so they get frustrated and just want in at the earliest chance, some horses will express that with aggressive behaviour which is dangerous.

 

[Arzada]

There's still some grass, they're not out there with nothing.

Ours had some grass last year. They kept going to the gate of their winter field which wasn't open. They needed more than the grass available to them and they also weren't getting enough hay. It was a horrible time. It is the only time in 12 years on the yard that I have seen one of the little herd get hangry and go for his buddy. Finally round about this time the winter field was opened and all was calm again.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

There's still some grass, they're not out there with nothing.

If hay will get trampled into the muddy clay ground, how can there possibly be adequate grass to support a herd, day after day?

 

[Petalpoos]

As others have said, this is not for you to resolve. You should not have to risk injury to get to your horse and the YO should sort it out immediately, i..e. the new mare should be removed from the field now and not put back in there. It does not sound like this livery is suitable for that horse.

 

[Amymay Again]

This is obviously a situation that needs to be dealt with immediately by the YO.

 

[Honey08]

If hay will get trampled into the muddy clay ground, how can there possibly be adequate grass to support a herd, day after day?

Because wherever you put the hay there will be a lot of feet and it will quickly churn up, whereas feet covering the whole space doesn’t..

Some horses are just thugs, sometimes they’re a bit riggy, other times they have been allowed to become that way. Hunger is just one of many possible reasons. In our case it was mid summer on lush grass.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Some horses are gate aggressive no matter the season. Some horses just decide that they have to be in first regardless. It may be that this horse doesn’t want to be out at all, some horses don’t want to be in a winter field period and be it 30mins after turnout or 4hrs they want in. You can’t really know for sure what the reason is but this needs dealt with one way or the other and sometimes putting hay in a field can make the situation worse as unless you are putting out multiple bales there will always be more aggressive horses that hog the bale and then there isn’t a whole other fighting issue to deal with.

Also been there done that.

 

[dorsetladette]

Sounds like the mare needs bringing in before other liveries arrive, hay needs to be provided (somehow) in the field or the mare needs separating. Or a combination of all.

Definitely a job for the YO to sort and quickly. Heavy clay means it's near on impossible to get yourself out of the way if feet or teeth are flying.

Is the owner of the mare not concerned for her horses change in behaviour?

 

[TheOldTrout]

Sounds like the mare needs bringing in before other liveries arrive, hay needs to be provided (somehow) in the field or the mare needs separating. Or a combination of all.

Definitely a job for the YO to sort and quickly. Heavy clay means it's near on impossible to get yourself out of the way if feet or teeth are flying.

Is the owner of the mare not concerned for her horses change in behaviour?

Doesn't seem to be. I told her about the biting and the answer was 'I've never known her to bite '. To be fair, I don't think the owner witnesses the aggression. Horse is coming in from the field when she sees it so behaving itself.

 

[JoannaC]

We had this at a previous yard, the mare who was a big girl wasn't get nearly enough hay when stabled and she was very hangry. One time I threw myself under the fence as she came for me and trying to catch your horse was very stressful. Eventually the YO would bring her in at 2 so the rest of us could safely get our horses. I used to be last up in the evening and she would have finished her hay by then.

 

[dorsetladette]

Doesn't seem to be. I told her about the biting and the answer was 'I've never known her to bite '. To be fair, I don't think the owner witnesses the aggression. Horse is coming in from the field when she sees it so behaving itself.

I'm sure there is another thread on here about a similar situation.

Something needs to change. Can you ask the YO to come and witness or one evening leave your s out until mares owner turns up so she can see for herself.

 

[Amymay Again]

Doesn't seem to be. I told her about the biting and the answer was 'I've never known her to bite '. To be fair, I don't think the owner witnesses the aggression. Horse is coming in from the field when she sees it so behaving itself.

Well hopefully the yo has this in hand now and the situation has been resolved.

 

[midnight2025]

move your horse if you don’t feel safe not trying to be rude but most yards owners are aware if they have horses like this they turn a blind eye or don’t care but chances it wouldn’t be resolved because the horse wouldn’t be in the yard if owner of the yard weren’t happy with the behaviour . If you complain it will just make your life harder in the yard just from story’s I have heard from other people.

 

[TheOldTrout]

Very belated update, aggressive horse and mine will never share a field again. Won't give more details as the situation could be identified in real life.

 

[cauda equina]

I hope you and your mare are ok TOT

 

[Bobthecob15]

This sort of situation is too common sadly, we’ve had the exact same situation and the YO did absolutely nothing and saw it as just “what the mare does”. This mare did it all year round though not just in winter. Was a horrible situation particularly as it stopped my daughter getting her pony in by herself. Thankfully the mare left the yard but it’s just awful when this happens.

Glad you’ve got it sorted OP x

 

[Widgeon]

I hope you and your mare are ok TOT

Likewise, I hope you're both ok. I'm glad they've been split up but I hope whatever finally triggered it wasn't too damaging for either of you.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Goodness, I hope you and horse are ok.

 

[Surbie]

I'm glad you have managed to have them separated, but I really hope you and your mare are ok.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

A mare arrived on livery at our yard in the summer, she is currently turned out with 3 or 4 other mares including mine. She has been becoming increasingly aggressive at bringing in time. It started with her chasing the other horses with her ears back, then she started also chasing me as I walked across the field to get my mare. A few days ago she swung her quarters at me but didn't actually kick. Yesterday she aimed 2 kicks at me and today she bit me. She's also still chasing the other mares. What's the best way to handle this? I'm concerned she's going to cause serious injury if her aggression continues to escalate.

As a y/o if it got this bad I would tell horse owner to go we don't put hay out, as most are diy or part so none left out all 24 hrs. having had my ID mare shatter her splint bone 19 pieces from such a mare was mid morning and in summer and said mare was an evil biotch.

It is not always about lack of food, some gate hog as they just don't like being out in wet, where as others only come over to gate when they see me. Some horses are just nasty dominated horses start a fight just cos they can. In fact a sharer here also shares a horse in another yard, last week two new ponies moved straight in. Result their horse a 16.2 tb has a fracture hock and infection of the hock now.

 

[dorsetladette]

@TheOldTrout I hope you and your mare are OK

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I would honestly like to know the outcome of this as it was a thread I was very interested in

 

[Tiddlypom]

Crikey, I hope that neither you nor your mare have suffered life changing injuries, ToT.

 

[Bob notacob]

On a herd ,anything that can be done to reduce aggression is worth doing. "Just let them sort it out" I have watched this happen from half a mile away and the crack from the broken leg still sounded like a gunshot (and still haunts me) I could do nothing. An incredibly well run yard yet both horses had a bad hair day and one died. Give that extra bit of hayeven if they waste most . You can buy a hundred tonnes of hay for the cost of even the cheapest riding horse.