Horse behaviour in field

[Ceriann]

Just wondering after the way things played out for me in the field this morning - how many people stay in the field for whatever reason when their horses are having play time and how many leave for safety. I was poo picking post feeding and my two were having a happy moment of running around, rearing, bucking etc. The field isn't small and they didn't come anywhere near me so I carried on. Stupidly though ( and I recognise this) once they'd calmed down (heads down and eating quietly) I walked over to adjust a rug for the less dominant one, cue dominant mare walking over shoving her away and rearing quite impressively in front of me. She wasn't particularly threatening but I did feel slightly exposed in the middle of the field so I walked to get her halter popped her in it (she was fine if a little peeved) and did some ground work - halt, walk, back etc. Initially she bristled and reared on the halter (it's something she used to do but has grown ouT of it with regular handling (she's 6 now)) and was a bit pushy but as I just carried on she became very submissive ( which she typically is on the halter) I then tied her up to finish checking my other mare's rug. I know I was stupid to go over when they'd just been playing and I could have been kicked or worse and I won't do it again but just interested in what other people do when horses are mucking about. I suppose my view on why I halter her etc at that point was, I could have been looking to bring them in or ride or anything when she reared ( as opposed to just checking a rug) and I can't have bad manners and she's a big girl when she rears!

 

[Kezzabell2]

I tend to stay in the field too. Like you my field I large so plenty of space! I only have one that wants to play, the others try to ignore him, so he does tend to come over to me! so I make sure I have my poo picker in hand ready to chuck at him! which I have had to do, as he reared up in my face a lot of times!

I don't want to leave the field as I don't want him to realise that he's intimidating me! usually he gets bored and goes off to eat and is fine afterwards!

He like your mare has been like this for as long as I've had him! but I'm in the unfortunate position (for this reason only) that I keep them on a private yard, so if he did kick me and knock me out, I'd probably be left in the field for a very long time before anyone noticed! SO I have made the decision to move him to a new yard where there are more people around, and where I have more facilities to work him! He can be very dominate on the ground, so really need to sort our pecking order out! he is 4yrs old, so hoping I've not left it too long!

 

[Wagtail]

If they are flat out galloping and bucking then I tend to head straight for the nearest fence and step out of harms way. But if I am taken unawares then I will wave poo skip at them if they come too close. I was nearly mown over the other day when I was rugging them whilst they were eating their hard feed in the field. My filly is boss of the two year old gelding and I was doing his rug. He's a big lad at around 16.2 already and she is around 6 inches shorter, so I didn't see her rushing over to push him off his feed. As I bent down to fasten his belly straps he suddenly ran over me trying to avoid her teeth! Now I am extra careful to keep an eye on the little madam whilst I do his rugs.

 

[TigerTail]

Mine avoid me - I am the boss when Im in the field its that simple.

I have a hand signal for the boss mare if Im doing something with one of the others and she knows to stop coming towards us if I give it - literally a palm up stop sign. Its all about body language tbh.

 

[Boysy]

If it's me in the field then they wouldn't think about running me over however my dad is fair game to my mare so i have given him free rein to chuck whatever he has in his hands (within reason-LOL) at her to move her away. She is only 13.3 but a tank of a girl and terribly mischevious and has run him over previously in her joy to get to him for first scratchies, full pelt hooley at him, tried to skid to a halt in front, missed and went straight thru him and the wheelbarrow......

It's all about herd hierachy, they see me as their herd leader (not always great when monsters are about and they hide behind me) and my dad as the underdog so take advantage as he's such a soft touch.

 

[Ceriann]

I tend to stay in the field too. Like you my field I large so plenty of space! I only have one that wants to play, the others try to ignore him, so he does tend to come over to me! so I make sure I have my poo picker in hand ready to chuck at him! which I have had to do, as he reared up in my face a lot of times!

I don't want to leave the field as I don't want him to realise that he's intimidating me! usually he gets bored and goes off to eat and is fine afterwards!

He like your mare has been like this for as long as I've had him! but I'm in the unfortunate position (for this reason only) that I keep them on a private yard, so if he did kick me and knock me out, I'd probably be left in the field for a very long time before anyone noticed! SO I have made the decision to move him to a new yard where there are more people around, and where I have more facilities to work him! He can be very dominate on the ground, so really need to sort our pecking order out! he is 4yrs old, so hoping I've not left it too long!

I try not to get into a conflict with mine if it does happen (to be fair it's not often) but stand my ground and then walk away quietly. I do however then get the head collar and do a few basics with her - it only takes 5 minutes and she's quiet as a lamb again. I think if you go head on you risk them upping the stakes! Mine was 4 when I got her and just had bad manners - walked through you in stable, reared to bring in - made worse by me being in cast when I moved her home from the livery we were at. The rearing went v quickly with 24/7 turnout, the nibbling continued for a while and she will occasionally offer a nibble face (but never follows through). She's a grump and will never be cuddly but on the plus side (there is one!) she's very well behaved ridden.

I would do what I did with mine - lots of in hand walking - we did little routes where walk and stand was taught and the back, side etc. She's a different horse now.

 

[Ceriann]

Mine is generally pretty good and even when she reared she was a few steps away and didn't venture into my space. But I didn't like it hence the groundwork after. I did just feel a bit exposed though and as on my own was conscious I was in trouble if it got out of hand. I stood my ground then walked away when she'd stopped.

If they do have a mad gallop though and in full hooley mode I might be tempted to get out of the way like you Wagtail!

 

[Spring Feather]

Mine don't do all this hooleying around if I'm in their fields. If they were playing before I entered the field, they generally stop when I enter. I don't do any fussing around with them if they have been playing though, and if I need to do anything (fix rugs or whatever) then I leave it till they've all settled fully. I don't fuff around with them when they're eating their hardfeed as that's their time. If they are all standing around their hay feeders and I go in to sort out rugs then I only need to put a finger up in the air to let them know I'm there and there won't be any bickering whilst I do what I have to do. They're all very respectful I have to say but then they're used to me commanding my space, and they accept that, when I ask for it.

 

[Nudibranch]

I will stay in the field as it's big, but I never go in without something in my hands to wave or throw in an emergency. I have an almost 17hh 3yo who is a bit of a moron when it comes to body language - I mean even with other horses, not just humans, so it isn't a training issue! I generally carry a schooling whip around him because it makes a good extension of my arm and a clearer signal where my personal space is. He's also going through a silly rearing phase, so I make sure he's led on a long rope and always have an eye ready. But like most, five minutes of in-hand work and he's like a lamb. This is the key really.

 

[PolarSkye]

Pops will absolutely go out of his way to avoid any human in his field if he's playing - he doesn't "do" running people over . . . however, if he's "on one" and having a panic along the fence line, he can't always stop in time so I would rather not tempt fate (or his ligaments/tendons) by standing in his way.

Oh, and to answer the original question, whether or not I stay in the field very much depends on the horses in it. Kali, yes . . . however, not all horses are as polite as he is.

P

 

[Pearlsasinger]

All of ours know to stay out of humans' space but I would never take a wheelbarrow into a field with them and leave it while I 'poo pick'. They are not so likely to respect the personal space of a wheelbarrow. Not that we 'poo pick' anyway, we have a field vac and sheep, works much better, with far less effort!

 

[Arizahn]

I also expect mine to respect my personal space and to halt to a hand signal. I'd have no chance of outrunning them anyhow due to my health, so they really have to be mannerly

 

[Honey08]

I'm quite happy wandering around the field with them. I would never adjust rugs without them being tied up or held, otherwise it often ends with the horse moving off swishing and just means that you are putting yourself in an awkward position. I would not send someone not family into the field to do jobs while they're out.