Horrendous Horse Behaviour

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MagicMelon

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My Welshie is a pretty bolshy, stroppy type of horse. He used to be absolute hell to handle and has got a lot better. Although he still has the odd bad day.

Took him to a show the other day, he usually stands perfectly happy at the trailer eating hay. However all of a sudden he flips out. People nearby had given their horse a bucket of feed at their box. He went crazy - I mean rearing up vertically, pawing like hell, dripping in sweat etc. He was like this for a good 15 mins which was pretty scary as there wasnt much I could do as it was almost too dangerous to be near him! At one point I managed to untie him and take him for a walk to try to settle him but he was so strong (even in his controller headcollar) I had to tie him back up and leave him to it. After the 15 mins, he'd vaguelly settled enough that I could tack him up at which point he was absolutely fine again! I did consider giving him a small bucket of feed I had in the trailer but then I figured this might be rewarding his awful behaviour?

Would he really react like this to someone being fed (ie. and not him)?? It was such an extreme reaction but the only thing I can think of. He has always been very protective over his feed and seems to get very agitated at home if he's finished his feed but someone else is still eating. He's never acted like this before in this situation though. Any ideas why he behaved like this and what I can do next time?

And any ideas why he's so food obsessed?! I was told that he was kept on his own as a 2 and 3yo which would have done him no favours whatsoever as he does have hierarchy problems (which I think also accounts for his bolshiness). And I believe he was fed once a day, simply by someone turning up and chucking a bucket over the fence. So I guess he'd never had to compete for food.
 
This sounds like a total temper tantrum. I would have stuck his bridle on, put him on the lunge and worked him hard for a long time.
 
If that was a human kid you'd know exactly what it was - he was throwing his toys out of the pram and behaving like a spoilt brat, stamping his feet and saying "I want" and prepared to be a little sh1t until demanding food.

you did right not to feed him or reward him and fed once a day in his past isn't a problem providing it was once a day, regularly and not every now and again.

he was chucking his weight around - literally by the sounds of it - and so long as he couldn't hurt himself you did right to leave him to get tired and not get his own way.

Sounds like he calmed down once he realised he wasn't winning and was getting tired.

Don't change anything but perhaps next time at a show ask people in next door lorry to warn you if they are going to produce feeds so that you can remove him - under saddle if necessary.
 
spaniel - Yeah, but I couldnt put him on the lunge. It was an an indoor SJ event so there was only a smallish outdoor to warm up in (no way enough room to lunge).

airedale - I actually call him "The Brat" or "The Toddler" most of the time, you can see why! Problem is that he could have hurt himself. He was chucking himself against the trailer - he could have damaged the trailer or himself. And I was very worried he'd brake free then Id be screwed!! I will definately warn people nearby next time, good idea.

vicijp - Yeah, he does behave like a stallion sometimes. I mean, he tries to mount my mare if allowed in with her! He was gelded quite late, as a lot of Welshies are. I think he was done only about 2 months before I got him as a 3yo. Have no idea if there were any problems to be honest. The previous owners never said. Usually his controller headcollar works a treat. I think this was the only thing keeping him from breaking the string. He tried a few times but it pulled round his head so he stopped quickly, I think thats why he freaked out coz he was so mad he couldnt break off!

He is quite a messed up horse to be fair. Lovely sweet horse most of the time, but he really does have a very strong character which sometimes gets the better of him. Under saddle, I feel in complete control. Its only on the ground that it can occassionally get hairy!
 
my mare would be exactly the same, young newforests mever get on with treats! as soon as you give her the slightest nibblet, she turns into b**** from hell, ears back, trying to shove you over for more. we left her feed outside her stable when i was rugging her, she decided to turn her bum on me and try to barrel me.
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it's just a think he needs to get used to really, tie him to your box at your yard when the others are fed, or just leave a feed bucket a god few metres away and he might get used ot it
 
I'm sure this will seem like a totally bizarre question however, has he ever had laminitis or the onset of a mild laminitic attack?
 
I think another thing for his own safety - if you do leave him tied up - slap the travelling boots on him whilst he's tied - then at least that way if he does have another tantrum whilst you are in the loo or getting a cuppa - he's got protection

you could also try parking or tying him up next to a lorry on the side that the lorry doesn't have tying rings - most lorries only can tie on one side - so at least that way you'd again avoid having food in sight of him

but agree - chifney to hand just in case - for your own safety

Brat is right !!

but you will get the better of him - he'll learn to submit even if it takes a while - took me 2 years to get wormers easily into a (now 31 yr old) pony that hadn't been wormed for years - he'd squash you, strike, rear, etc etc - but would't take them in feed either (fussy feeder from hell)

sounds like you'll have a good neddy in the end though - welshies are great
 
I dont think he'd get any better if I left him tied up while others got fed. For the past 3 years, Ive always found that he gets peed off while others havent finished yet. He's certainly not calmed down there!

I dont believe he's ever been close to laminitis. Obviously I got him as a 3yo so anything pre that Im unsure.

airedale - Yeah, I could put travel boots on to protect him. Thing was with the other horse being fed - it was sort of behind a lorry in-hand being fed so wasnt even tied up or round the side of a lorry. It was in full view (pretty rude!).

I dont like being nasty with him. When he's wound up then he couldnt care less what Im doing. Everything doesnt exsist except what he wants! I dont like using any force with him. Even yelling at him makes him grumpy with me for a couple of days after! I find getting along with him and "asking" rather than telling him is the only way to communicate with him.

Yeah, he is a fab horse. All my horses are 100% perfectly behaved so Ive never had a horse like him! Love him to death though.
 
You have described my Welsh D off to a tee! He too can have temper tantrums and freak outs at silly things and when he gets in that frame of mind there is no telling him at all...he is off on one and watch out! I never go to any event without my chiffney and always have it ready for these moments because you won't hold him and make him come back down to earth in anything else...you will be dragged off.
My Welsh was, from what I am told, also cut late aswell as spending most of his first 5 years in a field on his own getting fat and having a lovely easy life...I have got a good grip of his behaviour now but I attribute a lot to this background. Get yourself a chiffney and ask an instructor to show you the correct way of using it. Also, you did right, I find ignoring him works well as he soon gets fed up and gives up.
 
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