Dealing With A Bad Tempered Horse

[tonitot]

Not sure if bad tempered is the right way to describe the horse, but I'm a numpty and can't think of anything else

Basically, I know a horse that most people don't really like, he bites, kicks, squashes you and lunged over the door at someone yesterday and bit their shoulder. When he bites it's not just a nip, it's a full on teeth around the arm and clamp down kind of bite. Personally, I love this horse, he's amazing to ride (everyone admits that) but although he acts like a nasty viscous beast, when I walk in there I give him a rub and we have a cuddle and some kisses, and he plays with the zip on my coat quite happily. We normally get on fine, he has his moments when he'll go for me, but I just leave him alone and he settles down fine. Today I groomed him and he was fine and I untied him and walked to the door (he was helpful actually, took my haynet out of my hand while I untied him and then carried it to the door!) but then I remembered I hadn't picked his feet out so tied him back up and went and got my hoofpick. I went back in the stable and turned so I could could pick up his foot and he went for me, teeth and legs all at the same time. I dodged them and shouted "No!" and pushed him away as normally he gives up when he realises I wont stand for it, but today he came back, again all teeth and feet at once and tried to squash me against the wall. Again I shouted "NO!" and really pushed him off me, this time he moved over but looked really angry and was still trying to bite me. He soon settled and I did his feet fine and untied him and left him. I just can't really understand why he did it, as far as I'm aware I did nothing to provoke the behaviour other than tying him back up after letting him down once already.
My question is, how would you deal with a horse like this? When I'm in there I don't tell him off, as I've found ignoring him is normally the best way, but obviously the "attack" today couldn't really be ignored. Thanks to anyone who can enlighten me and let me know if what I'm doing is right

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Hopefully if he continues not to get his own way or any sort of reaction from what he's doing he should eventually get fed up.

Although does sound like he's very wound up! Does he get exercised/turned out a bit?

 

[ladyt25]

Who does the horse belong to? Is this at a riding stables or a privately owned horse? When i was at college there was a mare on the yard who was very very similar. she would go for people and she meant it! Having to have her as one of your to muck out of a morning was fun. Basically, it was all about tactics - tie her up with the haynet and just get on with mucking out but be aware of her back legs - oh and her teeth! She was fantastic to ride though so it is quite strange.

One time I was mucking her out and I took her bucket out to fill it up then had to put it back in her stable but the sod have then strategically placed her back end across the door (ie her nearside blocking the doorway) i had to try and get her to move over and she was not happy! If I remember she then tried to bite me and i (stupidly but it was automatic) slapped her and blimey did she let rip with her back end - it was a good job it was just the door that took the brunt of it!!!

now, looking back ifeel sorry for her, i think she must have had a past and maybe was just a one person horse and having all these 'kids' about just irritated her and, in her mind they were beneath her. After i left college a girl who loved her actually bought her from the college and it was nice to know she was going to be a one person horse. However, sadly she was found dead in the field within about the first week p she'd managed to somehow stake herself on a fence rail or branch (I can't remember) and had bled to death. A very sad end for a troubled horse I felt.

I don't know if anything can change this behaviour but my thoughts would be a quiter life, with one owner and maybe spending more time out in a field and not in a stable so they can't get so territorial.

 

[tonitot]

He's a racehorse and goes out for about an hour a day being ridden, doesn't ever really go out except after he races. I'd say this is why he is how he is, but it annoys me when people say they hate him because he's evil ... He's not! He can be such a sweet heart and so loving when given a bit of love, but not many people give him a chance. What I really want to know is how to deal with him when he's in a mood, am I right for not smacking him and acting as if he hasn't done anything?

 

[BethandHenry]

I often wonder this myself - my horse Henry isn't as dangerous as the horse you describe, but he does often bite, and now runs back after he tries to bite as he thinks he's going to get a smack. To be honest, I ignore most of it, for example when doing up the girth, but agree that when it comes to a full on attack you have to respond. Sorry I don't really have an answer to the question, but I'd be interested in seeing the replies as well!

 

[maggiesmum]

I've been around racehorses like this and I think you're doing the right thing, I think if i was stabled so much with very little forage to eat therefore very little to do except stare at the walls i'd be pretty irritable too!
Sadly its all to common with them, whether it be physical ie ulcers or phycological, people need to realise just as you have that he's a product of his environment. Good for you for making such an effort with him, I think you have the right approach by ignoring him for the most part but you're right to exact some discipline for a full on attack, he needs to know that even you have your limits to what you'll tolerate.

 

[Cazzah]

I have an ex-racer. When I first got him he bit me and anyone else within striking distance given half the chance, though thankfully didn't use his rear end as well! I had him scoped and subsequently treated for ulcers. I also spent time with him - on his terms most of the time. I always growled at him if he did anything wrong and always kept him tied short when grooming (he hates being brushed). Over time he gradually changed. I like to think that we have bonded and he has learnt to trust that I handle him with care and respect. He also lives out 24/7 with access to his stable to come and go as he pleases.

Its two and a half years later now and I can handle him loose in the stable. I even groomed last night without him wearing a headcollar at all. He sometimes still pulls faces and on those days I do what I need to do and leave him be. Other times he can be affectionate and loves a scratch behind the ear. Occasionally I will even get a cuddle - they are very precious when I consider how far this horse has come.

I think you need to be sensible and not take any risks - keep him tied short when grooming/handling and don't get too complacent. Over time he will hopefully come to appreciate your relationship with him and chill out. Unfortunately whilst he is within the racing situation with limited turnout and an unnatural diet (and therefore likely to have ulcers) there is every chance that he will be in some discomfort and may still continue to display aggressive tendancies. Don't take it personally. Take each day as it comes and carry on giving this horse your attention.

 

[ladyt25]

I certainly don't think retaliating will help him in this case but, as said he does need to learn there are boundaries and you do right being firm with him when you do. It's quite sad though, i think if he had some more time to vent his anger by being turned out to let off some steam even for just an hour a day. I always though racehorses wre turned out more than that? As said, I'd be bloody miserable too if I was fit and fed high energy feed etc yet was confined to some tiny box for 23 hrs a day. Is it not possible you can suggest he is maybe given something to stimulate when in the box - one of those treat balls (with or without feed in) - maybe he can then throw that about a bit and he'll not be as tempted to try and take chunks out of people?! He sounds very frustrated.

 

[katherine1975]

I think I'd be grumpy if I only went out for an hour a day and could never run around and move my feet without being told what to do and when and where I was going. Some horses cope better with being stabled than others and it is unnatural for them. I think you are doing the right thing, personally this would upset me to be with a horse that was unhappy and didn't enjoy human company. My horse comes to call in the field as she loves to be with people and lives out as much as possible.

 

[Nettle123]

A few years ago we gave a home to a retired riding school pony that was evil and would bite, really doing damage without any provocation, he was handy with his heels too. His history was very limited turn out and a long period of box rest that must have driven him mad.

From the time he came here he was never stabled. He became the sweetest friendliest lad. I had to bring him in one day to bathe a cut and in the stable he was transformed, sweating, face pulling, all the old behaviour back again. Back in the field completely relaxed. He stayed with us until he died after 4 years, strangely and a first for us, he seemed to die in his sleep. In the spot that he always liked a snooze. The ground around him was not churned about, no sweat on him and we had seen him an hour before.

I like to think he had a happy retirement but do think that he would have remained a stressed worried pony without the change of environement.

 

[Flicker]

The horse next door to mine used to behave the same way. My instructor thinks he was possibly hand-reared as a youngster and was never taught to respect the personal space of his handlers. He used to be quite vicious actually.
At one point, his owner couldn't go into the stable without a length of plastic pipe (not to hit him with, but to use to 'extend' her personal space around him).
Two small changes in his routine have made all the difference: work and firm, fair, consistent handling (if he didn't get away with a behaviour yesterday, he's not going to get away with it today). He's quite charming now.

 

[foraday]

Like someone has said he may have been hand reared or a broodmare that just let the little monkey get away with murder!

Or he could have been handled wrongly at prepping and breaking and now bites first to stop himself being hit by a human

We had a horse like this on our race yard many many moons ago. We just made that there was only 1 person that he would interact with. can be difficult though but trainers daughter made this horse her project and he could cope-just! There were days that were worse than others and when he was in a major bad strop!

Not sure if you can find out his history at all? there are plenty of people on here involved in the racing industry here that could track down info