Chipped hooves and jealousy

[MrsElle]

Blue is a sod for using his feet when he gets in a strop.

He was even kicking the gate post this morning when the farrier was doing Ellie's feet because she was getting all the attention. The farrier said that although Blue's feet are generally good, he has chipped them from kicking.

Blue will kick at a neighbours fence when he sees them in the garden to summon them, he will kick the field shelter if I shut Ellie in, he will basically kick any hard object, and occasionally me, if he is has a monk on.

I can tell him off if I am there and he will stop when I do so, but I know from asking neighbours that he does it a lot whe I am not around too.

These are his front feet I am talking about btw.

My second problem is that Blue is an opinionated, nosy mummy's boy who gets jealous if any horse, dog or human comes near me. He is fine without me, pines if Ellie is away from him, but when I am at the field no one or nothing can have my attention. How can I stop him being such a mummy's boy? I have tried to get OH to handle Blue more, but OH is inexperienced and too soft with Blue so that hasn't worked. Also Blue is continuously watching me and glaring at Ellie, Blue, dogs or children who are in my vicinity.

Any advice

 

[michellev123]

Not with the mummy's boy aspect but with the kicking things I would try and ignore it. . . then as soon as he stops talk to him/cuddle him etc so he associates kicking things with being ignored and not kicking things with fuss and attention. . . In my experiance shouting will only make him worse as negative attention is better than no attention!!!

I know its hard to ignore them when they r driving you up the wall though!!!
Good luck

 

[jaypeebee]

Jealousy in horses is almost always food driven so that is an easy one to combat.

As to kicking and making a nuisance of himself generally, well it sounds like he is spoilt. Horses like this are annoying. Ive had some like this and the first thing I do is teach them restraint and encourage good manners and not bad ones.

 

[MrsElle]

[ QUOTE ]
Jealousy in horses is almost always food driven so that is an easy one to combat.

As to kicking and making a nuisance of himself generally, well it sounds like he is spoilt. Horses like this are annoying. Ive had some like this and the first thing I do is teach them restraint and encourage good manners and not bad ones.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am cruel and give my horses neither hard feed nor treats (they live on fresh air) so can't see it being a food issue.

Nor is he spoilt - He gets the same attention as the other two and I am not a bunny hugging touchy feely type. Perhaps that is the problem and that is what he craves? The other two are fine, they get pats and pets and fusses but I am not over the top in my affections.

He is still only a baby and as my first youngster I am aware that I may need to treat him differently from an older horse that knows the score.

 

[jaypeebee]

If he is a youngster then it could be boredom but if you dont have treats and food around then I think it is probably just baby behaviour and he is finding the transition to being a "big boy" a bit hard which might be why he is fidgeting so and having some funny 5 minutes. Their attention span when young is not long and they do get fed up quickly. How old is he?

 

[MrsElle]

He is 2 Blitzen and definately testing the boundaries. I find his jealousy difficult at times as I do feel sorry for the other two when he barges them out of the way to get to me. He shows no interest in any other human. He is also herd leader, the other two are a 28 year old mare and a 9 year old gelding. Blue is VERY sure of himself and confident - I liken him to a cocky teenager who thinks he is always right and the world revolves around him

 

[YorksG]

When he barges the otherwe out of the way do you send him off again? If they let him get away with it, then I guess you have to do the telling for them

 

[jaypeebee]

Well he sounds like quite a character and you dont want to lose that but on the other hand it sounds like his energy needs channelling (sorry I dont know how to spell this word). I suspect that once he is in work most of these quirks will lessen. 2 year olds can be little troublemakers when they dont have enough to occupy their time. I dont know what you do with him yet but you could make a start on long reining or walking him out to give him a change of scenery. Id also start on his manners if you havent already. They are a bit like goldfish at this stage in their lives, only not as well behaved

.

 

[MrsElle]

It's like having another child YorksG!!! Do I do this? Do I do that? Conflicting advice at every turn! Lol!

The other two let Blue get away with murder, so I guess I will have to tell him off for the others, as you say.

I worry that if I ignore him he will become more pushy, or if I acknowledge him he will also become more pushy and cocksure!

He is rather adorable though, and I am afraid he knows it!

 

[YorksG]

It is so difficult isn't it? I am sure you will sort him out

I think it is like children tbh! (or that children are just small animals!) I tend to work on the assumption that everything needs boundaries to learn, so put them in place all the time lol

 

[MrsElle]

He definately is a character Blitzen, that is the first thing anyone says about him!

He is pretty good manners wise, he was terrible when I got him last June, didn't know the meaning of personal space and would try to climb on to your knee if you sat down.

He now respects personal space, he backs up and moves over when told and has been bitted and has worn a roller. We lean over him when stood with him and OH has sat on him, just swung his leg over his back and off the other side. Blue didn't bat an eyelid.

We move house in a few weeks, we will have lots more room, the nights will be lighter and Blues education begins in ernest! He won't know whats hit him

*laughs evily*

He will become a cracking pony, he isn't scared of anything and takes everthing in his stride and I can't wait to get out and about on him

Kids!

YorksG - I totally agree, I treated my children and step children how I treat my animals (sort of, didn't make them sleep in the kennels or eat off the floor from a bowl, but you know what I mean!) and they have turned out ok. I am rather strict, the dogs just need me to look at them funny and they slink off! Ditto the kids