ImmyS
Well-Known Member
So I have a 5 year old ex racer who generally is a real sweetie, easy to handle, tack up, ride etc.. And never unwilling or 'moody'. She is never moody with other horses when turned out either however is the least dominant between her and her field mate.
Anyway since we have had her, on random occasions she will be really moody with people either stroking her over the fence or in the field with her. There doesn't seem to be any logical pattern to it, some days she will be fine and happy to be fussed over in the field, but others she will be ears flat back try and bite, sometimes escalates to rearing (admittedly half hearted and not near enough to actually hit you) but still scary and unacceptable behaviour.
I also don't know how to react to it, I usually just sternly say no, lookat her in the eye and she will usually wonder off, getting aggressive with her only makes it worse and she becomes more threatening.
It's also so frustrating because once second you go over for a stroke and scratch all happy then she'll suddenly be ears flat back trying to bite and rear? Totally random behaviour with no obvious or consistent trigger!
Anyone know why she may be doing this, I think perhaps it's because she knows she is ranked below her field mate and so tests the boundaries with people instead? But I would like to hear your thoughts. Also how should I react when she does threaten me as ideally I would like her to stop this behaviour!
Thank you for getting this far!
Immy
Anyway since we have had her, on random occasions she will be really moody with people either stroking her over the fence or in the field with her. There doesn't seem to be any logical pattern to it, some days she will be fine and happy to be fussed over in the field, but others she will be ears flat back try and bite, sometimes escalates to rearing (admittedly half hearted and not near enough to actually hit you) but still scary and unacceptable behaviour.
I also don't know how to react to it, I usually just sternly say no, lookat her in the eye and she will usually wonder off, getting aggressive with her only makes it worse and she becomes more threatening.
It's also so frustrating because once second you go over for a stroke and scratch all happy then she'll suddenly be ears flat back trying to bite and rear? Totally random behaviour with no obvious or consistent trigger!
Anyone know why she may be doing this, I think perhaps it's because she knows she is ranked below her field mate and so tests the boundaries with people instead? But I would like to hear your thoughts. Also how should I react when she does threaten me as ideally I would like her to stop this behaviour!
Thank you for getting this far!
Immy
