Foal getting stroppy at feeding time

[illy89]

My foal is nearly 3months old. She doesn't get proper feeds as she doesn't need them but she gets a small handful of mums food in her own bucket to keep her away from mum whilst she is eating as she can be aggressive with other horses when food is concerned (even with her own baby!) - i was advised by the stud to do this to keep the foal out of harms way.

Sienna seems to have picked up Mum's aggressive behavior when it comes to food. She is a pleasure to handle in every other way but when she sees the feed bucket she turns her back end on you and starts jumping about all over the place - she has kicked the shetlands who are out with her when they have come to close to her whilst eating - this is exactly what her mum does and i really want to get her out of the habit before its to late.

Obviously i can just separate her from the other horses when feeding but how do i deal with her turning her back end to me when all im trying to do is put her feed bucket down!! Should i stop feeding her and maybe let her mum deal with her now she is bigger in order to put her in her place (eg if Sienna tries to take her Mums food she will get a nip)

Any advice much appreciated as feel it is getting a bit dangerous for me to be around if food is about which is not ideal!!

 

[Keirarae]

Hi - shame you didn't get any responses to this. I have the same problem with my 5 month old now - although she doesn't bite or kick. Yet! It is all posturing but now she has started barging me.
What happened? Did it get better once you weaned your filly?

 

[Maesfen]

One of my colts is exactly the same and takes after his mother although he has no reason to as he's in his own box so doesn't need to guard or protect his food. I'm afraid if he tries to barge me or turns a back end on me he gets short shrift either by voice, an elbow or if he's very bad, a bucket up his backside any of which stop him in his tracks until he forgets himself again.
You mustn't let them intimidate you so better to sort it now rather than wait until they get bigger.

 

[callmelucky]

My filly was the same as her mum was a witch when eating so she copied. i ignored it and left her in piece to eat so she didnt have an excuse to kick out. when she was weaned, thats when i taught her it wasnt acceptable and to be honest once she was away from mum it only took a couple of slaps on the bum to stop her. now i can do anything to her when shes eating.... if i need to. i dont really like disturbing her when shes having her tea.

 

[Keirarae]

Thanks for the responses, it is good to know mine is not the only one and that with the right response it is pretty easy to overcome. She is left to eat once the bucket is in place, it is getting to the place to put it down when the behaviour errupts. I am now using a natural training technique for getting a horse to back off, which involves marching my feet and swinging a schooling whip left to right in front of me (pointing to the ground) like a pendulum. I feel like a bit of a prat but it's working, she has backed off and stands with her mum waiting for the bucket to be put down. Hopefully she will learn this pretty quick then I can lose the whip and just march if necessary. Funny thing is her mum has impecable manners with me, it's only other horses that she is aggressive with about food. Wish Marla would pick that one up from her mum.