Aggressive Horse

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comeon

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For some reason my 4 year old has turned aggressive
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have had every thing checked, back, teeth ect. The olnly thing I have changed is adding Top Spec conditioner cubes to his diet. He has always been a bit bad tempered but is alot worse now. He tries to knock me off the mounting block, and tries to bite me. He went through a phase of bucking and kicking out when I put my leg on. I just ride him through it and today did 20 laps of the school with no kicking or bucking. I have now taken him off the nuts to see if that makes a difference. I know he is a youngster and probably just trying me out but its a bit worrying when you are greeted by a set ot teeth when going into the stable
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Im sure I have seen a suppliement advertised somewhere for bad tempered buggers, Any ideas?
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I think its NAF that does a moody gelding? Could also try a general calmer? Have you had him blood tested to check for anything hormonal?
 
I bet it's not being aggressive - he's trying to tell you something. And what they're usually trying to tell you is they are in pain or discomfort somewhere. Finding out what is up to you! There's a host of the usual things to try like back, tack, teeth, but I'd also think about general management, schooling/work levels for a baby, company etc. Then there's the odd and unlikely list that could include health problems, conformation problems for the work he's doing, gut discomfort etc etc. I doubt it's Top Spec. Sadly, a lot of owners HOPE it's a feed issue because it would be easy to correct. Other things aren't so easy sometimes. In the unlikely event that he's getting too many calories so is bursting with energy, it would take some time for changes in his feed to filter through to a change in behaviour. And if you make too many changes at once you won't know what has worked and what hasn't.

He's 4. He's a baby. He's deeply unhappy about something. I'd go right back and think about how he was backed and his work levels and your expectations and maybe try to see things from a horse's point of view x
 
Ditto BOF.

You say 'when you go into his stable'. What sort of lifestyle has he got? If he spends a lot of time in a box then he's bounc to be grumpy and bad tempered.

There's all the obvious checks like teeth, back, lameness.

Think about his lifestyle. Maybe it doesn't suit him.
 
I see where you are coming from Box of frogs, but have checked everything, he is turned out with the same companion he has always had, have had blood test taken, and his work is very varied, short hacks and short amount of time on the school and never worked two days in a row. He i must admit is a much happier chap hacking out, as you say he is just a baby, and I think just trying me out. I have had him since he was six months old so we know each other well, just hope it is a blip, as I love him to bits. Guess I placed this post cos Im a bit upset he has this attitude, he has lots of cuddles and if you ignor the teeth he then is very affectionate.
 
I agree with BOF too. I would check everything again! There could be more than one issue.

In particular-
1) Could he be hungry? Is there enough grass/hay in field. Does he have enough hay in the stable to last the night? He could be protecting his food from you, as he would another horse, so you dont take it away.
2) Stomach ulcers?
3) Check his saddle. Young horses change more than any other and any horse changes shape with weather/workload differences. Happier hacking could mean that when in the school and frequently on a turn, hence asking more physically, something is causing him pain.
4) Wolf teeth under the gum?

Aggression is not a way a horse would 'try you out', he is telling you he is unhappy. You will have to go through every detail of his life to find out the reason(s) why.

Good luck
 
Hes out 24/7 with add lib hay, and in a big field with his mate.
Only comes into be tacked up,and has always been. His companion comes in with him,
Saddle checked by saddler, vet checked him over (puzzled as much as me) Had wolf teeeth out last year. The vet advised a calmer, which he is on as this will help his digestion too. His droppings are normal , as is his wee.
Nothing has changed and checked every thing.
He does try things on,typical youngster,used to load fantastic then just suddenly stopped, this went on for about two weeks, but I was very patient, and now loads perfect again.
He is just a naughty teenager I think. We'll get there
 
Because the behaviour appears when he comes in to be tacked up, when mounting and when he is ridden, it strongly suggests something to do with his tack/ridden work. Maybe get a second opinion? And someone on the ground to help you?
 
When Jesper was 5 he suddenly became very grumpy and moody. When ridden he would buck or refuse to go forward. He'd only been backed six months before so we put it down to him testing us, however a few weeks later when the behaviour was continuing and we'd ruled out saddle, teeth and feed we got the vet out. Turned out he had PSD. He was never lame but clearly very uncomfortable. Once we got this issue sorted he returned to his normal self.
Not saying that is what is wrong with yours but keep in mind.
 
You need to find out whether the problem is behavioural or pain related. Talk to your vet. When I had a similar problem ,my vet put the horse on bute for a few days to see if this altered anything. I would also ask if the horse is getting sufficient fibre. Unless there is a good reason not to, all my horses have had adlib hay.There is nothing like that full feeling to keep a horse happy.
 
A very novice friend bought a mare, that she rode at a riding school, as her first horse. The mare arrived at our yard and was really bad tempered and had every stable vice going, she clearly had a hatred of people and particularly men as she would literally fly at them to bite. She kicked, weaved, windsucked you name it she did it. It took the YO 4 hours on one occasion to catch her she was an absolute nightmare. But something told me there was more to her than met the eye and I started to handle her and not beat the crap out of her when she did things wrong.
My friend then moved and gave me her little horse as she was terrified of her. My hubby rode her a couple of times but I couldn't really leave them alone as she would try and get him if I wasn't around. But still I kept on with handling her and most people thought I was mad to go and skip her out when she was still in her box etc. But little by little she started to come around.
We then moved her and my other mare to another small yard. There began the most incredible change in Willow she became incredibly tactile and loving, I'd call to her and she'd come hammering up the field to be caught, she absolutely adored my hubby and they would hack out together for hours and I swear they'd both come back smiling. She still hated strangers but was a pleasure to own for us.
We had her for a whole year and a half and she was a very special little lady who must have had a truelly rough life.
Then one day when I was at work I got a phonecall from my hubby to say Willow was extremely lame. The vet came and asked us to take her to Bell Equine for x-rays and we splinted her leg. The x-rays told a dreadful story and that she had broken her intermediate metacarpel in her knee. Because of her age surgery wasn't as option and the worst decision was made. I went into the barn to say good bye and she wickered to me which she had never done before and we had an amazing goodbye.
I often think we judge horses to quickly and I will never forget the metamorphosis of a clearly unhappy horse into one that ended her life with two people who loved her.
 
I would get a second opinion saddlewise. Do you use a numnah? If so,is it pulled up into the gullet of the saddle properly. Check that you are mounting sympathetically ie using a mounting block, sitting down gently etc.
Maybe consider McTimony or similar. He may have tweaked something in the field?
Is he clipped? Could he be objecting to being cold?
 
I have a mare that gets grumpy on some feeds. I know there are many valid suggestions here but if the only change is the TS (and mine went ballistic on them which made her temper worse) simply remove them from the diet for a week. If as the days go by the behaviour becomes less then maybe there lies the asnwer.

Plenty of horses liven up and get difficult on TS, excellent product that it is.
 
You have hit the nail on the head Maggie 2, it was the TS nuts, as I thought, it was as its the only thing different. Have taken him off them and he is back to his normal self. Have had the vet check him over and he agrees and says he is in excellent condition so carry on feeding him as I was before. Phew
 
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