Aggressive miniature stallion on hacking route!

The animal 'sanctuary' near us have a long and colourful history of having various nondescript stallions escaping (from their bare fields with horrendous,cobbled together fencing that wouldn't keep anything in..) and in last 6mths,a Shetland stallion & a welsh stallion have escaped & attacked our liveries as they hacked past. Shetland clamped on,with it's teeth,onto top of a 16.3 ID's tail,whilst running along on its back legs:-/ Welsh chased a terrified 16.3 Hanoverian mare(&owner!) up the road,at a
gallop-she found safety in our carpark,stallion leaping around on other side of gate..Whilst different in that their fencing is crap&they are v rude&don't give a monkey's,some people don't have as much sense of responsibility as they should....
 
Well I rode there again tonight and said stallion was the same. My boy was fine however rider that was not too far behind was very lucky. Her 14 year old been there done that pony did shoot forwards luckily nothing coming the other way.
 
But having stallions causing problems through unsuitable fencing is a different situation. My horse got very severely injured after a dog attack years ago but I wouldn't want all dogs keeping away from roads & bridleways incase Joe bloggs dog jumps the garden fence & attacks a horse.
 
I did say it's different because of the inadequate fencing (dog/stallion/rabid guinea pig/ whatever) but some people don't give a monkey's and some do. That's not to say that,with adequate fencing,they should have any kind of obligation but, were they made aware of it,they might be mortified and happy to move him to another field(not that they have to but may want to).Then again,maybe they tell u where to stick it. I know I kept my gelding out of our fields that bordered the lane for the first weeks we had him,as when people hacked past,he bombed up&down like a total mentalist,looking like for all the world he intended to come over the fence (dry stone wall with inset full stock fence topped by mains powered electric wire,btw;) ) and I was mortified for the people hacking past. He eventually calmed down&now shows only a normal level of interest in passers by:-/
 
I have not read all replies but all you can do is keep as safe as possible,your horse will get more used to it each time you pass.

We have all sorts of hazards where we hack mad collies chasing us, young bullocks stampeding along the fence line my horse loves to join in with this, tamworth pigs with their young that escape and come on to our route as well as loads of mad drivers espc one of the neighbouring farmers.

There are often loose sheep cows and even a Bull loose once you just have to do your best and look at it as experience,I am often hacking newly broken horses and most of the time they cope. I think if you see different things frequently it makes horses less reactive than if you try to stick to the same quiet routes all the time.

If they never see anything like this then are faced with it then they can be very silly, the more your horse sees when hacking it will make a more solid sensible type.
I have to say the muck spreader that was turned on right beside us because the driver had not seen us did cause a lively reaction.;)
 
Forever_broke said:
The ponies are behind a post and rail fence. And a stallion is a stallion small ones can still inflict as much damage as larger ones.
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Sorry :) but that is rubbish.

If we are getting technical here they can't, they don't physically have the weight or height to do as much damage as an equally sized (to the 'victim') non-stallion.

All horses have the physical ability to cause exactly the same sort of damage, they simply don't all have the mental inclination to do so.
 
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Apologies Littlelegs I misread your posts.

guido16 said:
Are you sure it wasn't a giraffe that you had to swerve to avoid?

Seriously. How long a neck did this horse have????
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Picture a typical waist height garden fence with no electric (complete with chickens). Not generally used with horses as it is literally a garden field. Horse was out there for a day. No verge on the road and not a little horse. Amazed the thing didn't step over tbh!
 
Enfys said:
Sorry :) but that is rubbish.

If we are getting technical here they can't, they don't physically have the weight or height to do as much damage as an equally sized (to the 'victim') non-stallion.

All horses have the physical ability to cause exactly the same sort of damage, they simply don't all have the mental inclination to do so.
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Ive been "mounted" ( unintentionally i might add ) by a miniature stallion a few times :o believe you me id rather it be a miniature than a full 17.2HH!! Although they can cause some trouble their is noway they would inflict the same damage a larger horse would.
 
If you are on a public highway or a right of way and something in an adjoining property is causing you a nuisance or preventing your enjoyment of that route then you can use the Enviromental Protection Act 1990 as ammended which regulates polution and nuisances to compel the owners of the adjoining property to do something about it. Section 79 of the act specifically includes within the definition of a statutory nuisance 'any animal kept in such a place or manner as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance' and section 80(1) states 'where a local authority is satisfied that statutory nuisance exists, or is likely to occur or recur it shall serve an abatement notice'.
For instance the owner of a property where dogs jump against the boundary fencing of a property and startle or scare horses passing along an adjoining bridleway can be compelled to ensure that they take action to keep their dogs well away from the boundary fence.
In the instance of this stallion it is preventing your enjoyment of a public highway and the Enviromental act (as ammended) could be used to compel the owners to ensure that the stallion is not allowed to come close to the boundary fencing.
You would need to contact the local enviromental protection officer of your local County Council for action to be taken.
Peter Natt BHS Bridleway Officer North Hertfordshire
 
Sorry, but i agree with a lot of the other comments. I dont see the problem and it doesnt sound like your horse had to much of a problem with it either :confused: Its just one of those things, every hacking route has some sort of spooky situation. The more you hack past the less your horse will react. Ive had situations with stallions, pigs, donkeys, llamas. As long as your in control there shouldnt be a problem. :)
 
Stinkbomb that has to be the best comment ever in any situation,if you said that anywhere it would raise eyebrows.

On a horsey forum is probably the only place this would not have caused more of a stir, it shows we are a little bit tolerant at least, compared to some;) well at least about random mountings.:o

Obviously not about most normal equine things but hey ho.
 
Stinkbomb said:
Lol! I might add he has calmed down somewhat now hes maturing! Lesson learnt tho- never ever bend over when poo picking :-)
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LMAO! Charley had a habit of doing that as well before he was gelded! As you say, we are to be thankful it was not something 17.2h!!!!!!!

Peter, thankyou, that was just the sort of information I was wondering about. So, the OP could indeed voice her concerns (and back them up) to the owner of the pony if she felt the desire to do so.
 
But has it actually 'prevented enjoyment of a public highway' or is that just the perception? The horse didn't really react, and we've had anecdotal evidence that another horse 'shot forwards a bit'. Complaining about a horse running at a fence could have the unintended consequence of any of us who keep our horses next to roads being complained about. Our youngsters quite often run over to see who it is if it's a horse they don't recognise, for example. If the fencing wasn't sound it would be another matter.

In all likelihood the more horses that pass this stallion, the more of a non-event it will become. At the moment its just all a bit exciting because he's in a new field, and the horses don't know him.

As to how to get the horse braver past the 'scary' stallion, you do the old fashioned thing of riding out with a more experienced horse until it becomes a non-event.
 
EstherYoung said:
But has it actually 'prevented enjoyment of a public highway' or is that just the perception? The horse didn't really react, and we've had anecdotal evidence that another horse 'shot forwards a bit'. Complaining about a horse running at a fence could have the unintended consequence of any of us who keep our horses next to roads being complained about. Our youngsters quite often run over to see who it is if it's a horse they don't recognise, for example. If the fencing wasn't sound it would be another matter.

In all likelihood the more horses that pass this stallion, the more of a non-event it will become. At the moment its just all a bit exciting because he's in a new field, and the horses don't know him.

As to how to get the horse braver past the 'scary' stallion, you do the old fashioned thing of riding out with a more experienced horse until it becomes a non-event.
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This. Using legislation should be a last resort and really should only be used where there is deliberate or recklesss harm being caused to users exercising normal standards of what they should expect to meet when using rights of way or public roads, which to me would include other peoples animals providing they are clearly very well contained.

Added to which it is inappropriate in this case: the OPs horse seems pretty good with it and getting better and even the other horse who wasnt used to it only did a shoot forward which is standard for many a horse if startled by a pheasant, someone's dog appearing, a scary pram/human combination etc - should all dogs be confined to houses, all pheasants exterminated as they 'cause alarm'?

Let's get back to the key, the fact this horse is there long term is a good thing as it enables your horse to get used to its presence and behaviour, rather than it suddenly being there and then not and then there.

There will be (including near busy roads) areas of stress when hacking and they need to be worked through; that's part of hacking out.

If we seek to restrict others lawful use of their own property then dont be surprised if your property is the next one someone tries to interfere with.

My main access to a hacking route has for part of the year a massive herd of cows and calves in it. When first turned out it is too risky to go through there and even when they are more settled it still takes care and rider confidence. But I completely accept that they have a right to be there and I work with it and deal with it. I would not dream of trying to tell the cattle farmer to do something as they are spooking my horse.

Keep working at it, being sensible with your hacking companion choice (ie until yours is 100%, preferably go with one that is, that way when yours is solid, they can give a less experienced horse a good example to follow).

And certainly dont think of resorting to 'legal nuisance' threats before trying every avenue which would include a lot of discussion with the poor stallion owner who is just trying to have their own horse in their own field.
 
May I add that this other horse shot forward effectively to what could have been the path of an oncoming car if one was coming. Oh well just because my horse didn’t react doesn’t mean that it’s not very dangerous. Oh well maybe I should ignore it maybe until someone it injured or even killed

There is a big difference in horses running over because it’s exciting and being aggressive.
 
Forever_broke said:
May I add that this other horse shot forward effectively to what could have been the path of an oncoming car if one was coming. Oh well just because my horse didn’t react doesn’t mean that it’s not very dangerous. Oh well maybe I should ignore it maybe until someone it injured or even killed

There is a big difference in horses running over because it’s exciting and being aggressive.
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No, what is being said is that horses shoot forward for lots of 'spooky' reasons and learning to train that out of them is a key element of them being a safe hack. Just because in this case this is triggered by someones elses horse rather than a wild animal doesnt make the issue any different. It doesnt logically follow that you have the right to restrict the way they use their own land, it means the horse needs bomb proofing.

I would be concerned if you concentrate on the symptom / trigger (the stallion behind the fence) rather than the root cause (horse not being steady to hack). You could nag the stallion owner to move it back from the fence line and then the following week, ironically, having created a strip of long grass between the electric line and the old fence, a pheasant happily pecking in it flies out in your horses face causing it to spook and lunge forward into the road. Unless a horse is bomb proof to things cavorting or birds flying up/deer running out/all sorts of other stuff, it shouldnt be near the main road.
 
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Wow.. Well when all these experts have time please come and bombproof my horses for me. They are both pretty good but no horse is ever 100 %. Previous horses have been a lot hotter to ride so now I think I am pretty lucky. Just for the record, I never ever managed to get one of my horses used to Llamas. He would bolt. End of. Most unforgiving horse I have ever come across coupled with being one of the less mentally active!

The point I feel the OP was trying to make was...it's the combination of road and pony which is dangerous. normally I would say you have to get on with it but would suggest that in this jnstance the owner might like to know if her horse is causing real issues to road users. I certainly would.
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
No, what is being said is that horses shoot forward for lots of 'spooky' reasons and learning to train that out of them is a key element of them being a safe hack. Just because in this case this is triggered by someones elses horse rather than a wild animal doesnt make the issue any different. It doesnt logically follow that you have the right to restrict the way they use their own land, it means the horse needs bomb proofing.

I would be concerned if you concentrate on the symptom / trigger (the stallion behind the fence) rather than the root cause (horse not being steady to hack). You could nag the stallion owner to move it back from the fence line and then the following week, ironically, having created a strip of long grass between the electric line and the old fence, a pheasant happily pecking in it flies out in your horses face causing it to spook and lunge forward into the road. Unless a horse is bomb proof to things cavorting or birds flying up/deer running out/all sorts of other stuff, it shouldnt be near the main road.
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This.

OP there will always be 'something' when out hacking. I oftern hack past a bunch of horses who come galloping over tails up and squealing to see whos passing by. These are mares. I ride a stallion. Should I go and speak to their owners and tell them that their horses are winding my horse up? No, because my horse knows not to react through training.
I understand you may of been scared but as long as the fencing is fine I don't see what the big issue is. You said yourself your horse wasn't that bothered. Big pats for your horse.
 
Ok fine I just won’t do any hacking until he is moved simple!! Because I will not allow myself to be put in danger because of someone else’s pony. IMO aggressive horses should be kept out of the way of a busy hacking route. If it was my pony then I wouldn’t dream of putting the pony where they could be the cause of someone’s horse spooking and shooting into the path of an oncoming car.

But then maybe I should stop thinking of others and start thinking of myself only. That must be where I’m going wrong in life.
 
are you guys saying that as a horse owner, if someone came to you and very politely said " actually your horse/pony is causing a potentially serious hazard on the road, is there anyway we can reduce the risk" you wouldnt listen and try and help?
whats the harm in the OP asking and hopefully the owner is a bit more tolerant and less curmudgeonly than some of you lot :p
 
smiggy said:
are you guys saying that as a horse owner, if someone came to you and very politely said " actually your horse/pony is causing a potentially serious hazard on the road, is there anyway we can reduce the risk" you wouldnt listen and try and help?
whats the harm in the OP asking and hopefully the owner is a bit more tolerant and less curmudgeonly than some of you lot :p
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But they dont sound from OPs actual description of whats happening as tho they are....that is the point. Her wish to have the stally removed and her 'rights' are at odds with the actual description of the way her horse is actually coping pretty fine with it. Thats why it doesnt sound justified, not because there are never circumstances in which it would be eg if the fencing was one line of scabby wire and therefore there was a real risk of the horse getting out. In other words, if the owner of the horse was being unreasonable or negligent by putting them in the field. But they arent.

Of course the OP can ask anyone to do anything that she likes.....the harm is once we all start asking private home and land owners to restrict their enjoyment of their property so we can 'exercise our rights' then it wont take very long for people to become anti horseriders and to find ways of expressing their dislike of horses on roads and tracks.

I would certainly suggest OP provides the posts, tape, battery and energiser if she is going to demand taping the horse back. Only fair since she would be denying the horse owner the use of part of their land purely for her benefit.
 
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OP I do think you are over reacting a bit. If you are that concerned then go and speak to the owners.
Go and chat to them and see what they say. They may not relise anyone has even had an issue.
Hacking is full of dangers. As I said before the more your horse see these things and gets used to them the better.
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
But they dont sound from OPs actual description of whats happening as tho they are....that is the point. Her wish to have the stally removed and her 'rights' are at odds with the actual description of the way her horse is actually coping pretty fine with it. Thats why it doesnt sound justified, not because there are never circumstances in which it would be eg if the fencing was one line of scabby wire and therefore there was a real risk of the horse getting out. In other words, if the owner of the horse was being unreasonable or negligent by putting them in the field. But they arent.
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Isaid that IMO an aggressive stallion shouldn’t have been put there. However I have not once said that I’m worried about my rights and that I should tell him to move his stallion.

Yes the fencing is ok but again IMO there is a big difference in excitable horses charging at the fence line which my horse can cope with and I would in that circumstance I would agree with you guys but this is aggressive, I’ve never come across anything like it in the time I’ve been around horses.
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lachlanandmarcus said:
But they dont sound from OPs actual description of whats happening as tho they are....that is the point. Her wish to have the stally removed and her 'rights' are at odds with the actual description of the way her horse is actually coping pretty fine with it. Thats why it doesnt sound justified, not because there are never circumstances in which it would be eg if the fencing was one line of scabby wire and therefore there was a real risk of the horse getting out. In other words, if the owner of the horse was being unreasonable or negligent by putting them in the field. But they arent.

Of course the OP can ask anyone to do anything that she likes.....the harm is once we all start asking private home and land owners to restrict their enjoyment of their property so we can 'exercise our rights' then it wont take very long for people to become anti horseriders and to find ways of expressing their dislike of horses on roads and tracks.

I would certainly suggest OP provides the posts, tape, battery and energiser if she is going to demand taping the horse back. Only fair since she would be denying the horse owner the use of part of their land purely for her benefit.
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Much better put than me!
I hate the 'blame some-one else' culture we live in. Sometime you have to just get on with it.
Sorry to be blunt.
 
If I was the owner of the stallion in all honesty I probably wouldn't move it. Maybe if I had another equally suitable & convenient field & it had originally been a toss up between which to use, but that's not a likely scenario. I don't expect others to clear my route before I hack, regardless of what I am riding so I wouldn't expect to put myself out so people can have a hazard free route. And really, in comparison to the stuff we regularly hack past I put an aggressive mini pretty far down a list of potential hazards.
 
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