Grumpy pony what to do?

[showley1]

Pony is rising 5, we have owned him only 8/9 weeks now and he seems to be getting grumpier now he is settling in lol, the main problem is nipping, and i do not like rude ponies, we have stopped people giving treats over the door etc and he seems slightly better when in ( he is really grumpy when in and we still only on a 3 day turn out at the yard), today though i have just had a report that he has nipped in the field, now the girls (my daughters go from school to complete jobs) have been told he needs to be muzzled in the field ( by other liveries not yo) am just at a loss with him at mo, he can be really cuddly if he wants to, but he likes to initiate that, the field they are out in at the mo has no grass in at all, yo has asked us not to put any hay out for them as they 'fight' not that we have noticed, whilst i do not like nippers myself, and any advice on how to get him out of this appreciated, am i not the only 1 who is not surprised he is a little *issed off?? Am sure i would be.

 

[ridefast]

Whether or not he is pissed off, nipping is not acceptable. Don't allow any part of him to come into your space without permission, don't allow him to turn his head towards you without permission, and do lots of backing up with him, if he nips, or just to keep him out of your space, even if you don't think he needs to. I like every horse to back up a stride or 2 when I walk into their stable. Lay down the boundaries and keep to them

 

[ridefast]

And get his teeth checked, he's at that age

 

[be positive]

He is young, has moved home, is only out 3 days a week and there is no grass when he is out, while nipping may not be acceptable behaviour in the circumstances I am not surprised he is behaving this way, he sounds unsettled. He has different people going in to catch their own ponies who probably push him out of the way and he probably does not understand what is required, most likely he is hungry and wanting to come in.
It is a problem in this type of arrangement where so many people will be handling him, not actually getting him in but pushing him around or flapping at him, a muzzle is not the answer, a more suitable yard with proper turnout and less coming and going would help, otherwise I think you need to try and be there at the busy times to make sure he does not get the opportunity to be naughty by getting him in before the others to give him a firm hand without other people taking it upon themselves to do so.

 

[showley1]

Thanks, glad it's not just me who isn't surprised, i am currently looking for a new yard with better turnout arrangements as although our second pony is the same age and much more chilled out with no vices at all, he has gone from a ploddy cob to a forward going speed freak, the problem being there aren't that many yards by us . Our grumpy pie was mistreated as a yearling so does have issues with food, which again we are trying to correct , but you are right fetching him in first may help the problem in the short term.

 

[AmyMay]

Move somewhere where there is grass.