At a loss with horses behaviour

L

littlen

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 August 2006
Messages
830
Visit site
Arghhh! My horse was previously in a herd of 15 where he was bullied daily,however he was never a problem behaviour wise and would stand for hours in a stable or on the yard without moving an inch. Due to the bullying he was moved into a small herd consisting of 4 shetlands. Ever since this he has become a complete nightmare and I don't know what to do. I am starting to loose patience and don't know how to fix this. Basically he has become a nightmare to handle. He will not stable and spends the whole time weaving,poling excessivly and box walking. I can't get into the stable as he has pinned me to the wall. He gets very stressy and will shout constantly for his friends, he gets so stressed he sweats till he is soaked through! I know it's related to the fAct he has bonded with the new horses but I can't handle him as he can't be alone for a moment! I can't tie him up on the yard as he pulls back and swings his quaters into objects and people! He is an angel when stood with another horse but obviously it is impractical tobri g two in fir no reason when grooming/taking up. Cananyone help me with this as I am at a loss and it's getting worse everyday,soon I don't think I will dare bring him into the yard at all!!!
 
So, are you saying that now after he has been moved in with the shetlands he just wants to be back with them and has separation anxiety when he is brought in away from them?
x
 
I would put him back with the other herd they must have kept in him line my horse can be a bit of a field bully so i put him with bigger horse and harder soon buckled down to life in the herd
 
He moved two weeks ago. Yes basically ever since being in with the shetlands he won't be seperared from them, but in the last herd he was ok to be seperared. He had to move as it was too dangerous fir him and myself as he was being attacked by others quite badly and did get some nasty wounds! He will not be seperared from the shetlands without having a full on tantrum sweating,shouting,pooing constantly,weaving and spinning in circles!! When leading back to the field he almost drags me there bucking and rearing with excitement!!
 
I should think he is now herd leader and wants to get back to his herd to look after them. Before he was just flotsam and jetsam so his absence wasn't important. You need to be his boss so he respects you as the one in charge. Can't help you achieve that, though!
 
Have you tried using a calmer a few hours before bringing him in (although I know this could be impractical)? Just an idea? Good luck
 
You might think he was being bullied in the previous herd but was he actually showing any signs of being unhappy?

Some horses are not cut out to be herd leaders and find having to be in charge and make decisions stressful. They are much happier when there's other horses in charge and they can relax and let someone else sort things out.

I have one like that. The herd leader was taken out for 6 weeks boxrest and my poor boy went to peices. He couldn't cope with the responsibity of looking after 3 other horses. When the boss came back he was soooo releived!

His current behaviour tells you he's not happy so I'd just put him back with the herd. problem solved.
 
My mare is a total 100% nightmare when she's taken away from her 'hred'. She has no interest in being the dominant mare she just hates when she can't see them and will barge all around the stable. You could hit her over the head with a piece of 4 x 2 and she wouldn't notice she's so busy freaking out. Although when on her back she is 200% fantastic.

I don't think your horse has dominance issues - I think he's more likely that for the first time he actually is part of a herd rather being constantly being excluded and pushed to the bottom of the heap. The fact he's now acting up might have nothing to do with him now thinking he's king pony but more that he's found friends he actually doesn't want to leave.

I understand the temptation would be to put him back in with the others but for me (and this is just personally) I wouldn't contemplate that. If you know he's getting a hard time its just not fair. Its all very well comparing it to horses in the wild but they aren't enclosed in a fence area that they can't 'escape' from to get out of the way of the way. If theres a bunch of other horses thinking he should be out of their face then he has limited areas to go for a bit of peace.

Also its not other people who are left facing a hefty vets bill if he's get an unfortunately boot.

Pop onto Richard Maxwell's site and see if he can offer you any help. Didn't do anything for my mare but the principles were sound enough.
 
Can you have just one of the original herd who is above him in the pecking order put in with him and the Shetlands? That may resolve his feeling of being responsible for them, if that's what is causing his behaviour.
 
whoever said he is now the herd leader......its my thoughts exactly. The only thing you can do is establish that YOU are the herd leader not him. This does not have to include bullying just body language and ground work.
 
I have had experience of a friends horse having similar issues he was living in a large herd for years and just doesn't cope away from a group what worked well with him was using a monty rob halter and leading him short distance away and when settled relieve all pressure and give fuss then take it a step further each time so get further and further away whilst making sure it is a gradual increase. He will cotton on that it is not as bad as he thinks and it will give you an opportunity to become his boss :-)
 
our mare was a much stressier being when she was turned out with a wimpy gelding who didnt want to be in charge either, she just couldnt cope.

Out with my boy who is in charge she is much happier and much more settled. She is not cut out for having to make decisions!!
grin.gif


unless he was being kicked/bitten a lot I would chuck him out with the others.
 
The same as when a horse moves home, your horse has just had his life changed by moving to a new herd. It has been just 2 weeks, so far too soon to settle if he is feeling insecure. You just have to persevere, bring him in as regularly as possible for short periods of time and then build up to longer periods. He will soon learn that he is returning to his friends.

He is just unsettled and needs more time to adjust.
 
So there are most probably 2 possibilites - 1/ That he felt comfortable NOT being herd leader with the bigger pack, even though he had been pushed around......and 2/ He has become the leader of the shetlands and feels extremely anxious when he is not there to act out that role.

Before the large herd do you know what his turnout history was? And how does he react in a yard if other horses are turned out before him? (That is, if he is partly stabled).

I would most definitely be inclined to get some qualified help with this, as if it is not clear why he is exhibiting this extremely anxious behaviour, it may cause even more problems trying to resolve it yourself. I have used Monty Roberts associates in the past with great success. It must be a fully qualified competent person. MR have a website (intelligent horsemanship or something like that - suggest googling it). In the meantime he does need to respect you as the leader, so if you can, try to stop him barging over you/moving into YOUR space.

As you will know, trying to stop him weaving/box walking will only lead to more pent up anxiety. He is obviously very unhappy. Help is what you need I think. I am sure it will all work out. He has not had much time to settle though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top