Help! Nasty horse in pasture

[NewerRider89]

Thank you for your replies.

One individual, however, hasn't been quite so helpful. No need for this >>





>>“Nah! Because she has so few posts, and I'm 'squirrelled away', I read them all. (Sad, I know )
.......................
And the style/grammar/spelling in the first post is dire - she consistently spelled 'field', 'feild' - every time.
In the post immediately following the suggestion she might not be genuine, 'field' was spelled correctly, as was every other word, including 'irrelevant', which is quite impressive for someone who couldn't manage 'field' or 'protect' (spelled 'pretect').
”
And then a further post about complete novices and complete idiots, you know which one I am... Apparently.

In my one and only response to you;

I have to say, I think it's awfully sad that some people spend their Friday night scanning posts in an attempt to start a "cyber argument". I type very fast. I know how to spell "field." Obviously. After posting, I notice a few typo's, especially on my last post. But to be honest, I didn't realise someone would be pathetic enough to sit there posting on other threads about it.

There are many lovely women on here, actually willing to offer advice. And then there are others, who have nothing better to do but whinge.

I've acknowledged the fact that I am a novice. I have no shame in that fact, we all have to start somewhere.

Most of you have been around horses for years, since you were children, even. I have been around horses for only a couple of months; of course I don’t know the things you know.

That doesn’t mean to say I’m a “complete idiot”. My BSc in Biochemistry also doesn’t say I’m an idiot. I am just a novice with horses.

I just thought that there would be many knowledgeable, mature people on here who could shed light on what should have been done, in some of my experiences. And to those women, I am grateful. Thank you to the one who messaged me about this person.

I am flattered by your infatuation with me, what with going to the trouble of visiting my profile, reading my previous posts, and then chatting about me on other threads, however, I think it would be better for your mental health if you could get out more.

 

[Ladydragon]

Now I am just volunteering, I have been poo picked the fields with the other horses no problem. I only have this problem with him.

I'm glad you understand what I mean by "please only reply if you are answering my question."

Thank you to all of the decent members who answered, rather than others being rude and unhelpful.

Now that is rude... It's a forum, as such you'll get what you want to hear and also opinions you might not...

I do think the charity are bang out of order in this situation and whilst you may be trying to do your best you're obviously out of your depth in dealing with a fairly young horse in an isolated state with nothing else to play with other than you appearing in the field and looking like a potential boredom breaker... It's a dangerous situation and not one that any responsible organisation should put you in... Please speak to whoever runs the show and sort out a safer way of getting the field poo picked - and hopefully some company for the horse...

I would say that the horse needs company. The first thing that struck me about your post was saying that the horse was out in one acre on it's own. A horse should naturally be part of a herd, so he probably wants company. Added to which you are the new "herd member" on what he views as his territory, hence the circling and cantering round. He was treating you as he would treat a new horse onto his territory.
Don't get yourself hurt. Good luck.

This... My TB is (unbelievably) top of the pecking order in the field... But he's still young and when he wants to play he can rag on the others - cantering around like he's trying to round them up, pulling their tails, little nips to try and divert them from eating and the 'play with me' stare and stance... Quite funny to watch - but not if I was the object of his attention...

 

[rhino]

Now that is rude... It's a forum, as such you'll get what you want to hear and also opinions you might not...

Quite. Accusing someone of having mental health issues is also rude and unpleasant.

PS I also have an honours degree in Biochemistry and am happy to admit I'm an idiot - I don't think there is a direct correlation between the two

You may not like what people have said on here but it is a public forum with a huge number of posters. No-one wants to see anyone get injured by a horse and in the scenario you have posted this seems a likely outcome. Please keep yourself safe.

 

[Ladydragon]

I've acknowledged the fact that I am a novice. I have no shame in that fact, we all have to start somewhere.
<snip>
That doesn’t mean to say I’m a “complete idiot”. My BSc in Biochemistry also doesn’t say I’m an idiot. I am just a novice with horses.

Yes, we do all start somewhere... You have a brain so don't be so defensive from the start NR - take a breath and read back and see the constructive points in the replies - even in those which might rub you up the wrong way...

As Rhino says, no one wants to see you posting from a hospital bed after a horrible accident...

And my family will tell you I'm scooted past 'idiot' straight to 'total loony'...

 

[Marydoll]

If this is a "real " post, its obvious you dont have the skills to deal with this horses behaviour in the field, so you shouldnt be in there at all.
If this is a charity from what you say,I have grave reservations about the safety of the volunteers and the ability of the person running it, who has put you in this situation.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Ill never understand posters who only want replies they want to hear. You post for peoples opinions and youll get them, whether they are what you want to hear or not. TBH im not sure what kind of replies you wanted to hear having posted on a subject such as this. Most of the replies have been more common sense than people having a go?!

 

[Shadow-01]

Do not just do the above off your own bat...unless you have adequate insurance....

1. Speak to YO & mention your concerns about your personal safety.
2. Ask the YO to remove the horse from the paddock whilst you clear it.
3. If YO does not comply with your request for safety provisions to be made then DO NOT enter the field.

End of........

This!

Yes we all have to start somewhere, but entering a field and handling a large, dominant and potentially very dangerous ex racer is not the place to start.

I would personally enquire as to whether there were any jobs you could be getting on with in a safer environment until you were more experienced.

If you MUST enter the field, as others have said, wear a hat and take a whip with you.

 

[cheeryplatypus]

Sounds like he is bored by himself and wants to play with you.
I'd chase him and have a play

 

[wil24702]

Sounds like he is bored by himself and wants to play with you.
I'd chase him and have a play

This! My horse sometimes does this, not that we poo pick over 40 acres mind, however he is in a group, not bored as such, just wants 'mums' attention for a while! We have great fun chasing each other round and playing games!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

some horses if you go at them circling young arms like a rearer and go hayyyyyyyyyyyyy they will back down..

keep the wheelie in front of you carry small whip or water pistol

 

[NewerRider89]

I appreciate all of the comments I received. Good or bad. I learn a lot from the opinions of the people who know.

My last post wasn't about the comments to this point at all.

It was because someone went to the trouble of going to other forums and saying very nasty things about me.

I guess it's good I could give him/her some entertainment on their Friday night.

 

[bunnereeny]

This! My horse sometimes does this, not that we poo pick over 40 acres mind, however he is in a group, not bored as such, just wants 'mums' attention for a while! We have great fun chasing each other round and playing games!

seriously??? if i attempted to "play" with my youngster i'd probably end up flattened! please don't do this he needs someone his own size to play with

 

[Irishdraughtfan]

NR - PLEASE PLEASE do not enter that field again with that horse. Its a very very dangerous situation. He is NOT trying to play with you, he is trying to dominate you, and it is very likely if you go in that field again that he will kick you and seriously injure you. You dont have the experience to realise just how dangerous horses can be - just one kick to your head and its all over, a kick to your spine and you could be paralysed. This may sound like i'm being dramatic, but these injuries do happen. I agree with others - volunteer at a nice BHS riding school - you will then be trained by experienced staff about handling horses - and they are likely to nice docile types, not rescue horses who often have behavioural/psychological issues. The first principle when dealing with any animal is keeping yourself safe.

 

[Milanesa]

Hey I don't think the horse is dangerous, I would simply ask a more experienced helper to go out with you to help explain what the horse is doing. If it is on it's own it is probably in need of a play mate. I think it is very good of you OP to be volunteering in order to gain experience, ignore the unhelpful posters.

 

[rhino]

I think it is very good of you OP to be volunteering in order to gain experience, ignore the unhelpful posters.

Nobody has said it's not good that she is volunteering. God knows how many volunteers are needed at genuine rescue centres. What people are saying is that this 'rescue' is not somewhere suitable for a novice owner/handler.

I expect OP will get defensive now as I too have looked through previous posts. Do you really think this sounds the ideal scenario?

I began to loan him because I was told he was a novice ride. He was loaned previously and was fine, I heard. That is why I started to loan him. but he was left out in the field for 6 months before I came.

Hi all,
I've just started to loan an ex racehorse from a local rescue center.
He is in a feild on his own all day on only gets to do something different on the days I visit him.


He's fed hay, and the lady at the center has started giving him hard feed now he is on loan. (He's very skinny, you can see his ribs and he has nexto no hindquarters)

- Also, do you have any recommendations as to something I can give him to give his health a boost. I'm not the one that feeds him, so it'd have to be something I can give him.

All of the horses that aren't on loan just have hay and grazing. He is a tb, and I know they need a lot of feeding, so I expect the hay hasn't been enough for him. He used to be in a feild with others but as soon as they are loaned they get their own feild.
The rescue center is run by one old lady, who can only afford hard feed for them is they are on loan. They all have to stay at the rescue center.

It's run as a charity and the old lady has done it for years. She has 60+ horses + ponies, aswell as pigs, goats that were neglected/ supposed to be sent for slaughter.

The owner gets up at 5 am and it takes her until lunchtime the next day to finnish the morning feeds, bless her. She's a very frail old women now.

My horse had a bad time with his previous owner, and unfortunatley lost his tail after being neglected. In the summer, the flies are all over his back end, and all he can do is kick out in an attempt to fend them off.

Surely the 'old lady' would have realised a fly rug/tail wrap would be an idea if the horse is this miserable and has no company to help with fly relief?

Hello,
He started nipping at me, and I walked away to poo pick somewhere away from him. He followed me and continued biting. I put my hand out and said no, and he cantered off and started to circle me . I tried to leave the feild, because he is 17h and I had nothing to pretect myself, and he just cantered after me.

This is why alarm bells have rung with so many posters. If it is real, then I am afraid (a) for the welfare of the animals at this place, and (b) for the welfare of the poster.

 

[s4sugar]

Hey I don't think the horse is dangerous, I would simply ask a more experienced helper to go out with you to help explain what the horse is doing. If it is on it's own it is probably in need of a play mate. I think it is very good of you OP to be volunteering in order to gain experience, ignore the unhelpful posters.

The horse may not mean to be nasty but 17 hands of "playing" horse can kill.
The OP should not be putting her life at risk.
The OP would do better to help at a more reputable place rather than a pretend charity with seemingly no regard for the horses in their care nor the volunteers who give their time.

 

[SamanthaUK]

In your previous posts you say you are loaning him? Reading all your previous posts I would have to ask what is your other user name as you seem to be trolling

Oooh this could become a fun post to watch

 

[Xander]

Troll or not, deluded or not - I really don't care.

Someone has come here asking for advice and in what is very clearly a dangerous situation, given her level of experience etc. So, no, it isn't 'fun' and I'll tell you why. Because someone may come here in future looking for 'genuine' advice i.e. someone that passes the seemingly random 'troll test' and they may read this thread and get the impression that
- people will jump to conclusions about you as a person, the horse you are having problems with, the people around you
- ickle horsies need playing with 'cos - after all - they are cuddly, needy creatures just like us

Some of you experienced people should recognise that you have a responsibility to those who are less experienced and you might start by assuming that someone is in genuine need of help, particularly when considering that the result of your p**s taking might be a fatality. If you don't feel you have any responsibility, don't post on these threads.

OP - get some professional training. Seriously. When you do you'll find that looking after horses is about risk limitation and looking after number one first (you can't care for a horse when you are dead). You've had some good advice in this thread and I'm sure you are bright enough to separate the wheat from the chaff.

 

[FabioandFreddy]

Haven't read the other replies but i'd take a schooling whip in with me and give him a good flick with it if he comes near and nips. Totally not on and he needs putting in his place. Either that or take him out the field to poo pick if he's really bad.

 

[Milanesa]

OP as advised listen to the helpful posters, I haven't seen any of your other posts, if the charity has more experienced members I would try to shadow one so you can learn safely about horses.

 

[Amaranta]

Troll or not, deluded or not - I really don't care.

Someone has come here asking for advice and in what is very clearly a dangerous situation, given her level of experience etc. So, no, it isn't 'fun' and I'll tell you why. Because someone may come here in future looking for 'genuine' advice i.e. someone that passes the seemingly random 'troll test' and they may read this thread and get the impression that
- people will jump to conclusions about you as a person, the horse you are having problems with, the people around you
- ickle horsies need playing with 'cos - after all - they are cuddly, needy creatures just like us

Some of you experienced people should recognise that you have a responsibility to those who are less experienced and you might start by assuming that someone is in genuine need of help, particularly when considering that the result of your p**s taking might be a fatality. If you don't feel you have any responsibility, don't post on these threads.

OP - get some professional training. Seriously. When you do you'll find that looking after horses is about risk limitation and looking after number one first (you can't care for a horse when you are dead). You've had some good advice in this thread and I'm sure you are bright enough to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Well said!

If the OP is a troll then just ignore, if she is, as I suspect, a very novice person then she needs sensible help not ridiculing.

OP I do agree with others, please do not go back into that field unless you have a more experienced person with you. On NO account start to play with him, you could get seriously hurt here, one of the first rules of handling youngsters is never to play with them, cute when they are small, not so cute when bigger. Also please ignore the advice to watch youtube videos, that is downright dangerous too. If you do go into the field, take a schooling whip with you, he is trying to dominate you which is not surprising as he is the only horse in the field and will be desperate for company, get him a companion pronto.

Re your question regarding his weight, personally as he is not ridden I would give him ad lib hay, or, even better haylage, hard feed will not put nearly as much weight on him and I am surprised that the owner thinks so. You say that it must be something you can give but only see him 2/3 times a week, sorry but if you are going to add something to his diet it needs to be on a daily basis, and do not suddenly introduce it either, this can run the risk of colic, rather add it gradually over a period of a week.

 

[Jessharrison]

I agree with the suggestion of putting the horse in its place when it tries to dominate you but wouldnt agree with you doing this yourself... come on guys, you cant advise an inexperienced person to walk into a field and start using a whip or body language to control a horse, she'll get hurt...its dangerous enough when you can interpret the horses body language and actions, let alone if you cant.

Fair play to you for asking for advice and for volunteering, thats admirable but I dont think you should be trying to fix this horse, or any others with behavioural problems, leave that to others and keep safe.

 

[Tinypony]

I agree with the suggestion of putting the horse in its place when it tries to dominate you but wouldnt agree with you doing this yourself... come on guys, you cant advise an inexperienced person to walk into a field and start using a whip or body language to control a horse, she'll get hurt...its dangerous enough when you can interpret the horses body language and actions, let alone if you cant.

Fair play to you for asking for advice and for volunteering, thats admirable but I dont think you should be trying to fix this horse, or any others with behavioural problems, leave that to others and keep safe.

Speaks another voice of common sense. Some of the advice given here is setting Op up to get double-barrelled.

 

[black_horse]

TBH i think you do not understand horse behaviour, he clearly wants to play tag and when he nips you, its only because you are it! What you have to do is therefore assert your dominance and throw vegetables at him. Many equine behaviourists favour carrots, probably due to their high vitamin levels, but any vegetable or even fruit will do.

You should find that he should back off but if he doesnt, you need to vocalise your distemper and scream at him whilst waving your arms so he doesnt invade your personal space.

Why not contact papafrita on here? she had a great range of helpful DVDs and equiment at very reasonable prices.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I agree with the suggestion of putting the horse in its place when it tries to dominate you but wouldnt agree with you doing this yourself... come on guys, you cant advise an inexperienced person to walk into a field and start using a whip or body language to control a horse, she'll get hurt...its dangerous enough when you can interpret the horses body language and actions, let alone if you cant.

Fair play to you for asking for advice and for volunteering, thats admirable but I dont think you should be trying to fix this horse, or any others with behavioural problems, leave that to others and keep safe.

Agree with this.

I understand that you want to help at this establishment but how about offering to help at a well run local professional yard for a couple of hours a week to expand your knowledge and then you'll be better equiped to help these needy horses ?