Aggressive miniature stallion on hacking route!

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When hacking out the other day I came across a paddock with a mini shetland stallion and a mare right on the junction of a busy main road which we have to cross. The stallion saw us and charged at us squealing and roaring at us trying to attack my boy through the fence.

Luckily boy boy being young wanted to stop and say hello not really understanding the stallions aggression otherwise it could have ended very differently. If it had frightened him then he could have took off straight across the main road which doesent have the best view of traffic unless you pretty much on top of the junction. Anyway we carried on our hack though hoping that the stallion had gone to the far side of the paddock and so we could get past again with no problems. Wrong he was waiting for us as he had heard hoof beats on the track leading down to the road.

I'm a little worried about going that way again though as I believe the situation is an accident waiting to happen, but that road I have to cross to get to most of my hacking. There ae quite a few other riders who ride in that area. What would be the best thing to do? How would you deal with it?
 
My lot have several Shetland stallions in fields near them and one of my geldings spends many an hour leaning over the fence and biting the little ones bum, much to his disgust.
If I was you I would not even react or look at him when you pass. The more you react, the more your horse will.
 
Personally I'd try to find out who the owner is and approach them (in as friendly a way as possible), see if they have the option to move the horses to another field. We're all supposed to be horse lovers and I would certainly want to know if my horse was causing a potentially dangerous problem so I could do something about it. Alternatively, if you have other hacking routes just try to avoid the problem one. If the stallion is new he might only be there temporarily, maybe brought in to cover the mare and will be gone soon? :)
 
I didn't react just kept telling my boy to talk on but. Last summer they put a couple of welsh ponies in the paddock and left them there all summer.
 
As long as the stallion is securely contained the owners are entitled to use their field, so although I know it is annoying (I have the same issue on one of my hacking routes), I think like with a field of pigs or similar, it is something to try to get the horse used to.

You could approach the owner to see if they could slightly tape off the stallion from the fence line, but it might be better coming from someone they know rather than a stranger, so maybe try to get to know them first?
 
pookie said:
Personally I'd try to find out who the owner is and approach them (in as friendly a way as possible), see if they have the option to move the horses to another field. We're all supposed to be horse lovers and I would certainly want to know if my horse was causing a potentially dangerous problem so I could do something about it. Alternatively, if you have other hacking routes just try to avoid the problem one. If the stallion is new he might only be there temporarily, maybe brought in to cover the mare and will be gone soon? :)
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Are you serious?

Why on earth should the owner move them just so someone can hack passed?
OP is taking a sensible approach but what would you say if I called round and ask you to move your horse as I couldn't hack passed safely?

the stallion is not a danger, it's the possible reaction of other horses that is the danger.
 
Just ignore it & carry on. Like anything you may meet out hacking its really up to the rider to stay in control, not for the stallions owners to move it incase it scares someone.
 
I don't know what to suggest, but I have a very similar situation. Donkeys :(

There are some very inquisitive and loud donkeys that are in a field next to a narrow bridlepath which ends onto a busy A road. We have to cross the road to reach the bridlepath the other side, but trying to pass this area next to the Donkeys has proved impossible for me as my horse is absolutely petrified and has a major fear.

The last time I did that route he spun and bolted ( it was a proper bolt where no rider could influence his actions, not just a half hearted run away). It was lucky he did spin, because the consequences of him bolting forwards towards the road doesn't bare thinking about. I've not been there since.
 
I agree, I don't think the stallion's owners should have to move him just so others can feel safe hacking past. It may be the only field they have secure enough to keep a stallion in. I'm afraid if my horse reacted badly, I would just not hack that way. If it was away from a busy road, I would keep going there to get my horse used to it. We used to have to hack past a miniature stallion and he used to terrify my mare but I got off and led her past. Eventually she became used to him. It was a different story with the lamas though who used to live behind a tall hedge and delight in popping their heads over it with timing to get the best reaction from my mare! We used to have to canter past (her choice not mine). And then she would prance and snort for the next half mile as though she had won some kind of victory. :rolleyes:
 
guido16 said:
Are you serious?

Why on earth should the owner move them just so someone can hack passed?
OP is taking a sensible approach but what would you say if I called round and ask you to move your horse as I couldn't hack passed safely?

the stallion is not a danger, it's the possible reaction of other horses that is the danger.
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Wagtail said:
I agree, I don't think the stallion's owners should have to move him just so others can feel safe hacking past. It may be the only field they have secure enough to keep a stallion in. I'm afraid if my horse reacted badly, I would just not hack that way. If it was away from a busy road, I would keep going there to get my horse used to it. We used to have to hack past a miniature stallion and he used to terrify my mare but I got off and led her past. Eventually she became used to him. It was a different story with the lamas though who used to live behind a tall hedge and delight in popping their heads over it with timing to get the best reaction from my mare! We used to have to canter past (her choice not mine). And then she would prance and snort for the next half mile as though she had won some kind of victory. :rolleyes:
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This!
 
How would you deal with it?
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I'm not sure there's anything to deal with really. And the more you hack that route, the more your horse will get used to it.

Any horse (be it entire or a mare) could charge, or have a jolly in the field when you ride past. And it's always best to just ignore, rather than make an issue of it.

I used to have problems with spring lambs, and my idiot boy thinking that he too had to bounce and skip up the road..........:rolleyes:. That's life:D
 
Wagtail said:
It was a different story with the lamas though who used to live behind a tall hedge and delight in popping their heads over it with timing to get the best reaction from my mare! We used to have to canter past (her choice not mine). And then she would prance and snort for the next half mile as though she had won some kind of victory. :rolleyes:
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lol i get a similar reaction from my mare with the llamas\alpacas that reside next to the bridle path, now as inconvenient as it is i don't feel i have any right to approach their owner and ask for them to be moved. Same with the stallion, although he is a nuisance to you OP, he has the same right to be there as those darned long necked woolies next to the bridlepath;)
 
amymay said:
:confused::confused::confused::confused:
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The comment about the welsh ponies was reffering to the fact that he is not there to just cover the mare and will most probably be there all summer.

amymay said:
I'm not sure there's anything to deal with really. And the more you hack that route, the more your horse will get used to it.

Any horse (be it entire or a mare) could charge, or have a jolly in the field when you ride past. And it's always best to just ignore, rather than make an issue of it.

I used to have problems with spring lambs, and my idiot boy thinking that he too had to bounce and skip up the road..........:rolleyes:. That's life:D
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The question is how do you get a horse used to walking past when by doing so is putting both you , your horse and other drivers in a dangerous situation as this sheltand’s paddock is right on the junction of the busy road.

My horse was reasonably ok but i think i will just have to avoid riding in that direction as he was not just squealing he was striking the fence and trying to break through. it is a pitty as the majority of my riding is that way.
 
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Ibblebibble said:
lol i get a similar reaction from my mare with the llamas\alpacas that reside next to the bridle path, now as inconvenient as it is i don't feel i have any right to approach their owner and ask for them to be moved.
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There used to be some lamas in a field I used to ride past. The horses never took a blind bit of notice of them, which always amazed me. But then the lamas never took any notice of the horses - so I suppose were not winding them up in any way.
 
guido16 said:
Are you serious?

Why on earth should the owner move them just so someone can hack passed?
OP is taking a sensible approach but what would you say if I called round and ask you to move your horse as I couldn't hack passed safely?

the stallion is not a danger, it's the possible reaction of other horses that is the danger.
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I didn't say the OP should ask it to be moved, just approach the owner to discuss the problem. If a passing horse bolts across the road to avoid the stallion all sorts of horrors could occur. What would I say? If my horse could inadvertently cause trauma by charging at others I'd be damn grateful it was mentioned and try to limit the danger. I quite like the idea of other horse riders being able to hack safely.

You'll notice I also suggest the OP finds an alternative hacking route.
 
amymay said:
There used to be some lamas in a field I used to ride past. The horses never took a blind bit of notice of them, which always amazed me. But then the lamas never took any notice of the horses - so I suppose were not winding them up in any way.
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all they have to do is lift up those long necks and my girl takes it as some kind of affront to the length of her neck and stretches hers like a giraffe!! Then we have to jog and dance sideways to prove that we are not scared before we try to bog off;)
 
pookie said:
I didn't say the OP should ask it to be moved, just approach the owner to discuss the problem. If a passing horse bolts across the road to avoid the stallion all sorts of horrors could occur. What would I say? If my horse could inadvertently cause trauma by charging at others I'd be damn grateful it was mentioned and try to limit the danger. I quite like the idea of other horse riders being able to hack safely.

You'll notice I also suggest the OP finds an alternative hacking route.
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Pookie, what happens if you pass a field of horses or cows who decide to have a jolly at your riding past? Are you going to approach the owners ever time?
 
Ibblebibble said:
all they have to do is lift up those long necks and my girl takes it as some kind of affront to the length of her neck and stretches hers like a giraffe!! Then we have to jog and dance sideways to prove that we are not scared before we try to bog off;)
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Funny :D:D
 
pookie said:
Personally I'd try to find out who the owner is and approach them (in as friendly a way as possible), see if they have the option to move the horses to another field. We're all supposed to be horse lovers and I would certainly want to know if my horse was causing a potentially dangerous problem so I could do something about it. Alternatively, if you have other hacking routes just try to avoid the problem one. If the stallion is new he might only be there temporarily, maybe brought in to cover the mare and will be gone soon? :)
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Actually, as you will see above, you did say that she should "see if they had an option to move the horses to another field"

Like I said, the stallion is not a danger, the reaction of the other horses is the danger.
 
guido16 said:
Actually, as you will see above, you did say that she should "see if they had an option to move the horses to another field"

Like I said, the stallion is not a danger, the reaction of the other horses is the danger.
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Yep, exactly. I didn't say "ask them to move the stallion".

According to the OP, the stallion was attempting to break through the fence and this is on the junction of a busy road. The stallion is as much of a danger as a dog worrying sheep or drivers not passing wide and slow.
 
As someone surrounded by Shetland stallions who stamp at the fence, I am pretty sure he wasn't trying to break through the fence. He was stamping his authority. All part of basic horse behaviour. Especially since he had a mare with him.
As for saying he is as bad as a dog worrying sheep, last time I looked, Shetland stallions didn't prey on horses..

So, as asked, what would they need to look for another field for if not to move stallion?
 
littlelegs said:
Sorry but how is it a danger like a dog worrying sheep? It's in a field behind a fence?
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That it was attempting to break through. A dog doesn't have to attack sheep to be considered a problem; ditto the stallion doesn't have to escape the field to pose a danger.

Mine was just a suggestion. The OP isn't obliged to take it.
 
Of course it isn't trying to break through. The stallion isn't the problem, its riders remaining in control. A pony isn't high on my list of potential dangers tbh.
 
I have seen horses (stallions) exerting their authority before but this was different. I have no doubt that if the fence had not been there he would have full on attacked my gelding.

My question is how do I get my horse used to this without putting myself, my horse and indeed other road users in danger?
 
Forever_broke said:
My question is how do I get my horse used to this without putting myself, my horse and indeed other road users in danger?
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Well, you've said that your horse wasn't bothered. So in your shoes, I wouldn't avoid hacking that route, would be prepared for any high jinks by your horse, but generally wouldn't worry about it too much.

I like to use the three monkeys when I'm riding (or at least two of them), See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Usually works and horses just carry on without a worry.
 
My boy wasn’t frightened of him but I did have a little trouble to make to get stand with his back to the stallion whilst standing waiting to cross the main road. This is where I feel is the danger as its not just a field that I can walk past I have to stop and wait to cross the road. My boy is only just turned 5 so whilst he is generally very well behaved he is still young.
 
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