Dangerous horses

Irishcobs

Irishcobs

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 August 2005
Messages
6,174
Visit site
If a horse was dangerous why do people keep them alive? Ok so most are only dangerous because they have muppets handling them and therefore in a knowledgable home would be fine. But after being told about a stallion I was interested in attacking and could of killed a handler for no reason, luckily it was distracted and the handler excaped, it got me thinking, dogs if they bite someone are putdown, yes they are predator animals but a horse could easily kill a human.

Having worked with a horse that was dangerous no doubt about it, but it was the owners fault. I know that that horse could of been fine with good handling but the owners refused to sell her and said they knew what they were doing, clearly not! Interestly this horse is no longer alive.

So why are dangerous horses as in can't be changed by good handling should they be kept alive and potentally attack more people and should, in the case of the stallion, be bred from?
 
You can't be all frickin' bunny-hugger about this kind of situation - Send 'em to the slaughterhouse. If its too dangerous to handle you can't just stick it in a field to retire as it will still need its hooves and teeth maintained etc.
 
horse at work is downright dangerous to handle, only the boss is allowed in stable with him, someone else decdied they would have a go once and got thier kneecap bitten, he was given to my boss as was so dangerous, so he got him for nothng, is fantastic to ride but personally dont think its worth the risk
 
Good answer GTs, I can see someone breeding from a dangerous horse if say it was the most fantastic racehorse etc, as nice temperants don't win Derbies.

Personnally I wouldn't want one - even free.
 
I'm with Pixie -- although I'd probably just do the deed, myself and put some protein in the freezer.
grin.gif

Liability issues aside. I wouldnt keep a dangerous horse (OK -- I grant you -- even gramma's-go-to-meetin'-cart-pony can hurt you bad if you're not careful) when there are so many adorable kind lovable horses waiting out there that need good homes.
It can also be a case of "the chicken or the egg". Was the horse an evil-minded nut case before owner "X" bought it? Does owner "X" have a long history of problem horses? Some people, for any number of reasons -- and not all associated with intentional abuse -- shouldn't be allowed to have horses. (my 2 cents)
 
[ QUOTE ]
as in can't be changed by good handling

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be curious to know whether someone like Kelly Marks believes that there is such a thing as a horse with behavioural problems that can not be rehabilitated.
 
load of bo**ocks!!! people when they actually do KILL someone are put in prison for 18 months and let out to do it again, until our own species are sorted out we shoulnt pickout others. we're unhandlable and we expect animals to do exactly what we want. dont you think that it was a human that caused this horse to be unhandlable by cruelty or abuse. just think, horses arnt predators, they act out of fear and are defending themselves. i am a strong beleiver of monty roberts and he calmed a horse that had just been shut in a stable all it's life and turned wild, within 20 mins he was calmly walking around. if a horse on a road is scared and kicks out at a car, is it considered dangerous? should it be put down? no.
 
Amen to that!!!

Personally I HAVE seen a horse in attack mode and you can whistle for all I care, horses may be *flight* animals but that does NOT mean they cannot be aggresive!
 
Ah but not all horses are dangerous because of fear, the horse I was talking about was spoilt rotten as her owners were scared of her, so she used to use this against them.
MR may well of got a horse kept in its stable that was 'wild' to walk around calmly, but if that horse was dangerous and trying to kill him as it has something wrong mentally I don't think he would of managed it in 20mins.
 
Haven't read the whole thread.. but i worked with a horse that truely wanted to kill you (once you were on him, he was fine, easiest ride in the yard).. there was no changing him with better handling etc..
He was kept alive because he was a good racehorse, winning races etc. he was a gelding, so wouldn't be used for breeding!
I expect when his racing days are over, he will more than likely be PTS, but for now, he lives with a head colour on, two people go into the stable to catch him, one with some food, once cought, muzzle goes on, and he is tied up VERY tight to the wall (ie so he can't move his head) this is only to tack him up.. once tacked up, you can untie him, and lead him out to get on like a dog!!
It's just entering his stable, he will run at you mouth open.
 
[ QUOTE ]
load of bo**ocks!!! people when they actually do KILL someone are put in prison for 18 months and let out to do it again, until our own species are sorted out we shoulnt pickout others. we're unhandlable and we expect animals to do exactly what we want. dont you think that it was a human that caused this horse to be unhandlable by cruelty or abuse. just think, horses arnt predators, they act out of fear and are defending themselves. i am a strong beleiver of monty roberts and he calmed a horse that had just been shut in a stable all it's life and turned wild, within 20 mins he was calmly walking around. if a horse on a road is scared and kicks out at a car, is it considered dangerous? should it be put down? no.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi InlovewithaNewForest --

I certainly see your point. I gentle feral horses for a hobby. Here in the states, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management conducts periodic gathers of wild horse and then adopts them out. I've taken two yearlings and have had GREAT results with lots of time, patience, and gentle behavior mod. It was so much fun and so fulfilling, I'm going to do it again this summer.
It is interesting that at these adoptions, there are sometimes adult herd Stallions 6+ years old-- They are often very striking animals -- heavily muscled, long tangled manes and tails, and absolutely tons of "Brio" -- Do you have that word in GB -- it means essence of maleness/pride/strength? You look into their eyes though and you do not see fear, you see burning hatred. Pure and Simple.

Probably there ARE techniques to break one of those guys -- but at what cost to the horse? and to what end for the trainer? I wouldn't go near one with a ten foot pole but you always see few men clustered around the stallion corrals spouting the most specious nonsense you ever heard. High speed bullet from 200 yards would be a lot more humane, in my mind.

BTW -- Monty Roberts got into a bit of a kerfluffle when he took on capturing and training Little Man -- a wild BLM mustang. (I think he has a book out on his experiment by the name "Little Man"). It seems that the BLM had some problems with the lengthy tracking period and then of course, the fact that the little guy was running loose in a HMA and not gathered for adoption. Little Man was most likely (I don't remember for sure) a bachelor stallion and so would be very amenable to the "join up" approach. I don't know how the issue was ever resolved -- I hope in a positive way because Mr. Roberts does have a lot to share of value.)
 
we had one that was real evil for no apparent reason, nice to ride, teeth, health, feet and back all fine. Just did not like the yard. Owner sold it to a hunting yard and the last I heard it was doinf brilliantly. It hated stables aswell but could not be turned out with anything and the fields where crap. Was nice when it was out
 
[ QUOTE ]
load of bo**ocks!!! people when they actually do KILL someone are put in prison for 18 months and let out to do it again, until our own species are sorted out we shoulnt pickout others.

[/ QUOTE ]

What a ridiculous statement....
crazy.gif
 
I think is what have people seen - riding schools demonstrate this the best - people come out of them thinking they have seen so much, can ride really well, know horsemanship, and have seen naughty horses - but come out into the real world. Until you have seen 1000s of horses and handled foals, unbroke horses, competition horse, abused horses, all sorts you have really not seen anything.

Look how many people struggle with ex-race horses, who have been professional handled and broke - you can not judge your average riders opinion on things.
 
No horse is born bad. I don't believe in a bad horse. And GT i haven't come from a riding school, i've worked with toubled horses, abused, written off horses. Horses weren't put on this world for us. My horse is dangerous to my cat doesnt mean my cat kills him. I believe horses will only become undangerous when they accept to join your herd as such. I have heard of natural horsemanship work not work 100% e.g only trainer could work with the horse etc, in which the horse has lived a happy life turned away doing things he was designed and put on this world to do. I understand this won't happen. I my self wouldn't put down a horse other then for his quailty of life.
 
Hmmm yes, was just looking at the post about what to do with a rearer and was thinking along the same lines...horses ARE potential killing machines if allowed to be. After having a friend comatosed and brain damaged by a horse falling over backwards after rearing I personally have no time for dangerous horses.
 
i agree with with forget me not, no horse is born bad, humans give horses bad habits, make them dangerous.
just look at old pony club ponys, they have rider after rider yanking on them doing the same thing everyday. if i was on the recieving end of that i'd turn bad too.
my horse i have atm has been treated badly in his past hes soooo nervous of every thing hes 8 atm but really like a 4 year old in his head his previous owners were scared of him as hes huge 18.3hh. the hubby rode him once fell off and poor alfie was stuck in a field for 3 years.
when i went to buy him no one would ride him owner or anyone on the yard so i just had to get on him myself. the horse was wary, but never put a foot wrong.
i did actually buy him to sell on, but hes going no where now, he has never had anyone love him at all he thrives on affection, don't get me wrong im a long way off having him bombproof but i know deep down this horse is the one.
if i don't give him a chance who else will, hes been passed from pillar to post.
i was told by a couple of people on the yard after he injured his leg to have him pts as hes a danger to himself and he will never come right(nervious wise not his leg).
my vet bill has now cost me £1000, but i don't regret any penny
 
it depends on what you regard as dangerous? my little mare was labelled as dangerous by her previous (numpty) owner, she was just bad mannered and bargy due to anxiety, and crap handling by her previous owner.
there was a mare at the yard who had really bad mood swings and behavioural problems due to her ovaries being infected, she is a dream again now she has been treated.
dangerous in my book is a comfirmed vertical rearer, or a true bolter, both types IMHO should be put down, kickers and biters with confident accurate handing are managable, but i wouldn't sell one on or breed from it, one of the reasons i bought my welsh filly was because i admired her dad's temprement so much!
one thing i always notice on project horses website is the amount of perfectly good horses messed up by stoopid people often using parrelli, that to me is a crying shame.
 
Forgot to say... What horse isnt dangerous? Recovering from a broken ankle after being bolted and crashing down on the road.... He is a very strog horse who just gets over whelmed... Should i kill him?

[ QUOTE ]
vertical rearer, or a true bolter, both types IMHO should be put down

[/ QUOTE ] Why just becuase we can't make them ride does that give us the right to kill them? Why can't they enjoy there life without being riden or shot?
 
Forget_Me_Not - I totally agree with your opinion. Just because a horse doesnt happen to fit in with what WE humans want then that does NOT give us the right to kill it.

In my opinion, people who are so quick to end a horses life don't deserve to own any horse at all.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why can't they enjoy there life without being riden or shot?

[/ QUOTE ]

Cause they are livestock, and that is what happens to livestock.
 
[ QUOTE ]
vertical rearer, or a true bolter, both types IMHO should be put down

[/ QUOTE ] Why just becuase we can't make them ride does that give us the right to kill them? Why can't they enjoy there life without being riden or shot?

[/ QUOTE ]

you have to take the rose tinted glasse off for a while here.....put yourself in this position.....you have confirmed bolter, danger to it'sself and anything that gets in the way, o.k so you retire it to the feild, all is fine until you lose your job and can't pay the livery, then what do you do??????? you have choices, do you a) give it away as a companion, with the likelihood of it being sold on and killing someone or b) do you have it PTS???? could you live with an accident on your conscience??
i'm not for one minute suggesting we all roam around killing horses for no reason and if you decide to keep a problem horse as a pet then that doesn't worry me either, but you have to think in the long term and be responsible and do the decent thing if it comes to it.
and for your information i have an old mare retired to grass, who is ruddy dangerous if in a stable and partially sighted and certainly a bit dodgy to handle, but is happy and living the life of riley at the moment, so i'm not a murderer am i??????? although plans are in place to PTS in the not too distant future, i would never shirk my responsibility by giving her away as a companion.
 
I think if someone has a horse PTS for being dangerous it is the last alternative. Purely from a financial point of view, it would be better to sell it for £500, as according to previous posts it cruel to take them to the horse slaughters and you would only get £300 anyway and if you had it shot it would cost you about £600. I would get rid of something to some mug for £500 if I thought it could be trained out of its behavioural issues. However if I thought it was truely dangerous and could kill someone I would have it destroyed as I would rather pay out than have an accident on my consense.
 
lilym I said in my first post, I relise horses will never be treated like this. I understand people can not make it possible. I just myself wouldn't and IMHO I don't agree with the idea of shooting an animal that we can't gian from.
 
like i said, fine, if you want to keep it them keep it, like i do with my old girl, but what i am saying is do the decent thing if you can no longer keep it and don't pass the horse on into the downward spiral of abuse and neglect, there are many, many unscrupolous people out there who will take full advantage of companion animals and sell them on, one particulary nasty peice of work isn't far from you either.......
 
If you re-read my OP I said if could not be cured, not that it was dangerous to ride, that if it was mentally dangerous, could never been kept as a pet as it would put the farrier/vet/dentist in dangerous, surely PTS would be better for the horse then to suffer with long feet, sore mouth and no contact with other horses or humans as it too dangerous to them all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top