Feeding manners

Puzzle4ever

Puzzle4ever

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Hi:D
I have had a pony for about 5 months now and when I got it was really naughty then again it was only 6. I have taught it to be better at riding and not to pull me down for grass.
But I am struggling to teach him food manners. He is being naughty with food because he is in a field worth another pony and he kick out at him we have kind of got him a bit better with it but when you are giving him a bucket he just takes it right out of your hands!

Has anyone got any advice for me

Thanks

Puzzle4ever:p
 
He has to learn to wait outside your personal space until given permission to come closer - or you put the bucket down and move away. It isn't just about feed - it is about learning to respect humans generally.

There are all sorts of other issues when horses don't respect a human's personal space. They can become bargy, difficult to lead or load, difficult to mount, dangerous in the stable. If this is a pony which might be handled or ridden by children it is doubly important that they are well behaved. And 6 is an ideal time to start to teach him as he is still a baby with some growing up to do.

Have a look at some of the ground work techniques from people like Richard Maxwell, Monty Roberts or Kelly Marks. I'm not advacating any particualr "school" just good sensible horsemanship.
 
I have a pony like this. He was bolting his feed, getting stressed by the animals around him and posed a serious risk to them by kicking out

I now separate him to feed him, he has learned to respect me and not snatch at the bucket any more and he knows he has to step back and wait. I used empty buckets and lots and lots of repetitions to get it right

I don't think he needs the added pressure of the others and that's why I separate him - why put him through it if I don't need to?

On the rare occasions that my husband has to feed them in the field I give the pony a deep bucket so nothing else can get a nose in and I give the other pony extra plain chaff so he always finishes after and doesn't hassle the fussy one

Of you don't have access to a stable to separate the pony a square made of electric fence may be a good idea or just take him outside the gate, tie him up and make him wait while you get the feed

It might seem more work but can actually be far quicker if you don't have to have a battle!
 
You cannot teach him while there is another horse close by as he is only protecting his feed which is natural, once he knows the food is not going to be taken away he will have more faith in taking it more slowly.
 
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