Feeding horses treats

W

WishfulThinker

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2006
Messages
5,418
Location
Just up from that street on the right.....
Visit site
What are your views on this? I personally dont like it as my boy WILL bite - and blooming hard.

The guy whos daughter has her horse next to my boy gives him polos when he is up in the mornings, and sometime at night. He has been asked not to, and someone even said to him not to do it as he bit her earlier - but he was just like " I know" and continued to give him polos!.
The girl who turns him out has described his behaviour as 'coltish' as he is not rooting into pockets and generally looking for a treat, and if he thinks u have something he will trot along side you
frown.gif
. And he got me a good one earlier. He has also started rushing to the door when he knows food is coming, before he was trained (painstaikingly) by my mum to move to the back of his stable when his feed came in.

When I got him he was a biter, and it took me a few months and many MANY bruises (me not him)to sort him out. I am rather peeved that I am going to have to do it again!!! I put up a sign saying not to feed him, and unfortunately if it continues I am considering getting upper bars for his door - but he will propably still get one shoved through the bars
frown.gif
.

I do give him horse treats, but when he gets his feed they go in his bucket.

How do I stop people giving him treats? I am up after everyone else has gone as I get up after work and if he has been taken in he gets a treat/polo as someone alwyas feels 'sorry' for him. I am rather angry, and also upset as I view biting as a rather bad/serious vice and to me it would really devalue a horse.

Any suggestions?? And anything other than signs and haveing ANOTHER word with the 'offender'?
 
It's difficult to stop people giving the horse treats...if they won't be told! And some people won't be told! But you are going to have to be firm with the culprits and explain the behaviour problems that the treats are creating...presumably he has enough hay to eat and that is not the reason why they feel 'sorry' for him?
Also, whoever is handling him will have to be firm with him too, regardless of treats...a horse should not get anywhere near your pockets if you don't want them too and should be made to move out of your space before they get to pockets. Being firm and consistent will help him get the message...move back from the door before you enter the stable (take a stick and use the end to give him a poke in the chest if he does not do as he is told), lead him in a bridle to give more control and insist he walks nicely beside you (every time he jogs or shoves, circle him several times in a tight circle and then ask for walk again, if he jogs, circle again etc).
Unfortunately it is a terrible situation because you cannot be there 24/7 to make sure he does not get titbits, so all you can do is be strict on his behaviour and ensure he gets no food from hands from you or those others willing to follow the rules.
 
Pop a note on his stable door and the tack room notice board.

Say something like

My Horse bites - but so do I. Don't give him treats!!!
 
I never feed someone elses horses unless they are there & I have permission. No one has the right to give feed/treats to any animal that does not belong to them. My own horses get a polo when bridled & treats when working in hand. We do have someone at our yard who continually gives out carrots to other peoples horses, but not MINE.
 
Definitely put a note on his stable door. I like the idea of the MY HORSE BITES - AN SO DO I - SO NO TREATS WHATSOEVER sort of sign. Obviously the guy doesn't realise that it is absolutely not on to feed anybody else's horse anything.
 
I'd be furious, and am very glad that I'm on a small yard where everyone pretty much keeps themselves to themselves. I've stopped the kids giving SWUO treats from the hand as she was getting to expect them, and I really don't want to encourage that kind of behaviour.
 
ebay have some nice bright yellow signs to put on stable door for this, least it might remind them and make them feel guilty without you having to.

my boy refuses treats from strangers so i'm lucky, he hates mints and apple
laugh.gif
 
Tricky one this as he thinks his being kind,but, fact is his going to create a big problem for you. I would talk to him and explain that it has taken time and pain to stop your boy being a biter and that his actions just indorse this behaviour, that you truly believe his being kind, but, it does not work with your horse,and by putting a "Don't Give Treats !" sign, that is what you are asking for!
 
My YO says if he ever finds anyone feeding his horses treats, especially his stallion, he will fill their pockets with treats, tie their hands behind their backs and leave them in the stallions stable with him for half an hour
smile.gif

Might be a bit extreme in this case..................
 
It's a huge problem. Our little lad has been titbitted in the past and now expects packs of polos and carrots all the time. And he has a nasty bite on him. Luckily he never bites the kids, only me or my dad (and any adult who dares turn their back on him and not give him a treat). I still have teeth marks in my backside from a fortnight ago.
I do treat the other horses on the yard, but I ask permission first. And then it's usually a piece of apple or a herbal treat.

Can you speak to your YO and maybe she'll make a rule that no-one is to feed anyone elses horse unless asked to do so?
 
You've just got to put it to the man straight. Tell him the feeding of titbits over the door is causing behavioral problems with your horse. Enforce it to him that it is your horse & you do not want any thing fed to him over the door by anyone. If he's too thick to understand then you've got to be even more forceful.
A sign on the door will back up what you've said & hopefully he'll wise up.
frown.gif
 
I am lucky in that all the horses in our small yard can have treats with no nasty side effects. When I leave late at night, they each get a minty cube as I check them all (only 5). They all wait patiently and gently take the cube in turn.

However, I have the owner's permission for those that are not mine.

I have asked that if Chancer ever shows any sign of nipping, banging etc he is not given anything and to date he is no problem.

I would not be pleased if someone treated a horse that I had problems with.
 
I don't care what any of my boarders do with their own horses but I tell (and sometimes I have to FIRMLY tell) them never to tidbit any of my horses.

I don't have any problems from any of the horses, whether their owners tidbit them or not. They all know that I don't do it therefore they don't expect it from me.
 
saw a notice on one of my liveries doors a few years ago...

"Dont treat my horse, the owner WILL bite"!!!

Brilliant i thought!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top