Aggressive yearling

[Meowy Catkin]

I am currently looking after a yearling who was far less handled than expected. One thing that she did when she was unsure/frightened was to turn her bum towards you. I got an IH trainer out to help and it was a big help.

https://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/

I will say that everyone stating that having her in a herd will be a huge help are correct. They are not being unhelpful or mean, it really is impossible to overstate how important this is for a young horse. I can say with certainty that the other horses have helped the filly I look after far more than the trainer did. What the trainer helped with was my confidence and getting me to learn how to handle her.

 

[Shilasdair]

I am aware that we have spoiled her yes. I didn’t buy her as I admit I don’t have any experience handling babies. We bought her mum from a friend and nobody knew she was pregnant. As we only have facilities for 2 it was one or the other and mum was being really horrible to my old girl whom I would never get rid of so we had to sell mum. My mum would never sell her. She’s a lovely little girl really and is part of the family. I didn’t come on here asking for help thinking I’d get slated by a load of complete strangers but hey ho it is what it is

Some idiot-proof tips to keep you and your mum alive until you get professional help.
1. Wear a hard hat, gloves, and sensible boots to protect your feet at all times when near her.
2. Don't go into the stable with her unless she is tied (short so she can't bite), and even then don't go behind her.
3. If she is hard to catch in the stable, you can give her one item treat once she has the headcollar on, whilst praising her.
4. Teach her basic commands 'Stand', 'walk on', 'back' 'over'. You will have to show her by pushing her over and back first until she learns. Praise lavishly when she gets it right - even if it's only one half step. Timing is everything.
5. If she is loose in the stable, and you want to feed her, walk to the door with the feed and say 'back'. Don't feed her until she backs away from the door. Ask 3 times, then walk away with the feed, give it five minutes and come back. As soon as she goes back (by coincidence the first time, probably), say 'good girl' and feed her.
In everything you do with her, you need to make it REALLY clear what is right, and what is wrong. Praise lavishly, ignore mistakes, but keep safe.

 

[Shilasdair]

thankyou for your advice. First actual piece of help I’ve been given so far instead of people just having a go at me because I’m doing it wrong. I’m open to criticism but my situation is limited unfortunately and I was really looking for training tips

I now regret spending my time posting advice when you, like your yearling, have no manners.

You may not like all the advice you are given, but it is both polite and politic to thank each respondent, and not make unpleasant comments to them/about them.

 

[Meg_99]

Some idiot-proof tips to keep you and your mum alive until you get professional help.
1. Wear a hard hat, gloves, and sensible boots to protect your feet at all times when near her.
2. Don't go into the stable with her unless she is tied (short so she can't bite), and even then don't go behind her.
3. If she is hard to catch in the stable, you can give her one item treat once she has the headcollar on, whilst praising her.
4. Teach her basic commands 'Stand', 'walk on', 'back' 'over'. You will have to show her by pushing her over and back first until she learns. Praise lavishly when she gets it right - even if it's only one half step. Timing is everything.
5. If she is loose in the stable, and you want to feed her, walk to the door with the feed and say 'back'. Don't feed her until she backs away from the door. Ask 3 times, then walk away with the feed, give it five minutes and come back. As soon as she goes back (by coincidence the first time, probably), say 'good girl' and feed her.
In everything you do with her, you need to make it REALLY clear what is right, and what is wrong. Praise lavishly, ignore mistakes, but keep safe.

I have worked with her a bit in the stable this morning and made her wait for her dinner from a safe distance until she was calm. I threw a treat in her bucket instead of hand feeding when she responded well to moving about like I asked. There was still pinned ears and evil glares but she didn’t try and go for me. I only smacked previously when she struck first not for doing something wrong it was never a punishment for not knowing or ignoring me it was only when she was aggressive to show it wasn’t acceptable. I will make sure I am out of her reach at all times now until she is calm. She is friendly and always comes to call it is just when she wants something I won’t give her eg a treat or to come out of the field or if she doesn’t want to move when I ask she gets angry but I will stop putting myself in a position where she can get the best of me now

 

[Meg_99]

I now regret spending my time posting advice when you, like your yearling, have no manners.

You may not like all the advice you are given, but it is both polite and politic to thank each respondent, and not make unpleasant comments to them/about them.

Ah yes, my apologies thankyou for calling me and idiot with no manners I really do appreciate your kind words of wisdom

 

[TPO]

Sell her. The market is up just now so it's the best chance right now.

For the right reasons you've ended up with thr wrong horse. An inexperienced person shouldn't have a "blanket canvas" youngster and a spoiled one is very dangerous. I appreciate that you've tried your best for the filly but that has meant that you haven't set boundaries or taught her manners. Smacking means literally nothing to her when she has never been shown the right way. You've let her walk over you so she doesn't know when she's crossed your boundaries. Consistency is essential too.

You have to be able to say no to her and deal with the repercussions, you can never back down. She has to learn boundaries which will be a huge shock to her because her whole life she's done as she pleases and can "misbehave".

Good trainers aren't cheap. Training a spoilt youngster is one thing but training it in conjunction with an owner is another. I very much doubt that this will be a cheap option sorry to say. A trainer taking a horse in could have the horse trained relatively quickly but if the owner/handler doesn't change and learn at the same rate the horse will revert back.

Personally I'd recommend selling her and then loaning an older ridden company ion so your mare has company and you can enjoy horses. It's supposed to be fun and not this hard.

If your mum won't even consider selling will she pay for a trainer? Does she handle the filly? Can you make her responsibility le for all training and handling of the filly?

A starter for 10 is the Richard Maxwell book "training the young horse" https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Train-Yo...p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Warwick Schiller has lots of free videos on YouTube.

But honestly horses are dangerous and spoiled horses even more so. People seem to think that they "love" their horse so they'll be OK and that there is some magical bond. When it comes to it that's all bs and these same people get hurt.

Could you afford to be off work if this horse broke your leg with a kick or knocked you out? The fact you are keeping horses alone is worrying too. Does someone always accompany you?

It doesn't sound like a safe set up and with the best of intentions taking on a "rescue" you've ended up over your head.

 

[rabatsa]

One thing that sticks out to me is that you have a very old horse and and a very young one. Neither is the ideal companion for each other, they have different needs from the company. The young one will need to play and the older one will be unable to play to the same degree. This means that the young one will want to play with whoever or whatever is available, while the older one will be pleading for a quieter time.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

A yearling and something old and half dead are a poor combination.

Sell the yearling to someone who can meet her needs. She needs a herd, she needs friends her own age to play with, she needs a handler who doesn't think starting a fight with her is the answer.

 

[View]

Ah yes, my apologies thankyou for calling me and idiot with no manners I really do appreciate your kind words of wisdom

That’s twice in a short space of time on this thread that you have been unfair to those trying to give good advice to someone who seems to read selectively.

I’m out.

 

[AdorableAlice]

What a sad situation. We all make mistakes with horses, no one ever stops learning and the only fault is to have the opinion that we know all there is to know. Very sadly an overhandled foal will become far too bold for its own good and to its detriment and the owners. Her problems will only escalate and the breaking/making process will be affected too.

Unless you can find a youngstock winter turn out, where her only handling would be the farrier and a daily check, I think you need to move her on with disclosure of her temperament issues, to someone who can deal with a spoilt youngster.

In the meantime stop feeding her other than hay. Stop buckets, stop treats. Put consistent and non moveable rules in place. Have a routine with her. Ideally she needs to be taught to respect your space, but if she has no respect for you that is going to be tricky. You mention the horse 'goes for you' and 'strikes at you'. If this is the case, never ever have her able to corner you in the back of the box. Personally I would always tie her up and always have an escape route. If she can corner you with either end of her, she will do you some real damage. I know a groom who many years ago, got cornered by a young TB with temperament issues, both arms broken and fractured skull.

 

[[153312]]

What a sad situation. We all make mistakes with horses, no one ever stops learning and the only fault is to have the opinion that we know all there is to know. Very sadly an overhandled foal will become far too bold for its own good and to its detriment and the owners. Her problems will only escalate and the breaking/making process will be affected too.

Unless you can find a youngstock winter turn out, where her only handling would be the farrier and a daily check, I think you need to move her on with disclosure of her temperament issues, to someone who can deal with a spoilt youngster.

In the meantime stop feeding her other than hay. Stop buckets, stop treats. Put consistent and non moveable rules in place. Have a routine with her. Ideally she needs to be taught to respect your space, but if she has no respect for you that is going to be tricky. You mention the horse 'goes for you' and 'strikes at you'. If this is the case, never ever have her able to corner you in the back of the box. Personally I would always tie her up and always have an escape route. If she can corner you with either end of her, she will do you some real damage. I know a groom who many years ago, got cornered by a young TB with temperament issues, both arms broken and fractured skull.

Multiple escape routes!! Not just one.

I want to say something but I doubt OP will listen, and this whole situation makes me feel a bit sick, as someone still very much feeling the physical after effects of a hind hoof to the face (entirely not deliberately I might add).


Often I think people forget that these are flight animals weighing hundreds of kg and capable of doing real damage.

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

I rescued a yearling that sounds like yours, as far as he was concerned the only purpose of people was to walk through the field handing out a constant supply of treats like a human vending machine and he'd learnt that he could intimidate people into giving more treats or making them go away. I put him out with my polite but dominant gelding who taught him manners and even told him off if he so much as thought of going for me. Hitting him or getting angry only made things worse because he would fight back and was dangerous. He's 19 now but if he gets scared or grumpy you still have to be on the ball with him.
You really do need another horse to teach them how to behave or at the very least you need to get someone experienced in to help you otherwise it's only going to get worse and more dangerous as she gets older and stronger
and you'll be setting her up to have a miserable uncertain future.

 

[littleshetland]

Nothing to add to all the excellent advice that you've already been given, but would like to say that I had a livery once who had a yearling with me. She spoilt it, quite literally, rotten in spite of being told otherwise. Long story short, but she turned out to be dangerous, unwanted and unloved...not a nice experience for any horse. It could have been so different if the owner had just left her alone for the herd to discipline her. Please stay safe.

 

[nagblagger]

I'm going to say although i agree with the advice given from experienced people, with maybe more funds and resources, you have to give her credit to acknowledge that she has admitted to making this problem through lack of experience and is trying to rectify it by asking for advice, many people would not bother and either try and 'battle' through it or sell on to an unsuspecting buyer. She has already taken some on board by altering her approach to feeding in the stable.
Also she has the sentimental aspect to contend with (which most of us have) .... I hope she does take on the advice offered and stays safe with a trainer.

 

[Palindrome]

To be fair some yearlings are a bit horrible, they are a horse version of toddlers, subject to tantrums and completely immature. It's likely to pass as long as you remain calm and consistent and avoid treats until she is older.

 

[Cortez]

Ah yes, my apologies thankyou for calling me and idiot with no manners I really do appreciate your kind words of wisdom

Well, good luck! With an attitude like that you kinda deserve what you get.

 

[tristar]

agree here with palindrome

also add some yearlings are very dominant characters and will grow into dominant horses

i would avoid all treats ecept in a bucket, and if you feed put the food in a bucket through the fence, and stay on the other side

if you handle her wear a hat glove etc, if you need to lead her get your mom lead ing on one side while you lead on the other, or thread the lead over her nose lowish down so when she meets the end she feels restrained.
being trained by other horses to be herd savvy is different to understanding how to be with humans.

with humans she has to learn to move away from you , not turn her arse towards you, when a horse does that to me i turn and stamp my foot at it, they normally near fall over with shock, its the way i do it and sure it wont work for you, so dont try it, but i`ve been round so many unhandled horses i`ve developed ways of telling them what they need to know

what i`m trying to say is you need to be dominate, in a nice way, i often laugh at them cause they loo so shocked, yet within a short time come round to being happy and settled, but i take no shxte, and believe me i`ve been offered some.


i would if actually kicking use a long whip to tap the offending leg and use my voice which works for me as i want to move on from being attacked to doing something constructive

as she is an accidental foal you have been lumbered with a job you are not prepared for, and have my every sympathy, but i can tell you some foals are not easy, they are after all born wild, you are trying to deal with a situation that is getting out of hand, i would find someone who is confident around horses who is firm but kind to help you for half an hour 5 days a week, give the foal the weekend off, to think about things

the first lesson is to restrain it from doing naughties by anticipating its every move, outwit it, by being relaxed yet alert, counteracting bad moves, becoming the one who decides what happens.

i`ve recently dealt with one who ran wild on his own five years, unbroken who intimidated his owner, arse turning etc, when he came he would also try to squash you up the wall, had never been tied or had his feet done, six months down the line he is fine, i had a few wrestling matches with him that involved a bit of pushing back and a lot of laughing, but its easy if you have done it before

they are much nicer people when they have boundaries, mainly because then they can work with you and enjoy their training, i also give loads of hugs and kisses because frankly its so wonderful when the lightbulb goes on and a lost soul sees the light and starts to be part of the partnership and look happy

i hope you can find some help, its hard to write down what is possible in a few words, but things can be turned around, but also not all horses are that close to humans but can still find a way to work with us

 

[Velcrobum]

Stop the feeds and the treats. Sadly you thought you were being nice but you have taught her to bully you. As many have said get proper help before she gets bigger, stronger and more badly behaved.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I had a food aggressive gelding, as well as not treating him, I had to not have treats on me as smelling them made him forget his manners.
Please take all safety precautions while you consider how to proceed. There is no shame in finding her a new home if you are suited.

 

[laura_nash]

Even if you get help in and start handling her perfectly, her living conditions are going to continue to be a problem. Unless your old mare is unusually playful, you are going to have a very bored 2 year old soon who will probably find 'fun' ways to relieve the boredom. Most commonly she will decide to play with you in the absence of a more suitable playmate.

One solution for people with a single youngster kept at home is to get another youngster, whether that's bought to sell, fostered from a charity or whatever, but you would obviously need to handle a second one correctly or you'd just end up with two with problems.

 

[AmyMay]

[Quoted content removed]

Not sure there was any need for that…

 

[Dave's Mam]

[Quoted content removed]

What on earth? Excuse me?

 

[[153312]]

[Quoted content removed]

That was crossing a line

 

[Snow Falcon]

[Quoted content removed]

Totally unnecessary.

I think you need to go back in your box. Old poster reincarnated?!

 

[paddy555]

Totally unnecessary.

I think you need to go back in your box. Old poster reincarnated?!

yes I wondered that

 

[WWO]

Totally unnecessary.

I think you need to go back in your box. Old poster reincarnated?!

???????

The op has already caused a youngster major behavioural issues that someone with a better way of management would fix. The old mare has dodgy legs. Far worse things than pts. The fluffy bunny brigade strikes again. It's pathetic

 

[[153312]]

I'm calling troll/disgruntled poster under an alias on wwo. One thread in club house about how they're getting less tolerant of people as they get older. The irony is quite amusing

 

[Meg_99]

Why would I PTS a perfectly healthy horse (whos 19 not on deaths door) who gives me the world and trusts me to look after her? She has regular physio and is on medication for her legs and is happy as Larry… she’s not a complete cripple she’s even cleared for riding. This post isn’t even about her?

 

[AmyMay]

Why would I PTS a perfectly healthy horse (whos 19 not on deaths door) who gives me the world and trusts me to look after her? She has regular physio and is on medication for her legs and is happy as Larry… she’s not a complete cripple she’s even cleared for riding. This post isn’t even about her?

Ignore them.

 

[Sandstone1]

Why would I PTS a perfectly healthy horse (whos 19 not on deaths door) who gives me the world and trusts me to look after her? She has regular physio and is on medication for her legs and is happy as Larry… she’s not a complete cripple she’s even cleared for riding. This post isn’t even about her?

There seem to be a couple of people her recently or maybe the same person? who seem to enjoy making nasty comments. I would just ignore it.