Extreme reaction to the smell of muck spreading?!

[bex1984]

Last week Murphy had 2 days where he turned into a bit of a loon. I rode him in the field where I've been riding all summer and he suddenly went really spooky - head in the air, pooing everywhere, trying to gallop off out the field - and this then carried on in his stable.

Now, Murphy is usually the calmest, most sensible and safest pony around - I've never known him to behave like this.

The only thing I could put it down to was that they were muck-spreading in the adjoinig fields, and it smelt very strong. Someone told me they were spreading pig poo.

Just wondering if anyone else's horse reacts this strongly to this smell?! I can't think of anything else that could have caused him to behave so differently from normal!

strange pone.

 

[laura_nash]

If it's pig poo they were spreading then it is very likely that - a lot of horses have a real pig phobia and it's often related to the smell. It's especially likely if he hasn't had much to do with pigs in the past.

I don't think anyone knows why it's so common (it's a bit like people and spiders!).

 

[arwenplusone]

I think it is common due to the fact that pigs (boar, specifically) would have once been a predator to horses. So is a throwback to instinct.

 

[bex1984]

could well be that then...as far as I know Murphy's never come into contact with pigs. It really was strange because I've just never known him to react to anything like that - he's a very laid back chap!

 

[mtj]

Good chance it was the muck spreading.

Had similar incident yesterday. Horse was unconcerned about muck spreading we could see in the distance, but totally unimpressed when we met the lorry delivering the next load on a narrow lane.

I had to get off and drag him past. In fairness it really did honk.

The blokes on board were very good natured about stopping for us.
Doubt this was the first horrified horse they had encountered.