Grumpy around food

D

Dukes Point

New User
Joined
6 October 2010
Messages
9
Visit site
My 8 year old TB gelding is a real sweetie in most ways except around food. If I give him any food in his stable he puts his ears back and tries to bite me. Can anyone offer advice on how to tackle this issue?
 
I apologise for sitting here laughing my head off! Looking at your user name do I take it his name is Duke??

My horse is called Duke and he is exactly the same, in fact he would come at you over the door teeth baring, he would swish his tail and also kick out, he was an absolute nightmare when I got him in Easter this year. I am very stern with him and make him go back away from my space in the stable, when he lunged for the food I would get out of the stable put his feed out and leave him for 5 mins, I would do this until he realised that her would only get the feed when he was behaved. He has had a few smacks when he was throwing legs at me but mainly the taking the feed and walking away until he realised how to behave.

I can pick his feet out whilst he is eating his dinner, I can groom him and also change rugs, he still pulls funny faces but would not harm me. In fact he is pretty relaxed when he is eating and I am faffing, almost like he enjoys the fuss whilst he is eating his yummy tea.

I would try and be strong and firm but definitely fair and reward him with a nice ear scratch whilst he is eating, he might take to it or you might just have a horse that likes to be left alone with his food. Just remember it will take time and patience and he may or may not come round. I really feel for you as I was in this position months ago x
 
I always feel that when a horse is having its food its their time, and they shouldn't be disturbed. If he was like this with a haynet in, thats a different issue, but I'd leave him be when eating his feed. Quite a lot of horses are like that.
 
My TB is the same. He prefers it if I just give him his feed and leave, but I do occasionally stand next to him when he eats, and he usually threatens to bite and swishes his tail a lot, but once I've told him off (for trying to bite me), he'll submit and allow me to stand there while he eats.

He's a 100% angel at all other times.
 
Oh how funny, yes his name is Duke. He came from a Polo yard and I think food was scarce sometimes. I can't go near him when he's eating which is a pain because I have to wait until he's finished easting before I can brush him or do anything with him. I will definitely give your ideas a try and let him see that unless he's nice ... no food ..... I don't mind him being a bit of a grumpy old thing because we all have our off days but I would just like him to show me a little more respect and not see me as the enemy. Thanks :-)
 
Interesting point Honey also, he is only grumpy around food, once it's all eaten he reverts back to his other more pleasant personality. I will also bare that in mind, and just give him the space to eat :-)
 
Dukes Point said:
My 8 year old TB gelding is a real sweetie in most ways except around food. If I give him any food in his stable he puts his ears back and tries to bite me. Can anyone offer advice on how to tackle this issue?
Click to expand...

In herding terms he's telling you he's the boss and he's trying to chase you away. In practical terms we always work round our young ones when they are eating as it's just not on to be that aggressive, take a brush or something long to back him off the food if he's that aggressive that way your at a safe distance and make him stand away from the feed then don't let him in on you or the feed until he's learned to respect your space, repeat several times & at every feed time, it's a battle of wills more than anything else but when he understands your the boss they usually aren't too bothered about you being round them when they eat.
 
My horse is also grumpy around food so I just leave him to eat in peace. I'd say that it the best answer for your horse too. I don't particularly like to be disturbed when I'm eating so maybe your horse is the same!
 
I don't mind face pulling, really doesn't bother me in the slightest but if horse takes it that bit further and bites or kicks or even threatens to, I won't have it.

I know people will say their food..their time etc but it's no excuse, owners need to be able walk into a stable or field safely without having to watch their backs and I a firm believer in that, I'm not a horse and I don't expect to be treated as one, the owner is their master and leader so therefore a horse needs to respect their owner and not bite the hand that feeds it.

Sometimes its best to just ignore the threats, carry as as normal, they do it to test a reaction, if they get one, they have learnt that their body language then controls your movement.

Better to earn his respect from doing a lot of ground work and applying the same in his stable until he learns what the deal is.
 
chestnut cob said:
My horse is also grumpy around food so I just leave him to eat in peace. I'd say that it the best answer for your horse too. I don't particularly like to be disturbed when I'm eating so maybe your horse is the same!
Click to expand...

This may be fine if you only have the one horse but if you have 9 standing kicking the place down for their dinner..........and you still have to brush them, rug them and tidy up the yard... then leaving them alone is not an option, your horse should be safe enough that you can do what ever you need to when they are eating. If you sell them on and they go to a home with kids and they get more agressive.............who's to blame?? It's your responsibility to make them stop this..... also if they don't respect you on the ground what is your partnership like if they don't respect you!!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top