Filly help needed

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samual

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Hi i have a 19 month old filly who iv had from day she was born and shes always been layed back and a really good girl, But in this last week shes been bucking at me when i take her hay to field she lives out. Shes always put her ears bk but never done any thing. She is my second youngster but i never had this problem with my other horse may be because hes a gerlding. It is becoming quite scaray and dangerouse she will do it out the blue :( shes always respected my space and im not sure why shes behaving this way now. Any advice would be great.
 
Sounds like she is trying to assert her authority a little. If you stand squarely at her and wave your arms how does she react? Does she back off or still keep coming.If she continues coming at you I know it sounds harsh but carry a schooling whip and don't be afraid to make contact with her chest or feet if this is what she is aiming at you to make her stop and think.
 
I have a welsh cob filly the same age, and has gone through similar behaviour.
It started in the summer when she would turn her rear to me when I went into the paddock, in went further to her actually double barrelling me, and trying to charge me out of the field.

This went on for a week or so on and off until one day I really stood my ground, she double barrelled me and put me on my back, and when I got up she tried it again but missed and I booted her one back and chased after her growling as loud as I could. Well the look on her face was priceless.
She was totally trying to dominate me and had succeeded up until that point.
She hasn't behaved that way in months until this week, she's trying her luck again, and you can see the devilment in her face. She's a cheeky sod at the best of times, so to say I've got my hands full is an understatement.

If I dont nip it in the bud now, she'll get to big to deal with, and I'm a great believer in a horses natural behaviour. If she did that to any other horse in her paddock, they would kick her back and chase her away, its language they understand.
Fluffy bunnies may not agree with my way, but wagging a finger and saying no has no affect !!

Dont let it go as far as I did, getting double barrelled bloody hurts :D
Sort it out now before they get to big for their boots, they are definitely trying to dominate you x
 
My filly is the same age and she was born here and has been very well handled since day one. About 4 months ago she too started to show her dominant side especially at feed times in her box. At first i thought it is her feed time let her be then i decided this is not on, she was swinging her bum at me and showing ugly faces as soon as the bucket appeared. Enough was enough so i took in an empty feed bucket and when she swung around i walloped her on the bum with it. She was so shocked she nearly fell over as no human had ever been aggressive with her until then. It took 2 days, now she will let me change rugs, move the bucket etc when she is eating no problems, now i am the dominant one that allows her to eat on my terms, much safer for me and my daughter now she knows her place. Needs nipping in the bud. Chase away then allow back for a scratch, fuss etc on your terms, put a headcollar on when doing it so you can keep a hold to avoid sudden swinging and aggression.
 
2 saucepan lids, the older and tinnier the better. Fooling about with you is only what she'd do to another youngster and at 19 months she'll just be starting to feel grown up, so will be thinking that she can do what she wants. But she wouldn't be allowed to do it to another adult horse and she certainly shouldn't be allowed to do it to you. If she thunders up to you striking out and farting about crash the 2 saucepan lids together in her face like the cymbals in a band. I guarantee that, if she doesn't have a heart attack, she will treat you with the utmost respect in the future. Might take a 2nd crash just to let her know the 1st one wasn't just an accident. She may zoom off to the farthest corner of the field and stand gawking at you with her eyes on stalks but if she's getting dangerous you have to meet her level of disrespect with the same level of action.
 
samual said:
It is becoming quite scaray and dangerouse she will do it out the blue :( shes always respected my space and im not sure why shes behaving this way now. Any advice would be great.
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Have you noticed her in season. Fillies can be absolute PITA's for their first couple of seasons. Otherwise, I'd say she's testing the water.

I wouldn't carry a whip - hitting her may just encourage her to fight back - and you don't want to make her scared of you - just to respect your space.

I'm very fond of rubber feed skips for this job - they can be launched through the air with some force if she makes aggressive moves towards you. It doesn't make them FRIGHTENED of you - because they don't associate the action with you personally - but it does teach them the consequences of unacceptable behaviour! Half a bucket of water is also effective - as is a decent sized water pistol aimed straight at her face! A very firm 'NO!' at the same time - so that they learn that NO means stop what you're doing - or else!
 
Heya, I have 2 youngsters one of them used to do this frequently it wasn't aimed at me though it was at my other horse, its a case of I am hungry and no one else is getting near my food so LOOK OUT!! I threw his flimsy bucket at him to stop him from doing it. If there are other horses in the field then its not necessarily at you as my horse will let me stand next to him when he is eating I have made a point of doing so, its all to do with pecking order, natural instinct and fight for survival.
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
2 saucepan lids, the older and tinnier the better. Fooling about with you is only what she'd do to another youngster and at 19 months she'll just be starting to feel grown up, so will be thinking that she can do what she wants. But she wouldn't be allowed to do it to another adult horse and she certainly shouldn't be allowed to do it to you. If she thunders up to you striking out and farting about crash the 2 saucepan lids together in her face like the cymbals in a band. I guarantee that, if she doesn't have a heart attack, she will treat you with the utmost respect in the future. Might take a 2nd crash just to let her know the 1st one wasn't just an accident. She may zoom off to the farthest corner of the field and stand gawking at you with her eyes on stalks but if she's getting dangerous you have to meet her level of disrespect with the same level of action.
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Great idea, I will be borrowing this in the future :)
 
Thanks for all replies, I don't think she is hungry as she gets half bale of hay morning and night plus a feed, I will let you all know how i get on lol
 
samual said:
Thanks for all replies, I don't think she is hungry as she gets half bale of hay morning and night plus a feed, I will let you all know how i get on lol
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Does she get this to herself, or have to share with others? If she shares it how do you feed it, and is it enough so that there is some left over when you bring her in??
 
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