Food Aggression in new pony

[Scot123]

Advice please!

This is something that needs sorting asap, but I don't want to go down the wrong route and make things worse.

Brought new pony home last week (yay!!). Generally lovely and he gets on well with his wee companion, though he has quickly established himself as the dominant one. It's just the two of them, living out 24/7.

I always give them a small feed to encourage them to come up to the fence when called. But it was obvious from the start that the new pony had a few issues.

Ears pinned back, barging in to the bucket, wary glances and general aggressive body language whilst eating. He is actually fairly good at leaving the wee pony alone to eat - it's just me getting the flack!

Initially I just pushed him out of the way and didn't put his bucket down until he'd backed up and ears forward. But yesterday and today, once the bucket was down and I was moving away he spun round and kicked out at me.

I don't yet have a saddle so haven't done any ridden work yet but am leading out inhand each day, getting him to back-up, move over, go forward from the voice etc.

Any advice on how I should proceed? Thank you.

 

[EQUIDAE]

I'd stop the feed. If he's not being ridden, does he even need one. Once you have established a rapport/respect with him, maybe start then?

 

[twiggy2]

I second stop the feed, but I honestly believe that animals should be left alone to eat a feed that is of high value to them.
I would be cross if someone wanted me to back away from my food and smile at them before I ate-everything in a horses nature tells it if it moves away from food it has lost it as another horse will move i and take it.

 

[Scot123]

I was wondering about that, but then wondered if it would just push the issue back to a later date? I've always just given a handful of balancer in a bucket when I've come up to see the ponies to make it easier for me to catch them but I suppose leaving it a few weeks will make no difference.

Yes, I totally see about leaving them in peace to eat, but I do want to feel safe when putting the feed down without risking being kicked out at as I walk away?

But you think don't tackle it head on, gain respect in other areas and then hopefully this should resolve itself naturally?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I can never understand this fascination some horse-owners seem to have with insisting that their horse moves/stands away from its bucket feed until told to move.

Many years ago I bought a mare who was extremely proud of her feed, including hay, as she had been kept very short in a previous home and had to fight for every morsel within a herd. She objected strongly to anyone being near her when she was eating, to the point of being dangerous if you were in the stable with her, so we made sure that we stood behind a barrier and watched her eat - luckily our stables at the time had a grille between the stable and a walkway. As soon as she realised that we weren't going to take her hay away and tht she always had enough to last the whole night she settled down and ate calmly while being observed.
In summer we gave her and her more dominant field companion a small bucket feed. We stood at one side of the wall and held the bucket while she ate from it (this did take 2 people to hold the buckets a good distance apart). Again she soon realised that the food was hers, no-one was going to take it away from her, or allow the other horse to eat it/push her off it. By the time she came in again for the winter, she was happy to have somone in the stable while she ate and in later years she would bring a mouthful of hay to you if you were looking over the door.

Just keep yourself safe and do things by small degrees.

 

[Scot123]

Thank you.

I suppose my issue/fascination is really based on my own safety.

I think that's a very helpful tip to get him used to being bucket fed over the fence, realising that I'm not going to try stealing his food away.

If I can get to the point of safely being able to put the food/hay out in the field by winter when they really need it then I'll be happy!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Thank you.

I suppose my issue/fascination is really based on my own safety.

I think that's a very helpful tip to get him used to being bucket fed over the fence, realising that I'm not going to try stealing his food away.

If I can get to the point of safely being able to put the food/hay out in the field by winter when they really need it then I'll be happy!

I never put hay out with the horses in the field, it is far too easy to get caught between 'fighting' horses. I always either thake the horses out or throw the hay over the wall/fence.

 

[honetpot]

Thank you.

I suppose my issue/fascination is really based on my own safety.

I think that's a very helpful tip to get him used to being bucket fed over the fence, realising that I'm not going to try stealing his food away.

If I can get to the point of safely being able to put the food/hay out in the field by winter when they really need it then I'll be happy!

Hmm, confronting and animal over a bucket of food is no way to keep yourself safe. If you really need to give a pony food, put the food in the stable before you feed the pony, not at the back of the stable, but in the opposite corner to the door. When you put the pony in make sure you are next to the door with your back to it, and its head is facing you before you take the headcollar off, like you would in the field.
Take the headcollar off and step out of the door and shut it, and leave it to eat in peace.

 

[Scot123]

I like your common sense approach! Avoiding troubles rather than confronting them when there's no need. Perhaps as you say, we (I) fel too much of a need to try and 'fix' things that don't have to arise in the first place....

Though I am now noticing a distinct nippiness when leading him, grooming etc. Hopefully not a trend!