Agressive Pony?

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vikkiandmonica

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Firstly, not either of my horses
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There is a pony at the yard where I keep my two, and lives in the same field as my two horses. This pony charges at people in the field when food is involved, and when his loaner goes to get him in from the field, he launches himself at her. I have gotten him in the past few days, and he isn't as bad with me (am 15, this girl is only 12), but does still try it on. He's only 12.2hh, but will kick/bite/pull you do get what he wants. He has also pins said loaner against the wall when she grooms him etc.

I think it is because she lets him get away with things, so for the past days, I've been strict with him, not letting him drag me etc., but loaner is not strong enough to stop her. I don't mind helping her with him, but was wondering if anyone had any ideas how to help me help her and him?

It's not just in the field he does it, it's in the yard, and I could understand him charging in the field if he was the leader, but he definately isn't, my gelding is, and even he (at 16.2hh) is much better behaved than him. Pony is 14 though, so not young or anything, I just don't know what to suggest to his loaner (know what to do when I get him in etc., just don't know what to suggest to her
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Thanks for any help
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When a pony is agressive he is asserting his dominance over you. The chestnut mare in my siggy was very agressive when i bought her. She had been miss treated in her first two homes and if i haddn't have bought her she would have gone for meat. Her agression came from fear. She had to hurt me before i hurt her. I had to regain her trust.
But the pony you describe sounds like Herbie my new pony. I don't know as much about his past as Lucys but i don't think he has been as badly treated as Lucy was. i just think he has had the wrong owners and they have let him get away with being naughty. He doesn't respect my personal space and he has a real make me do it attitude.
You need to stand up to the pony and show him who is boss. In a similar way the dominant one of the herd does. He needs to be taught that your space is your space and he has to respect that. I think he needs lots of handling. I would advise getting an expereanced adult to help. Is there anyone on the yard who can help you?
 
I am ok handling him, because I am used to a bigger horse, who often thinks he's a stallion and forgets I am there, but his loaner is starting to get scared of him. I do think one of the problems could be that he keeps getting shifted from owner to loaner, back to owner etc. and doesn't really have a routine. Also, they seem to punish him the same in all situations; if he launches at him, he seems to be told off the same amount as if he just fidgets when tied up etc. I have told them not to do this, but as far as him launching at them, I am at a dead end.

For some reason, he is perfect with me, and respects me, just has no respect for his loaner? I don't know what to suggest to them, other than that I already have suggested, and I don't know what I do differently to what his loaner does?

Thanks for your help
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By the sounds of it you are just more confidant with him.
It certanly won't help him being shoved from piller to post. I think that is part of Herbies prob. Also he needs lots of praise when he is good not just telling off all the time. He needs to be told off more for launching at them than when he just fidgets. But i'm guessing you know that already as you seem quite expereanced. Theres nothing else i can suggest. I hope you manage to help the pony. poor little fella.
 
Thanks. I have actually told the loaner that she seems to give him more attention when he misbehaves; she tells him off then, so attention, but when he stands there, she goes off and does something else. Hopefully she will have him for a while, she was always quite confident round him, until he launched at her, and now she won't catch him
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. Seeing as I get him in at the minute, I'll hopefully be helping them both get along better.

Thanks again for the help
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no prob. Let me know if you need any more help. I got Lucy when i was 14 so know how hard it is especialy when you are young.
Good luck.
That pony is lucky to have you around.
 
Little ponies are little devils, aren't they! I would definitely take over getting him in for her, as he could seriously injure the girl, and he is also learning that the aggressive behaviour is working if she is now frightened, so well done for being caring enough to step in and help.

I would suggest she does some basic groundwork with him, as this is where the problem is. Get her to make him turn, stand, and move back a few steps every time she handles him. If he is not good to lead, she needs to use a bridle, but correctly, not pulling him about by his mouth. She could perhaps try growling loudly at him when he is very naughty, rather than smacking him, as one of mine actually gets worse when anyone smacks him, and will come back at them with his ears back (I don't smack him but a few children leading him have smacked him for trying to nip them, and they soon learnt not too!).

Also try to make sure she doesn't take food into the field to catch him, as this can make ponies much more aggressive. He can have a few cubes in his stable as a treat for coming in, but never as a titbit or in the field.

I do feel sorry though for little ponies, as they tend to change homes more often than horses, and just when they get their child trained up, they get moved on again, so as you say, once he gets into a routine and learns that you and the lass won't take any nonsense, hopefully he will improve.

I have 5 ponies, and it's the smallest that is by far the most aggressive in all situations - I think he is so used to being picked on in the field, that he will take advantage of any nervous child, just because he can!
 
Thanks for the advice. Did suggest the getting in with bridle, but at the minute, she is too scared to go into the field to catch him
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. Also, she always takes food, which I agree, probably makes him more agressive, but now, if she goes in the field to get him without food, he launches at her. I'll suggest to her about the ground work and growling
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My daughter has a pony that is aggressive - we got him free because of it when she was 12 and he's now 21 and is certainly not going to change. My daughter was very frightened of him at first and couldn't/wouldn't catch him in the field because he would charge her and bite - now she loves him and has learnt how to deal with him and it doesn't worry her at all. Saying that I wouldn't put up with him if he wasn't brilliant to ride and perfect in every other way !
The only way to catch him, and he would be dangerous if you didn't do this, is to always leave his headcollar on and go into the field with a carrot, walk up to him and when he comes over, stand your ground, hold out the carrot and catch him quickly ! With no food and without holding on to him, he would bite.
Everything else with him is the same, we have to respect the way he is and work round that - we don't go in his stable, you can catch him at the door, take him out and tie him up, short ! to groom etc.
This pony has been round alot of yards in his time and alot of people have tried to sort him out and failed - sometimes if the harm has been done I think it can't be undone just worked around.
 
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