Getting horse to go past some pigs!

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

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Ok! So at the top of the lane from my yard is a lovely country house that have two very large & smelly pigs in their garden! The lane leads up to the slopes of very nice ride which is just stunning, so would really like the option of going! However, my lad just won't go past the pigs, he is genuinely scared, artic lorries, flat bed trailers, no probs, pigs, well horse eating monsters!

I ride him positively but when we get to a certain point he just puts the brakes on! I have tried 1. Sitting it out, 2. Spinning him in a slow circle & then pushing him forward, 3. Walking him backwards, 3. Growling at him, 4. Singing to him (to take his mind off), 5. Trying to trot him past, 6. Giving him a bit of a tap & pony club kicks (makes him buck so not ideal). All to no avail, I have got him past them once or twice but tonight he really would not go.

The problem was that they were out in the garden & he could see & smell them! I can't get off & lead as he is a 16.2 strong boy & it would be dangerous & there is not always the option of hacking with another horse!

Any suggestions?
 
Probably only to go with a horse that doesnt mind pigs. Horses dont like Pigs so I always understood. Sorry not much help.
 
Keep doing it? Go every day and sit a bit longer? He will get used to them eventually.

Get a lead from something that doesn't mind or has been past already.

Just read that he has been past them on other occassion, in which case I would be sitting there as long as it takes.
 
Operation 'sit it out then' it is! I will go armed with my IPod (in one ear only obviously) and sit there as long as is needed! Probably the safest option really!

Thanks guys!
 
Small problem arose recently when a whole lorry load of pigs pulled up beside a pony at a stop sign on the road pony was terrified of the pigs and for a short time lorries too she thought every lorry was full of pigs and therefore scary She was sent out daily along the road with a horse that was fantastic in all traffic and soon settled about the lorries not sure what would happen if the lorry load of pigs appeared beside her again but for the time being she is back to being bombproof in traffic so I guess it is just time.
Loose pigs may well be a different matter although there are a couple in the field across the lane so hoping they all get used to them
 
My old horse was petrified nothin could do if he smelt pigs he span even at 23 when arthritis had set in and 3 pigs came to yard he still did it- they were moved to other end of farm after him doing it first time. But he was once in a field when a pig escaped into there field and numerous horses were seriously injured so that maybe why.
My pony was also scared and is on loan to young child but like yours stood still- so i went over and Sat it out worked well after couple sessions to make it extra safe for young child who rides him his loan mum got 2 pigs in a corner of his field. No longer scared did same with sheep due to his other irrational fear.
So Im with above camp and sit it out especially as you have been successful previously.
 
Have every sympathy with you OP. We've got two lots of pigs, one lot down the road (piglets actually, which are on a natural bend in the road and this lot think everyone's got food for them, so will frisk across their plot TOWARDS horses: OMG.

Then there's another flipping gurt pig UP the road which always lurks in the gateway. Blimmin thing seems to know when horses are around!

My loan mare was liveried on a farm next to the pig pen; but she wouldn't go past the other day - had to lead her past it.

So, sorry, no ideas other than what everyone else has suggested. The problem is that horses have a primeval fear of pigs which over-rides everything else that they've been "trained" to do.

Any NH experts out there???

My old pony ADORED pigs; he'd go up to them and rub noses!!! By gawd I could do with him now, bless him.
 
Ok, I know you will probably think I'm mad, but alot of people use this for stallions, etc... It's probavly the smell of the pigs that upsets the horse, so try rubbing a tiny bit of vicks (the smelly gunky stuff used to rub into chests to unblock nose) on his nose. he will only smell the vicks, and it might work. I know lots of people that use it when showjumping stallions, so they dont smell the mares. Hope it helps
 
We have a whole field of Tamworths not far from my farm. None of my horses pay any attention to them but quite a few people I ride out occasionally have horses who are terrified of the pigs. What we do is I have my horse ride past them and then just stand, slightly out of sight but still sort of visible to the afraid horse. I don't mind sitting waiting for them. It's usually only taken about 10 or 15 mins max for the rider to ride their horse past the pigs. We always double back instead of taking another trail home so that the scared horse gets to see the pigs twice on the ride. They're always better on the way home. Maybe you could do this? Do a circular ride so that you pass the pigs on the way home rather than on the way out?
 
Echo SF above - we have to ride past five little Oxford Sandy & Blacks to get out of the lane - the horses make such a bloody fuss about it which is ridiculous! We kick on, give them a slap if needed and they jog on passed - funny how they are not so scary on the way home!
 
The Vicks idea on his nose sounds good, will try that as he definitely smelled them, the problem is that they are on a slight bend, so just round the corner in effect and the lane is quite narrow which means they come right up to the fence.

I can do the route the other way round and have done with more success only once having to turn back (they had lit a massive bonfire on the other side of the lane with the flames rising up over the lane) what with the pigs on one side the fire on the other he really freaked out!

I know I have probably just hit a 'sticky patch' at this spot, so armed with the Vicks I will need to choose a couple of good days (weather wise) and sit it out!

They are cute pigs though :-)
 
If it's not too far from you, why not lead out in hand a few times? I found that was the only way to get one of mine past a particularly scary ditch (witches live in ditches:D) near our old yard. Use a long line, not a short lead rope, and do it like you are loading a bad loader - apply pressure forwards, and reward each forward motion by relaxing. (A bit like sitting it out, really).
 
Oh, and a training halter or Dually, not a plain headcollar if your horse is likely to spin and haul away from you. But if you have a long rope it shouldn't be too much of an issue, and just be positive - act like you haven't noticed the pigs, and focus on a point which is past them, and just head off there. Let your horse diddle about on the end of the line if he likes, but as far as possible keep going. Then back. Then past again. Pressure and release.

I did have an issue with a field of pigs too, but managed a version of sitting it out ridden, until mine would stand and look over the gate at them quite relaxed.
 
I agree with the sitting it out idea.

If its a circular route bring him the other way so he is thinking about heading home, may be enough to persuade him.

Just a thought as well... If its not too far from you could you pop up with a plastic bag and gloves and ask the farmer for a little of their straw? Maybe you could then get your horse used to the smell back at your yard (by walking by the smell a few times etc)? Maybe some pretend pigs?
 
It might be too late for this now, but have you tried shoulder in past them with head away from the pigglies? I do this with my mare and so far so good. She is normally scared of things she can hear but not see, but this is working on her, though to be honest I never let her see them the very first time we went past as my old mare told me in no uncertain terms they were there! ;)
 
We keep pigs at home with our horses and once they've seen them I've not had one that really minded them. We have the pigs in the american barn in a stable giving birth with the boys stabled at the same time - no problem.
My (special) boy will even lick them over the gate in the summer (I suspect they are nice and salty with sweat and they enjoy a good itch!!!)

But he still has to look twice when we ride past them on the lane and he can't quite see them through the hedge. They are big animals and make quite a lot of noise! Can he actually see them or are they just a scary noise behing a hedge?

I'd agree with either sitting it out or going up in hand (probably in a bridle) and making an introduction. Once he knows they won't dash out an eat him he'll get over it!!
 
i definitely can't lead him out, even in a bridle and long line, i have had issue with this boy with leading (far too long a story i won't bore you with) although i could take a long line and jump off at the point, long line him past, the only problem is getting back on, he is 16.2 and unfortunately i am unable to get on off the floor these days :-(

Its a quietish country lane with a crossroad, a large house on your right, some stables (empty but loads of machinery parked) on your left, then it narrows and bends round to the right, the pigs are on the right just past a small compost heap, he stops at the crossroads and i can just about manage to get him onto the lane and then he starts creating.

He knows the pigs are there, because he can smell them, he goes a little bit more round then bend and then he can see them and then that's it, the shaking starts and he creates a bit more.

I think the vicks on his nose to stop the initial smell and then once we get to the point of him seeing them i will wait it out.

My OH has come up with me a couple of times and he will follow him eventually and yes with another horse he will go past, both these situations are ideal but i still want the option of taking him past on his own.

I will admit that in the past i have probably been a bit nervous, so have not been quite so determined so it's probably a bit of both of us and maybe he is testing the boundaries.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions and if all else fails will try the bit of pig smelling straw to try and get him used to it.
 
Can you try taking him to a yard with pigs on? I went out for a ride before xmas and when I came back there were two large pigs wandering about. Monty was not impressed, snorting, on his toes, etc. 15 mins later, he couldn't care less. We don't have doors on the stables, just the rubber covered breaching ropes so the pigs are quite often asleep under the hay mangers. He has started to use one as a scratching post for his muzzle when he gets back from a hack!
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/418131_10152401244850072_59833195_n.jpg (Not sure if the link will work!
 
Borrow some pig poo and leave it in his field so he's used to the smell?

I also ride an old boy who is terrified of them. We got past them the last time by going mostly sideways :o the other horses don't seem to notice them much and the mare likes to stop and look at them. Show her a Shetland though and she's off:eek:
 
My poor lad is absolutely terrified of pigs, he only has to catch a whiff of one to go ballistic, has nearly killed us both, twice, due to them.
Bolted both times, straight into traffic, we were lucky to survive. Poor horse wouldn't settle for days afterwards, hardly eating (he's a greedy cob!) and looking for pigs around every corner!
He's brilliant in every other situation, never reacts to anything and very well-behaved, so was gob-smacked when this happened!
Luckily we don't have many pigs here, and the first one that scared him has gone now.

I'm sure habituation is the key, but I would say be very careful how much you push him at first, do everything very slowly and give him lots of time. Be aware that you may get an extreme reaction and be prepared. :)
 
I am hoping to get mine free of any pig phobia they might have :P There is hacking route I'm yet to go on that goes past pigs close to my yard, however one of their pigs got out once and my two could see it..you've never seen such stupid poncing and snorting :p So not looking forward to them going up close to it!
 
hollybear said:
My poor lad is absolutely terrified of pigs, he only has to catch a whiff of one to go ballistic, has nearly killed us both, twice, due to them.
Bolted both times, straight into traffic, we were lucky to survive. Poor horse wouldn't settle for days afterwards, hardly eating (he's a greedy cob!) and looking for pigs around every corner!
He's brilliant in every other situation, never reacts to anything and very well-behaved, so was gob-smacked when this happened!
Luckily we don't have many pigs here, and the first one that scared him has gone now.

I'm sure habituation is the key, but I would say be very careful how much you push him at first, do everything very slowly and give him lots of time. Be aware that you may get an extreme reaction and be prepared. :)
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I understand what your saying Hollybear (and poor you that must have been very frightening)i really don't want an extreme reaction from him, not pig related but 18 months ago some horses really going for it (think bucking, squealing, grunting, charging around) behind some tall trees we were passing really upset him and he proper bucked me off and then ran off! I ended up falling on the concrete lane on my back, breaking my hat in the process. Luckily no broken bones but severe whiplash to my neck which is still causing me discomfort some 18 months later so slowly slowly will be the way forward.

My OH is coming back to the yard with me late and we will give it another go. Wish me luck
 
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