Any advice?

[saskia295]

I wonder if anyone can help. My friend is on a full livery yard. Recently the YM told her that she had whacked her horse and kicked it as it went to nip her and then turned its bum on her when she was putting the haynet up.

My friend loves the yard she's at but is not too comfortable about this happening. Her horse is normally a bit "pully facey" when fed, but would never actually do anything. Has anyone got any experience of handling this situation? Or any ideas to defuse the situation, without it getting catty?

 

[bellaM]

If I was taking the brave road I'd try and give the yard owner how to avoid being bitten and that they don't need to kick the horse and don't ever kick it again, thing is if its on full livery it could happen without the owner knowing or if I was not feeling so brave and was being tactful I would ask if she could put the hay over the horses door rather than go in and tie it up.

 

[Eccles]

Thats a tricky one as if it did nip her, I can understand the YO wanting to tell it off, particuarly as its on full livery and its the YO who is looking after it on a regular basis. Not sure why the horse needed whacking and kicking though? I presume this was just a one-off?

 

[Bosworth]

actually as a yard owner I can understand - I have to feed my liveries horses, I have to turn them out and bring them in. I have my own horses as well and never hit them, because I never need to . My own horses have been trained from the day I have got them not to bite - I never feed treats from my hand, I expect to lead them on loose ropes. I have never been kicked or even threatened by my horses.

I find in many cases I am given horses from my clients that have no manners, that won't lead - that throw legs at me, that will barge past me, try and tow me. Are over fed and under exercised. I am expected to handle them without a thought for my safety. As far as I am concerned If I have to handle them then they have to abide by my rules, I want mannerly horses that have respect for the human on the ground. I will use a controller head collar on them. I will make them back up - but the aim is not to bully the horse - just to ensure I am safe.

In all cases the liveries have said how calm their horses have become, how quiet they are to lead out and bring in

I would love not to have to educate the horses, I would love to never have to kick before I am kicked. I would love never to have to reprimand but unfortunately If I am put in that position my safety has to come first.

I want the horses to relax, everything is geared to making it a calm environment for the horse - I won't tolerate owners shouting at their horses or anyone elses, I won't tolerate people wacking horses. But nor will I tolerate owners treating their horses in such a way as to make my job impossible.

As the owner of the horse I would suggest trying to train the horse so it def won't kick or bite - feed it in another manner, or as I do for one horse - make sure you never go in the box when it is eating, put the hay net up with the horse out the box. Get the owner to discuss with the Yard manager how they can work together, its all very well saying the horse won't kick - it may do and you can never be 100% sure.

 

[saskia295]

Thanks for your comments eveyone, I will pass them on.

Bosworth - thanks very much, good plan to get them to work together so everyone knows how to train and deal with this.