can you make..

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

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can you make a grumpy horse/pony into a friendly one? By grumpy i mean doesnt bite/kick, but if you try and give it attention it goes and stands in the back of the stable and does anything to get away from a cuddle and hates being groomed.

and if your thinking about saying "yes, with alot of TLC", but seriously, after 6 months of pure TLC and gentleness, the horse still doesn't enjoy human attention at all.
 
Perhaps it's just his temprament. I have one like that, I just ignore him and he's perfectly happy, he doesn't really give a toss! (He get's pats and cuddles when he's good though and he can deal with that
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A horse that is grumpy can often be suffering from a virus, or have a cereal intolerance.
Would get him blood tested,to check for a virus, if that shows nothing, would cut all cereals out of his diet and put him on something like just alfa a oil on its own for a month to see if that makes a change.
Otherwise does he have a good active routine- good turnout, company, ad lib good hay...

Failing that, it could just be a grumpy sod...
 
i use to work for a bloke who had a mare like that called marky.... i found she liked her bum itching at the top of her tail and if i did it for a few mins before anything else she turned into a pussy cat!! everyone else was scared of her cause when you walked in she would turn her bum on you and bumo into you with it, then wait for the scratching to start! every one else though she was sizing you up before kicking you!! she was just misunderstood!!
hope you can find a way round her/him!
 
well I've been trying for 7 years with my old boy! He just doesnt like cuddles!! Unless its before the bit goes in or at the end of a hard day at a show!

He is grumpy, not in pain, known as victor meldrew and as sweet as candy once you are on, couldnt do enough to please!

Try and cuddle or show any affection and its ears back and teeth!
 
April was (and still sometimes is!) a grumpy old mare who used to intimidate everyone so she was obviously much worse than the one you are describing but I got some good results with her. Edited to say it took me well over a year though!

I'm not sure if this would be a good idea or not and I'm always wary of giving advice but what if you got one of those yummy Molasses licks and held it for him whilst you fussed over him... he might learn to enjoy it!
 
Some horses are just like that. It's their temperarent. My horse can be aggressive in the stable (hates people looking at him from outside the stable) - I think he was treated beadly in ireland before he came to me. He is fine as long as you get on and do what you need to do with him, (loves his work) but he will never be a cuddly pet, TBH I don't think that is how horses should be anyway.
but it is true that if a horse is in pain it is likely to be grumpy.
 
Some are just like that. My two grey mares, both very sweet natured but neither cared for cuddling and fussing as some horses do. The last pony would curl her nostril in indignation, but if she wanted to could be very affectionate by snififfing and nuzzling!
 
I tend to agree with Forrest. My first thought on reading your post was 'diet'. When my mare had an ulcer she permanently had a face like a slapped bottom and would tell me to 'go forth' in her own little way
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Once we had sorted the medical probs and put her on a high fibre diet (nuts, no cerial mixes) she became very sweet and affectionate.
 
Finni is evil. Has been for the whole 3 1/2 yrs i've had him. Doesn't do cuddles or grooming. Picture snapping teeth....

He's incredibly sensitive and "feels" everything.

I agree somewhat with Forrest and Llwyncwn (had to concentrate to spell that!
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) in that he is on a high fibre diet and has improved a little.

I have progressed to being able to kiss his head and muzzle, recently and he quite likes that
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My horse is really laid back and will fall asleep while I groom him but he hates cuddles. If I put my arms round his neck for a cuddle he just walks backwards. I just give him a big haynet now to let him know how much I love him
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Laura same for mine - its about 5cm from his sheath area - loves it being scratched - even stops eating half way thru to enjoy the "feeling" ears go donkey-fied as eyes are glassy. Will have to grow my arms and do this whilst hunting on Monday!!! lol.
 
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