Food agression

[savannahmelody]

I have a new 2 yr old section A gelding(had him about 3 weeks) when food is not around he is a lovely sweet natured little pony but he is becoming increasingly moody whenever food comes into the equation.
I believe it is being caused by my other section A mare bullying him over food,they are out 24/7 with access to stables and hay nets as we dont have much grass and my mare suffers from sweet itch so she likes to come in during the day out of the flies.
They both have a small feed each morning so that I can get them to eat their supplements.
Even just carrying a haynet past him gets an ears back reaction and when given bucket feed(in stable so little mare cant nick his) he threatens to swing his bum round and you get evil glares.
As he was bought as a future lead reign pony for my kids I obviously want to try and put a stop to this so any ideas welcome.
At the moment I am just trying to stand near him whilst he eats without being threatening so that he doesnt feel the need to protect his food if he does swing his bum round(never actually kicked out) he does get a sharp smack and a firm NO.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

he was bred to live half way up a mountain so requires little or none in a bucket. just good bulk and a carrot on the floor. you are creating the situation. chuck 2 to 3 sections of hay out for the pair and then catch mare if you want to feed her. dont let him bully you while he is young and leasrning otherwise stroppy bolshy pony will emerge.

 

[Cazza525]

That sounds quite threatening for you, and a little worrying!! Do you know what I would do? Don't give them any hay or hard feed for a while.....think about it, they're welsh A's, so will live on fresh air and it is August, honestly they will be fine!!If you do HAVE to give hard feed, do so in the stable when they are separated and leave alone to eat it. Thats what i'd do anyhow. X

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

For god's sake ocyc!

You're NOT creating the situation sm, but you're right, it does need sorting before it gets worse. My 12yr old rescued mare Angel had probably never had a bucket feed in her life and when she came to me she was skin and bone and close to death from starvation and ragwort poisoning. No-one expected her to live but she did, and you can imagine she was VERY protective over her food. Once, she almost knocked me out because she was eating her tea and I chucked her rug over her back and bent down to do the chest straps up. Next thing I was lying on the floor, kneed in the head and serves me right too. My sweet old boy Sunny can happily be treated like that but Angel wasn't ready for it yet.

I used to put her feed in and then talk gently to her over the stable door. Then I'd go in with her and just sit there quietly observing. Then give her head a scratch, and so on. Not sure exactly when it stopped being a problem - had vanished after 12 months - but intelligent planning and understanding horse behaviour made it fade and disappear.

 

[traceyann]

My horse was the same but would kick and rear at you but he was barn fed with loads of others before i got him and the meanest got the food and he was mean even now i wouldnt walk in the field with a bucket of food purely he would not think twice of running me over to get the bucket he suffers from tunnel vision where foods concern but in the stable he kicked my pregnant sister though the stable door when he was three years old so every time i fed him he had a headcollar and lunge line on him and i had a schooling whip eveytime he tryed to kick me i pull the rope and and flick his hocks with the whip soon stoped this after about two weeks now i can do anything with him while hes eating in the stable but i do believe horses should be left to eat in peace but if your working and you need to do things in a rush it does help if you can rug or put boots on while thier eating.