Getting past pigs - Help please!!!

ncarter

ncarter

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Hi All, this is my first post so please be gentle with me. . . I have had Ozzy for only a few months, he's absolutely great but I am having trouble getting him past some pigs on a hacking route to a jumping arena. I know its common for ponies / horses to be scared of pigs, and these ones are quite aggressive - they are only separated from us with a wire and they charge towards the horses grunting!
The first time I did actually get past them but he cantered back (instead of walk!). The second time I went with a lead and he turned around half way along- I didn't want to push it as it was foggy and he isn't naughty - he was literally shaking. Yesterday I went up the track (not intending to go as far as the pigs) but I could feel him tense up as soon as he could smell them! He's scared stiff bless him, but I really want to get past them to go jumping! Any advice would be greatly appreciated... Thanks!
 
If they come running towards you grunting,that's them saying HALLO!
I use to breed pigs and my horses got use to them, in fact my old tbh use to babysit the piglets.
Could be you are tensing when you get near where they are and the horse also a little worried is also picking up on that. And pigs don't smell, it could be that they are dunging near the wire. Could you ride out with someone whose horse is use to going by them and yours will get use to them
 
Hi ncarter, welcome to the forum!

Pigs are a nightmare for me, I've had my horse nearly 13 years, and he's got worse and worse about pigs over the years. I just accept now that he won't go past them with me on board, I have to get off and lead him, he isn't a brave horse but takes confidence from his handler. I also have a friend who's horse was terrified of mine, she ended up at a livery yard where they had pigs in the field next door, and her horse never got used to them.

So, sorry, I haven't got anything too helpful to say.
 
It is well known that pigs are the spawn of the Evil One.

We're having an awful problem with feral hogs here. They root up the fields, collapse the drainage ditches, and cause really bad car wrecks. Oh, and they scare the bejesus out of horses. I haven't run across one while riding yet, but my neighbor's gelding is so terrified of them he'll refuse to go anywhere near his stable when he hears hogs in the woods next to the property line.

Sorry I don't have any advice - just be glad your porcine menaces are contained!
grin.gif
 
my horse used to hate them and would take off up the road the way i had just come. luckily i used to know a chap that worked there and he led me past a couple times, lots of time and persevarance was needed, plus as my horse has been known to take the piss a bit of tough love was needed to show who was boss so lots of kicking and use of the whip. now we get past the pigs ecerytime although sometimes she will walk past and not take any notice and other times she will trot past bouncing so high in the air like she is trying to look over the hedge at them saying what the hell is that!!
 
My horse used to be a problem with pigs. Then we rented a paddock and the owners kept a couple of pot bellied pigs in one corner.

One morning I found him in their enclosure. He had stepped over their low electric fence and spent the night cuddled up with the old sow. Amazing.
 
I am afraid I have had two horses who simply refused to get over their pig phobia, despite trying for a long while. I moved one to a livery at a pig farm where all the other horses were used to them...he just became unhandlable and lost almost all his mane and tail hair through stress, I gave up after 3 months.

If the usual stuff doesn't work, e.g. going past with another sensible horse, rewarding him for going past, etc. it may just be that he hates pigs.
 
My mare was kept on farm where there were pigs, for over a year. Hated them every single day and still does! She was in a field next to them and even when all her herd mates went anywhere near the pigs she remained at the opposite end of the field!
 
Don't know if this is true but it seems logical - I was told pigs have a 'chemical' in their urine which is the same as one horses give off in fear. It might go some way to explaining why most horses are scared of them.
 
Hi - thanks everyone for your advice, I will try leads and treats, and hopefully he will get braver with time and patience (arrgghh!)
 
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