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CBFan

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My 3 year old is 'flinging' other horses across the field by their rugs...

So I'm told... I'm also told he is picking them up by their rugs... they do fail to mention however that said other horses are dragging my horse round by the corner of his rug too... it's called PLAYING!!!

I am by no means saying my horse is innocent but I am getting sick to death of interferring people at the yard telling me what my horse has been up to with so and so and that so and so has a cut that's bleeding etc etc especially when they put their new horse in the field having been told by previous owner that it liked playing and knowing that there were two horses in the field already with a history of playing... THEY ARE HORSES FOR GODS SAKE!!!

My horse came in with a fresh injury practically every month last year - once a bad, deliberate kick (was witnessed) and I didn't ONCE point the finger or whinge or moan about it... getting a bit fed up now TBH... would move but there's no where to move to...

Sorry... just had to rant..
 
We had one horse once that was a little terrorist and he is the only one who anyone ever complained about! But our yard doesnt do that, they all come in with the odd bite on the neck (we call it hardcore grooming) and the odd ripped rug. My boy has been kicked a few times. We all know there is no point complaining as they all do it and the herd just has three very dominant horses in. They cant be split up or fields sectioned as there is not enough grazing, if people dont like it then they will have to leave their horses in or move yards!!
 
yep thats my point. The main one thats complaining had the choice of fields when she came and chose our one BECAUSE the current herd are known for playing... but now her sidekick is joining in with the moaning (and its nothing to do with her horse) and its starting to pee me off!

I did say to hert last week that the only option would be for her to swap hers into a field with horses that aren't known for playing but that didn't go down too well... I'm just waiting for a call from the Y/O about it... it would be just like them to get her involved...
 
Gaaah something else that drives me mad. They are horses, they play and interact as a herd and, when one chooses to keep ones horse in a herd, one has to accept that! My own horse had quite a nasty kick a couple of years back, yes it was unpleasant but I knoew the risks when I chose to keep him in a herd!

If owners can't accept it then they should sod off somewhere with individual turnout :(
 
CBFan said:
My 3 year old is 'flinging' other horses across the field by their rugs...

So I'm told... I'm also told he is picking them up by their rugs... they do fail to mention however that said other horses are dragging my horse round by the corner of his rug too... it's called PLAYING!!!

I am by no means saying my horse is innocent but I am getting sick to death of interferring people at the yard telling me what my horse has been up to with so and so and that so and so has a cut that's bleeding etc etc especially when they put their new horse in the field having been told by previous owner that it liked playing and knowing that there were two horses in the field already with a history of playing... THEY ARE HORSES FOR GODS SAKE!!!

My horse came in with a fresh injury practically every month last year - once a bad, deliberate kick (was witnessed) and I didn't ONCE point the finger or whinge or moan about it... getting a bit fed up now TBH... would move but there's no where to move to...

Sorry... just had to rant..
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Many years ago, my horse was accused of being a rig although he was blood tested and proved negative for a rig. Then he was accused of being a false rig. My horse had to stop in for a period of 3 months whilst all manner of people pointed the finger at him accusing him of attacking and 'raping' their horses although no one had witnessed any such thing. I was forced to give my horse an injection which was a hormone drug which at the time was unlicensed for use in the horse so I had to sign a disclaimer from the vets for its use. He had three of these injections over the course of the weeks he was kept in, yet still I wasn't allowed to turn him out with the others. He used to watch his friends being turned out in front of him in the summer months and had to spend his days in his stable as he couldn't be on his own in a field as he was so unhappy he kept jumping out. It broke my heart as I knew he was innocent and it was another horse responsible. Then one day I was at a show with him and the girl who had started all the rumours and heresay was there without her horse and saw me. When I got back from the show she came up to me and told me her horse had been badly mauled in the field and she was 'sorry' as it obviously hadn't been my horse after all. I left the yard shortly afterwards, having vindicated my horse. But the friends that I thought I had who had turned the other cheek and added fuel to the fire by adding to the rumours of my horse being some kind of monster, had let me down and more importantly let my horse down. I couldn't see them in the same light after that and felt I owed it to Billy to leave.

A year or so later my horse dropped down dead in the field of a heart attack. I often wondered if it has been the unlicensed drug that was responsible and always regret not leaving the yard straight away instead of putting my horse though unnecessary hormone treatment and box rest. Something I will never forgive myself for. My present horse is turned out in a paddock on his own as he has been kicked. But it also gives me piece of mind that no other horse of mine will ever have to go through what I put my previous horse through.
 
Ali2! indeed!

It wouldn't bug me so much if it weren't that until my horse was turned out with this herd at the age of 16 months, he didn't know how to play or indeed what rugs were!! (led a sheltered life til that point) So one, or several of the herd members mustv'e encouraged him to play!! and even then, the boys hadn't started playing this winter until their new 'playfull' fieldmate arrived...

at the end of the day, horses are horses, injuries happen, rugs get ripped (i got up 15 mins earlier today to fix mine in fact!) but if you don't like it, wrap them in cotton wool, move somewhere with individual turnout, or better still, no turnout at all AND bubble wrap so they can't possibly come to any harm....
 
People can be so unreasonable. When I had Daisy I insisted on having individual turnout as I got fed up with the phonecalls, snidey comments and text messages complaining about my horse.

Luckily my current horse is impeccably mannered and wouldn't dream of kicking or biting but I do know what its like. Without making out like I'm amazing I think its often the more novicey owners who cause the problems, people who don't realise that horses can sometimes behave like that and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
 
The thing is I wouldn't compromise my horse's sanity by insisting on individual turnout. It wouldn't be fair on him or me. Horses are meant to be in herds and he thrives on it and it isn't a problem for me other than the whinging. I just guess I wish those that do have a problem with it would do something about it...
 
CBFan said:
The thing is I wouldn't compromise my horse's sanity by insisting on individual turnout. It wouldn't be fair on him or me. Horses are meant to be in herds and he thrives on it and it isn't a problem for me other than the whinging. I just guess I wish those that do have a problem with it would do something about it...
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I think you are absolutely right, having them in solitary is much worse than risking the odd kick or bite. I'm afraid it's the owners lack of knowledge of horses behaviour that causes the problems. My boys are not players really..they are cobs, why play if there is food??? But of course they sometimes come in with bites but I certainly don't point fingers. That said if a fence ever gets knocked down or they push into another paddock you can bet your life it's always my cobs that get blamed and not the skinny one's!!! :rolleyes: Can't say I'm bothered they should have better fencing or turn on the electrics if they care that much!!! Lol!!

Roll on saturday when I move to a private yard!! Woo hoo no more people to deal with!!:D
 
Roll on saturday when I move to a private yard!! Woo hoo no more people to deal with!!:


Cobgirlie, I did exactly the same as you last weekend and moved to a private yard, just me and the owner with her horses (its a small stud) and its the best decision I've ever made. My ponio is settling in better than I expected and I can't see myself going back to a livery yard. Good luck and I know you'll love it.
 
carefreegirl said:
Roll on saturday when I move to a private yard!! Woo hoo no more people to deal with!!:


Cobgirlie, I did exactly the same as you last weekend and moved to a private yard, just me and the owner with her horses (its a small stud) and its the best decision I've ever made. My ponio is settling in better than I expected and I can't see myself going back to a livery yard. Good luck and I know you'll love it.
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Thank you I'm so excited!! It's the owner and 3 retired horses and me!! I know of her through other people and she's lovely and the set up is just perfect!!! This all happened last night due to me exploding because my YO decided to dump 4 new horses into my horses paddock without telling me!! So after a huge row and I rang a friend who told me about this place and it just couldn't be better!! I'm loosing an indoor school, off road hacking and some lovely friends but I'm gaining freedom from muppets, 'know it all's' and YO's who have the management skills of my whippet!!!:p Plus its half the cost and 2 mins drive from home so double goodies!!
 
I had this problem my horse being 16.2 was picking a 11.2 up by his rug and carrying him like a handbag the owner kept moaning at me but my horse at been in that herd for years with no problems hers only six months then expected me to keep my horse in when i suggested their was a field for the small ponies could she not put hers in there she went mad her pony was never hurt just couldnt use his legs when my horse was in the same field she left the yard in the end
 
traceyann said:
I had this problem my horse being 16.2 was picking a 11.2 up by his rug and carrying him like a handbag


LOL at that image in my head !

I was watching two 4 yr old geldings playing last week and they were laying into each other big time. Rearing up full height and locking legs, biting each others hocks trying to get the other one on the floor, hanging on to each others rugs. It was brilliant to see 2 young horses being exactly that - young horses learning social skills.
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We have our own place, when the current Big Girl got here she made a herd of 3 :D My Appy is pushy madam, The Big Girl booted her, quite appropriately, not much point me whining at sister because 'her' horse kicked mine! Currently have four on (friend has put her childrens 14hh with ours) all mares, been playing in the snow, The Appy running round, no-one to complain to. Horses are horses :D
 
cobgirlie said:
I think you are absolutely right, having them in solitary is much worse than risking the odd kick or bite. I'm afraid it's the owners lack of knowledge of horses behaviour that causes the problems.
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Hmmm, no, sorry I have to disagree about the solitary.

I lost a mare to her injuries through her being chased to exhaustion by a riggy ISH that the owner knew was a swine for mares but still put him out anyway, and am currently nursing an inoffensive gelding who was chased through a fence by another horse that had been fine but then turned on him.

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Sometimes individual paddocks are the lesser of two evils, if I have a Boarder that doesn't seem to settle with anything then it goes by itself, no ifs, buts or ands, if an owner doesn't like it they are quite welcome to find somewhere else, in fact, I'll help them. :)
 
traceyann said:
I had this problem my horse being 16.2 was picking a 11.2 up by his rug and carrying him like a handbag
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Yep, Mine is 16.3 and said pony is 14.2 so I don't think it's quite as extreme as your situation... I couldn't help but laugh when the woman told me... I think she was concerned because one of the ponies that plays is getting on a bit (only 20 but arthritic) and apparently fell over during one of their games... elderly pony's owner doesn't have a problem with it - her attitude is the same as mine, but if she did, I'm sure she'd move him to a more suitable situation...
 
This is a really difficult situation. It was something I never thought about with my cob mare, she is a bit of a loner, and tends to have the stuffing kicked out of her when she first meets a herd, but then settles and finds a pair bond. I have always felt that 'horses will be horses' and that herd living and the play that goes along with this is so important for their sanity and wellbeing.
However, in the spring a new horse came to join the herd, (by now including my sec D 4 year old, cob mare and several others)and was introduced gradually and carefully. My sec D was always a bit feisty, and the herd had had a bit of upheaval over the preceding weeks with horses leaving and joining. I don't know what happened but when I checked them the following morning she was standing with a compound fracture of her off-hind and had to be put down. I was devastated, and my friend was worse as she felt guilty that it was her new horse who probably did it.
It definitely stretched my philosophy to the limit, but I still feel glad that in her four short years, my filly was at least able to be a horse and live out with others and mess around. And I certainly don't blame the horse who kicked her - that's horses!
(Although I have to admit to being practically hysterical every time new horses are introduced to the herd since then!)
 
I have to say, although horses will be horses, I would be mighty peed off if my horse came in every day with a ripped rug....

Luckily, my 3 year old doesnt rip my girls rugs, otherwise I would fence the field in half so he couldnt do it! I can't afford to be replacing rugs every day......
 
Another view from the other side. Cappy can be very aggressive with other horses, he kicked a horse and made him lame, knocked over a yearling and pawed him and also picked up a Shetland and threw him. So at the time I said I would rather he did not go out with others, then my YO tried him with her 2yos, he was superb. Babysitting well and being incredibly tolerant of their bad manners (meaning they bothered him when he was grazing, trying to mount him or played too rough) However this year he went out with them again, was as good as ever with 2 of them. The third was "rude" in some way and he chased him out of the field, the 3yo was put back in and he chased him out again. This is what he would have done to a younger, cheeky member of the herd in the wild.

It was difficult but we sorted him out, trying to find his natural place. Strangely he gets very tense when there is a lack of leadership in the herd and is happiest with a role in the herd that is not necessarily the leader.

On the other hand Fany was the gentlest member of the herd, putting up with being bitten by the gelding she was turned out with and being kicked by one of the mares. I was not too worried because she sorted it out herself, toughened up a bit and said "no" in on uncertain terms. She is now middle of that mixed herd and is happy. Again she is not a dominant horse so finding her right place helped her, only something she could sort out.

Both were sorted out with trial and error.

FDC
 
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Santas New Little Helper said:
um..pardon my ignorance but what is a rig and a false rig,
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Hi SNLH. A rig is a horse that has retained some testicular tissue and therefore displays riggy or stallion behaviour because of hormones in his body. A false rig is a horse that has not retained testicular tissue and therefore does not have testosterone coursing through his body but still retains stallions traits because he believes that he is a stallion and therefore acts as such. This may be because he was gelded late or had been around stallions or riggy horses.
 
My boy was the same when he was a youngster. He used to always want to play and I admit he was quite a thug! But one day one of the other liveries reckoned he had 'nearly killed' her horse who was also a youngster (a bit of an exaggeration :rolleyes:) He just had a few cuts on him and she reckoned he had been shaking in fear! My boy wasn't the only young, playful youngster in the field either so how she knew it was definitely his fault I don't know... :confused: ;)
 
Blitzenfys said:
Hmmm, no, sorry I have to disagree about the solitary.
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Me too. I lost a horse to a compound fracture of his tibia which was caused by my horse bucking and coming down with all his weight onto his leg that had slipped in the mud underneath his body. Very nasty. However the vet did not believe that that alone had caused his injury and did speculate that the horse had been kicked and had a hairline fracture prior to this accident. Funnily enough it was the same group of horses my horse who I wrote about earlier in this post belonged too. I bought that horse after losing this one with the broken leg.

Ironic eh?

My present horse (in siggy) was kicked resulting in a nasty bone chip in his stifle area. He has been kept on his own in a paddock albeit he has company next door in the form of three other horses. He wants for nothing and is happy on his own. I would prefer him to be with others but I am not prepared to take the gamble of possibly sacrificing his life to discover whether this would be a good idea or not. Once bitten (or twice in this case) twice shy and I make no apologies for it.
 
I think solitary is fine IF the horse can cope with it. Mine is by no means clingy but he NEEDS the herd dynamic to keep him on the straight and narrow. As for ripped rugs... it seems to be only MINE that comes in with holes in his consistently... that speaks volumes about who's doing what surely? I don't grumble. s**t happens. Needle and thread at the yard ready to repair.

Anyway... this is more a whinge about people than horses.

P.s. Very sorry to all those who have lost horses to field / compainion related injuries, but I guess anything could happen any time... My friends horse broke his leg in a field on his own.... But I can appreciate how your experiences would put you off turning out in a herd. I just wish some Y/O's would pay more attention to herd dynamic and group accordingly...
 
Years ago I had a horse that would pick up a shetland by its rug and cart it about! Must say that after having horses out in a group, I much prefer my present arrangement with two to a paddock. Dont have to fight to get out of the gate with mine and dont have to poo pick for several other horses because their owners dont bother. Would not go back to a herd scenario.
 
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