Archie turned evil

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Morrigan_Lady

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www.teamterrellshowjumping.co.uk

So after Archies little performance in the field withmy mare on Wednesday we had just started talking to each other again!
Until...............He tried to kill another horse on Friday!!!
It was so scary. I had Arch and Coryn tied up on the yard while I mucked out (its great fun having 2 horses on box rest!)
when another lady brought her pony past and stupidy let her pony stop to chat to Coryn (my mare) Arch obviously wasnt happy about this and broke free and went for the pony! It was awful and so not like Arch, he's more like a big friendly dog than a horse and he's NEVER shown any signs of nastyness. So I caught him and tied him up further away and all was quiet for about 10 minutes, untill he started bucking and kicking out at the wall, he was really bizzare and Ive never seen a horse do anything like it before. So I went to untie him and check he was ok, when he legged it and went for this pony again. He looked eveil, ears flat back and he he really looked like he wanted to kill the poor pony. Arch ripped the ponies bib off and came out the barn with some of it hanging out his mouth, like a scene from jaws!!
It was truley awful and so un-explained. Ive never ever seen Arch like this.
But just when I thought he's turned 'normal' again, I was leading out the barn past said pony last night when Arch proceeded to rear up at me and back in to the pony. I was so angry, I just dont know whats gotten in to Arch, he the friendlyest horse at the yard.
Has anyone got any ideas why Arch has turned into a physco killer? I really worried he's gonna do some serious damage
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Maybe another horse had "gone for him" in the feild (not necc causing any damage) but he now feels the need to protect himself before anything tries to attack him if that makes sense...
 
Well Arche now has a girlfriend.. Have you tried just seperating them all together? Sounds like he is trying to protect her almost?
Or maybe he is very fustrated from being on box rest?
Izzi
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Yes, the thought crossed my mind that he is well and truley in love! (I used to think he was gay!!) But this behaviour is totally not acceptable and I need to get him out of this quickly. I cant really separate them as their stable are opposite each other. Think I might have to have a chat with the YO and see if we can do some stable swapping.
I hate telling Arch off coz he's my baby
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Do you have any equine behaviourists near you? Maybe if you look one up they will be able to tell you why he is behaving the way he is and will be able to help you return Archie back to being "your baby"
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Izzi
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Certainly seems to be stemming from being with "his" mare and the box rest. Seperation is the best option first of all.

Why are they both on box rest? Would be great if you could turn him out without her.
 
It could just be the box rest. Sidney turned into the most evil horse on the planet when he was on box rest. he seriously nearly killed my husband, was vicious to the extent everyoine had to bring their horses inot the other end of the barn as you couldn't get them past him.
Normally he's a dope on a rope with people and other horses but for that period and a while afterwards he was awful. As soon as he was allowed out again and got some routine back he turned back into the loveable rougue that he always was.
 
I'd agree that it could be behavioural or hormonal rigginess - so would separate him from the mare if possible.
Secondly, it could be the frustration of being box rested - sometimes it can help them mentally if you can electric fence a little grass pen for them outside, so they can see the world again.
Thirdly, and a very rare one would be a brain tumour. I used to ride a mare with one (more fool I) and she would try to kick and kill horses even when they were well out of range.
For example if she saw a horse at 'A' in the school, she'd start kicking out and squealing even if she was 40m away at 'C'. She'd also freak out til she reared over backwards in the yard.
I doubt that's your problem though.
S
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Have you changed his feed at all?
I'd suggest as everyone else has it's a mixture of the box rest and hormones but mine can become rather evil on certain feeds... Saying that Jesper tends to go for small ponies regardless, he's generally not nice!
 
Sounds like a case of lust to me. You know how Ronnie became evil demon-horse when that mare arrived (can't believe I've forgotten her name - Teide that's it)? He turned into a psycho. Unfortunately he's never snapped out of it even though she's gone now. Hopefully Archie won't be so bad!
 
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