charging at gate in paddock, why is he doing this??

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billylula

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We have a new pony on loan who has developed a bit of a scary habit.

He is fine in the field when you go into the paddock, he will come up to you then leave you alone. Today I went into his field shelter to poopick, when I came out I went by him and patted him and checked he was dry under his rug.

I walked towards the gate to go out, looked around and he was watching me, he then plunged forward and galloped at full tilt past me to the gate, skidded to a halt, then wandered off and grazed.

This is the 3rd time he has done this in as many days. I have no idea how to stop him, its not something I've ever encountered before (he's new but we've always had horses/ponies). It means I can't have the kids in the paddock with me as I am now worried that he will trample them!
 
You don't say whether he's kept on his own? But if so this could be a manifestation of separation anxiety - where he's seeking other horses and is seeing the gate as a "barrier" as that's where he goes in and out.

IF however he's doing it to try and intimidate you then you need to act assertively coz if he's getting away with that on the ground then he'll try it under saddle too.

But if its lack of company; then you may need to get a companion or something.
 
billylula said:
Yes he is kept on his own - there were horses in the paddock next door but the owner has unexpectedly moved them away.
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I would never contemplate keeping a horse on it's own. It is no good relying on other people's horses to remain there. Poor thing is frightened and he is trying to tell you. At least you are concerned enough to ask about it. Please be responsible enough to provide him with what he needs which extends beyond food and physical comforts.
 
Please don't be cross with me :(

I had an arrangement with the woman who had the horses next door that they would definitely be there until end Jan. She has moved them earlier than she said. I hate seeing a pony on its own and am doing everything I can to find another one.
 
billylula said:
Please don't be cross with me :(

I had an arrangement with the woman who had the horses next door that they would definitely be there until end Jan. She has moved them earlier than she said. I hate seeing a pony on its own and am doing everything I can to find another one.
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Fair enough.

Good luck - let us know how you get on.
 
I agree that it sounds like he's just worried being on his own and upset about the others leaving, but you're doing the right thing trying to find him a little friend - a lot of ponies are looking for companion / loan homes over the winter so you should be able to find something suitable fairly easily, which will hopefully cheer him up again. It's obviously not your fault that the lady moved her horses earlier than planned, these things happen! Good luck, hope he settles soon.
 
My tb does this, she isn't kept alone. She does it when she's a bit stressed eg if the weather is bad or its been a spooky day. she also does it if anyone she doesn't know well handles her, so it may be he just needs to get to know you a bit better
 
Know what you mean about suddenly finding yourself in a situation OP where you'd counted on other horses being around, then coz someone changes their plans (without telling me!) the horses are taken out without anyone saying and one's own horse is going loo-lah.

This is a very unfortunate sitation, BUT if pony is charging at the gate, then sooner or later there's a danger of him either going through it or OVER it; any which way he could damage himself plus if gets out onto the road could cause a nasty accident.

Whereabouts are you??? Perhaps someone on here has a pony/companion or something they could help you out with? Or you could put an advert up at feed/tack shops etc??? You really need to get a companion for him PDQ.
 
Just spoke to someone who reckons a friend would be the worst idea as if he is insecure he will become totally attached to the companion and then refuse to ever leave them :confused:

my instinct is to get him a friend tho so I will carry on looking.
 
billylula said:
Just spoke to someone who reckons a friend would be the worst idea as if he is insecure he will become totally attached to the companion and then refuse to ever leave them :confused:

my instinct is to get him a friend tho so I will carry on looking.
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Can you borrow a friend's pony for a while? Rescuing a mini or something should be very easy if you can afford to feed it. Good luck.
 
Trouble with friends is yes they get attached, 3 is best but not really possible. I have two together and they are a bit clingy but OK, two geldings or two mares is better than one of each. Where abouts are you in the country? Theres probalby someone near you looking for some grazing.
 
One of mine used to do a similar thing when I temporarily had no option but to leave him out on his own. He would run past me and then block me from leaving the field. It was really scary. He was fine if I stood and talked to him, scratched him etc but if I tried to walk away he would get in front of me and try to stop me from leaving. It was really horrible cos he's a really sweet horse but it really did scare me.
I hate having horses out on their own, even with company over the fence. I also found when he went back out with company he was so much more chilled out to ride, much less spooky. I think when he was on his own, although he would go off and graze, he was actually continually on edge, never really got to relax and this was reflected in his behaviour.
 
billylula said:
Just spoke to someone who reckons a friend would be the worst idea as if he is insecure he will become totally attached to the companion and then refuse to ever leave them :confused:

my instinct is to get him a friend tho so I will carry on looking.
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Glad you are following your better instincts. Yes, there can be attachment problems but these are more problems for us humans than the horses. If handled with patience and competence they can be overcome. I have kept horses in pairs before. I would say about a quarter of the time I have had problems but they were not unsummountable.
 
Just waiting to hear if I can 'borrow' a friend's mare for the Winter, ok a mare is not ideal but better than nothing, we'd rather deal with attatchment probs than knowing the pony is miserable and lonely :( also he is quite a young boy, 6 so I feel really sorry for him. He doesn't like hakcing out alone as it is, much prefers another horse with him so clearly a bit insecure. He was so good in the paddock this morning when I changed his rug and did his feet, gave him lots of cuddles and there was no stampeding at gate :)
 
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