Chestnut filly help!!!

[MaisCla]

Hi, I was just wondering if I could get a little advice. In November of last year I bought a chestnut filly and she will be a yearling on the first of June. Now I know a chestnut filly/mare is going to be a sassy feisty girl and I’m fine with that. Since I got her she’s been turned out with two of my other youngsters and a retired mare I have. She straight away got pretty attached to my sec a youngster and they have become inseparable really. I worry that this will be a problem in the future so any advice on perhaps breaking the attachment will be very handy but mostly, this past week my youngster boys have both been gelded and my filly has just turned rather possessive over the sec a and esp with food. She is letting me groom her and touch her all over (she’s a bit funny with her ears at the mo but we’re working on it) and none of that is an issue. This week though the ears have gone flat back and she keeps turning her bum on me and looking like she’s going to kick me. She’s worse round food and when she has the sec a near her. I’ve tried so many different things, she’s doesn’t get treats and I’m not one for smacking them really. Any advice?? Thank you so much!!!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Do you bring her in from the field so they have some time apart?

 

[MaisCla]

At the moment no, as they’re both living out but I am going to separate them when I change their fields around. It’s just so odd, it’s mostly around food.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Are they getting enough food aggressive behaviour often starts when they feel like they are having to fight to eat? Is she aggressive with just bucket feed or are they getting hay as well?

 

[AmyMay]

At the moment no, as they’re both living out but I am going to separate them when I change their fields around. It’s just so odd, it’s mostly around food.

You don’t need to separate them, just handle her with a head collar on. If it’s hard food she’s being naughty over, either feed them well spaced out, or remove her from the field to feed her. If it’s hay related, have four more piles than horses, and again always very well spread out.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Ignore the chestnut thing. I have a 3yr old chestnut section D and he’s as soft as butter ? Just handle her daily making sure for that time her focus is on you then leave her to her friends. Babies I find just need patient but consistent handling.

My boy is grumpy when there is a feed bucket involved he does t like to share his bucket feed. Haynets and bales however he will share all day. I don’t mind hun being grumpy over food with other horses but with me he can put the face on all he likes but he knows not to come into my space until he’s invited to, even when I have his feed. Be consistent and clear and patient and she will come round. I bought my boy at 6months and he turned three yesterday ?

 

[MaisCla]

Are they getting enough food aggressive behaviour often starts when they feel like they are having to fight to eat? Is she aggressive with just bucket feed or are they getting hay as well?

Yes they are, they have bucket feed and hay. She’s absolutely fine with hay, she’ll share with all other 3 and everything. Just hardfeed and him and she turns all grumpy and possessive haha.

 

[MaisCla]

You don’t need to separate them, just handle her with a head collar on. If it’s hard food she’s being naughty over, either feed them well spaced out, or remove her from the field to feed her. If it’s hay related, have four more piles than horses, and again always very well spread out.

Thank you. Yes it’s just hard feed and me being around him or me moving one of them away from the other. They’re very attached to one another but she gets worse. They’re fed very separately and spaced out and they’re absolutely fine with hay. I’ll keep working on her manners and we’ll see haha.

 

[MaisCla]

Ignore the chestnut thing. I have a 3yr old chestnut section D and he’s as soft as butter ? Just handle her daily making sure for that time her focus is on you then leave her to her friends. Babies I find just need patient but consistent handling.

My boy is grumpy when there is a feed bucket involved he does t like to share his bucket feed. Haynets and bales however he will share all day. I don’t mind hun being grumpy over food with other horses but with me he can put the face on all he likes but he knows not to come into my space until he’s invited to, even when I have his feed. Be consistent and clear and patient and she will come round. I bought my boy at 6months and he turned three yesterday ?

Thank you!! I’ve always ignored the chestnut thing and the chestnut mare thing as I too have a chestnut sec D gelding!! Recently with my filly though I have thought a few times ‘why oh why did I get a chestnut filly’ haha. Yes I’ve got a few youngsters and im not new to them but this is just odd behaviour haha. She wasn’t weaned too early either, she’s just become inseparable to my sec a and they don’t like to be apart and when foods involved she just turns into a different filly haha. I groom her daily, I just sit and hug her, I play with her, and do the same with the others. I take her for little walks round my farm but I have to take those two together otherwise they just won’t budge. It’s so odd haha.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thank you. Yes it’s just hard feed and me being around him or me moving one of them away from the other. They’re very attached to one another but she gets worse. They’re fed very separately and spaced out and they’re absolutely fine with hay. I’ll keep working on her manners and we’ll see haha.

A lot of horses get possessive over bucket feed I would try and keep them apart and feed them separately if you can, I know it's not easy if you just have a field sometimes it's good to have a sectioned off bit so you can feed them apart.

 

[MaisCla]

A lot of horses get possessive over bucket feed I would try and keep them apart and feed them separately if you can, I know it's not easy if you just have a field sometimes it's good to have a sectioned off bit so you can feed them apart.

I can get her in to feed if possible, I’m lucky enough to have my horses at home and I’ve got stables etc but I just like to keep my youngsters and retired mare out as much as poss so they can just be horses and play and grow up etc. I will spread them out a bit more or try bringing her in to feed. Thank you so much!!

 

[Gloi]

It will be good discipline for her to be caught and brought in for her feed,then turned back out. Better than having quarrels.

 

[windand rain]

Nothing to do with colour or sex she is just bad mannered you need to work out why and teach her a bit of respect for you and I dont mean be aggressive just assertive firm but fair and consistent will teach her far more than cuddles and walks out unless you are taking her alone or with a different horse to her buddy.

 

[MaisCla]

Nothing to do with colour or sex she is just bad mannered you need to work out why and teach her a bit of respect for you and I dont mean be aggressive just assertive firm but fair and consistent will teach her far more than cuddles and walks out unless you are taking her alone or with a different horse to her buddy.

She gets taught a lot more than cuddles and walks out. I was just using those as examples to the comment. She has manners everywhere else, I teach her and I’m firm with her. I was just wondering about this is all as we’re struggling a little bit more on this is all.

 

[windand rain]

I apologise if I mis understood but get a bit annoyed by stereotypes. I have 4 mares and one gelding the mares are wonderful the gelding is a dangerous git. I have owned him since birth brought up the same as the mares and never had a bad day in his life he was born evil. I wont own another gelding but will own mares he is 16 now and still as bad as ever I wouldnt sell him as it was not safe to do so but he will live his days being a companion as he isnt too bothered about other horses leaving or arriving. He is a top class driving pony but the roads have stoppe him they are too busy so he hasnt driven for a while. I have never even known when my mares have been in season never had one behave any differently and never been bitten or kicked by a mare i have by geldings not just my own