Horse is suddenly becoming dangerous

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Lyric lady

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Please help if you can - our gelding has suddenly started acting dangerously.

Owned him 5 months and he's been fine. This has probably led us into complacency and we've not been strict enough.

He has suddenly started 'bolting' when being brought in from field. He is turned out with other geldings and sometimes left on own in field as others don't bring him in when they take their's in. However, he has tried this both when left alone and when not so don't think that is the direct cause. He is bottom of pecking order so not really 'friends' with any of the other horses.

Monday, he tanked off when daughter was leading in and galloped through yard. Tues he was a bit jumpy but OK, Weds OK, Thurs and Fri tried it again.

We can only bring in after going dark due to work. No one else will bring him in. I'm wondering now whether it's best just to leave him in? He's hates this and I hate the thought but am so worried about this dangerous behaviour.

Yard won't let us feed hay in field so he is possibly getting very hungry :/ Although gave him a bucketful of hay at gate tonight before bringing in and he still tried it.

His behaviour is definitely worse when weather is bad eg rainy or very windy. This bolting has started since it got much colder this week. The lane from field is very dark and exposed and is a bit spooky. Before bolting, he was looking behind him as if something was scaring him.

We are trying to do some groundwork in lunge pen but it's very busy yard so can't always get in there.

He's not young either so it's not inexperience, he's 15 and has been on the same yard 3 years.

What can we do? Could we bring in in bridle for more control? Or is this silly? Daughter tried walking him in circles but it just wound him up more. My instinct was be firm but this seems to make him worse as if he is genuinely scared?

Please help! I've had horses 5 years but never had this and don't feel experienced enough/ equipped enough to cope!
 
have you tried wrapping the lead rope round his nose, threaded through the noseband so it doesnt drop down?
you would have to catch him - pull on the leadrope - before he really pulls away, but may give you control in the short term?
 
Imo he just sounds like he is in a hurry to get in, & in his hurry forgetting his manners. It's probably hunger, but could also be cold, or if its deep mud in the field, that too. Can you either pay someone to bring him in earlier, or do a swop with someone, eg you turn theirs out, they bring him in so he's not out as late? Failing that, pay a freelance groom to bring in earlier, or move to a yard which offers services.
 
TandD said:
have you tried wrapping the lead rope round his nose, threaded through the noseband so it doesnt drop down?
you would have to catch him - pull on the leadrope - before he really pulls away, but may give you control in the short term?
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This or a control headcollar. Poll pressure helps when mine are trying to race in side!
 
Bridle, lunge line to the bit, wear gloves and give him a good yank back. If he isn't a nibbly sort then halt him every few strides and treat him until he starts to focus on you. Its not daft to use a bridle, my lot are really playing around this week, my 5yr old walked in on his back legs today!
 
Could you try giving him his tea in the field before bringing him in? its not silly to use his bridle if it would make things safer, either that or a control halter. A longer lead rope may help you have more control as its less easily pulled through your hand. Wear gloves and a hat!
When he comes in I'd try to ensure its boring for him so don't feed him right away. Can you lead him round the yard before going to his stable? It may be worth practicing at the weekend when it's light bringing him in several times in the day.
Not much else I can think of, good luck!
 
Something is worrying him whether its hunger or something else. I would be tempted to look for a different yard, one where you can pay someone to bring him in if no-one will do it for payment where you currently are. Sounds like he would be happier coming in earlier in the day, the lack of grass at this time of year will not help matters. I wouldnt want him left in if he was mine, would probably make matters worse and then he may become dangerous to ride. Is full livery an option say Mon - Fri so the worry and risk is taken away from the situation?
 
Bridles, control halters etc only treat the symptom, not the cause. Once the cause is removed, chances are the symptom will go too. If it doesn't, fair enough, use a bridle etc till he does remember his manners. But until the cause has been removed, you haven't solved the actual issue.
 
If he is left alone, in the cold and dark, you are lucky he hasn't jumped the gate to get back with the others. Although I see that you say he does it if not left alone. I guess he is cold and hungry and eager to get to his tea, but is being bad mannered about it.

Can't you pay for him to be brought in while it is still light? I find a Dually headcollar quite good for control, but if you have got a horse twirling around on the end of a rope in the dark, it really isn't a lot of fun, and it is hard to start teaching them manners when they want to tank off, but you must be prepared with hard hat, gloves and be very firm with him. If you have the headcollar rope on the side rather than at the back it gives you more control as you can pull them round, rather than being pulled along. Once they get passed you, you stand no chance, and you also have to watch out for them kicking out.
 
Thanks for the help everyone. I will look into getting someone to bring him in earlier. Am reluctant to move yards as have my mare there too and she is very settled and hasn't settled well on previous yards; I am also newish to the area and have been told Rochdale area is a bit of a black hole for livery? We have also 'booked' in for winter.

I see what people are saying about the being left thing but we aren't leaving him out for hours on his own, we get there between 4pm and 5pm and the others come in between 3ish and 6ish. It's just sometimes he's left alone which I don't like but he's not on his own for hours.

Nevertheless, I think you are all very right that he would be better coming in about 3ish when it's still light.

Will try the bridle/ lunge line as a temporary measure to avoid dangerous situations whilst I look into someone who may be able to come and bring him in.
 
Please make sure that your horse is able to follow the same bring in routine as the others in his field and around him. He has every right to be upset if he's left out alone and will therefore be difficult to lead in. Establish a good routine before quantifying horse's 'dangerous behaviour', he's just very worried and scared that he will be left on his own!
 
Sounds like a good plan. Sometimes its just a process of elimination to see what works. Hope he is a happier horse, theres nothing worse than worrying about them. If he's brought in earlier in the day it should be a more relaxing situation for him.
 
Just a point. DON'T get anyone on your yard or do a swap as its not fair to ask them to bring in a horses you know is like this even if you think he will be ok earlier.
Pay a groom by all means. But not a friend that could go very wrong.
When my boy did this going to the field he went out in a bridle with two lunge lines and two people as he went to tank off through gate he got a good tug it stopped it for good.
 
kirstyl said:
Please make sure that your horse is able to follow the same bring in routine as the others in his field and around him. He has every right to be upset if he's left out alone and will therefore be difficult to lead in. Establish a good routine before quantifying horse's 'dangerous behaviour', he's just very worried and scared that he will be left on his own!
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Thanks for advice, but I don't think this is the primary reason for his behaviour. He is sometimes last in field, sometimes not and is out for, at most, half an hour on his own. As he is bottom of pecking order, it also causes other problems when he is not last out and we want to bring him in before others. Unfortunately we are not on a yard where people 'work together' on these things as everyone does their own thing :/

He has shown the bolting behaviour whether or not he is left alone. And before this week, when the weather turned, he would happily be the last one in and lead in politely. So I don't think this is the primary cause.

I will, however, seek to get him in earlier so he can eat/ get out of cold as I think this is more likely what is winding him up than being left alone.
 
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Dizzy Christmas Pud said:
Just a point. DON'T get anyone on your yard or do a swap as its not fair to ask them to bring in a horses you know is like this even if you think he will be ok earlier.
Pay a groom by all means. But not a friend that could go very wrong.
When my boy did this going to the field he went out in a bridle with two lunge lines and two people as he went to tank off through gate he got a good tug it stopped it for good.
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Good point yes, I wouldn't want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt bringing him in.
 
Lyric lady said:
Please help if you can - our gelding has suddenly started acting dangerously.

Owned him 5 months and he's been fine. This has probably led us into complacency and we've not been strict enough.

He has suddenly started 'bolting' when being brought in from field. He is turned out with other geldings and sometimes left on own in field as others don't bring him in when they take their's in. However, he has tried this both when left alone and when not so don't think that is the direct cause. He is bottom of pecking order so not really 'friends' with any of the other horses.

Monday, he tanked off when daughter was leading in and galloped through yard. Tues he was a bit jumpy but OK, Weds OK, Thurs and Fri tried it again.

We can only bring in after going dark due to work. No one else will bring him in. I'm wondering now whether it's best just to leave him in? He's hates this and I hate the thought but am so worried about this dangerous behaviour.

Yard won't let us feed hay in field so he is possibly getting very hungry :/ Although gave him a bucketful of hay at gate tonight before bringing in and he still tried it.

His behaviour is definitely worse when weather is bad eg rainy or very windy. This bolting has started since it got much colder this week. The lane from field is very dark and exposed and is a bit spooky. Before bolting, he was looking behind him as if something was scaring him.

We are trying to do some groundwork in lunge pen but it's very busy yard so can't always get in there.

He's not young either so it's not inexperience, he's 15 and has been on the same yard 3 years.

What can we do? Could we bring in in bridle for more control? Or is this silly? Daughter tried walking him in circles but it just wound him up more. My instinct was be firm but this seems to make him worse as if he is genuinely scared?

Please help! I've had horses 5 years but never had this and don't feel experienced enough/ equipped enough to cope!
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When I've had horses like this I've alway led in a bridle until they have learned the rules. Certainly not silly. You need to be safe. A few years back I took on a horse when she retired from a riding school. She was a known "tanker" and very naughty when being led. I found that if I dressed her for in her bridle with lunge line attached to one ring of the bit, over her poll and through the other bit ring and took her to the field, it worked. The first time we tried it she took off and I gave her her head so far on the lunge line and then hung on. She looked an bit startled when she ran out of line and behaved herself for the next few days. She then tried it on once more with the same result and was cured. However, I still couldn't stop her tanking off when lead in headcollar and lead rope so I didn't bother. I just led her as if going out for lungeing. We may have looked silly but who cares? We were safe

May be a bit obvious but are his teeth and back OK?

As he's been with you for 5 months and been well-behaved it's a bit late for him to be testing the boundaries but it could be what's going on.
 
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I just think if you establish a consistent routine for bringing in, you can then be quite strict on any unwanted behaviour ie using bridle, control halter etc. My horse is an angel if brought in at the sane time / before his field mates. If he is left, he is beside himself and its just not worth risking damage to him or to me. Hope you can get things organised to make him a happier more manageable boy :)
 
I wouldn't panic overly, just chatted to a friend and everything on her yard is being daft this week, not sure why, all the horses I know have obviously received a telepathic message to be utter twonks at the moment!
 
No reason you can't have another livery bring in on a swop basis, depends how experienced they are. If I was on ops yard it wouldn't bother me getting it in. Plus, I strongly suspect if its not hungry/cold when its brought in, behavior will stop quickly anyway.
 
Don't know if you saw my post about my mare suddenly starting to become very aggressive this week, but its strange that a lot of horses are having this sudden behaviour change and must be something to do with the frosty grass maybe?

I would lead in a bridle and lunge line over his poll with gloves, be strong! Also carry a stick and be strict if he overtakes you even a little bit, hold stick in front of his chest and give him a tap on chest if necessary...

I hope it is just a bit of seasonal change silliness and they'll all go back to normal :-)
 
Ellen Durow said:
When I've had horses like this I've alway led in a bridle until they have learned the rules. Certainly not silly. You need to be safe. A few years back I took on a horse when she retired from a riding school. She was a known "tanker" and very naughty when being led. I found that if I dressed her for in her bridle with lunge line attached to one ring of the bit, over her poll and through the other bit ring and took her to the field, it worked. The first time we tried it she took off and I gave her her head so far on the lunge line and then hung on. She looked an bit startled when she ran out of line and behaved herself for the next few days. She then tried it on once more with the same result and was cured. However, I still couldn't stop her tanking off when lead in headcollar and lead rope so I didn't bother. I just led her as if going out for lungeing. We may have looked silly but who cares? We were safe

May be a bit obvious but are his teeth and back OK?

As he's been with you for 5 months and been well-behaved it's a bit late for him to be testing the boundaries but it could be what's going on.
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It also occurs to me that if you don't have to ride as soon as you bring him in it might help to have his tea in his stable waiting for him. If he associates being lead in with something nice he may learn to behave.
 
Lyric lady said:
I It's just sometimes he's left alone
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A responsible YO should impose a rule that no horse must be left in the field on it's own. On the yard where my current horse lives we are obliged to bring in any "left overs" so no-one is left alone in the field and the roof falls in on anyone who transgresses.
 
Ellen Durow said:
It also occurs to me that if you don't have to ride as soon as you bring him in it might help to have his tea in his stable waiting for him. If he associates being lead in with something nice he may learn to behave.
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The opposite, in my opinion - by all means put him in and immediately feed him - but do NOT leave his feed in there waiting for him. If he breaks away and races up to his stable to find his tea waiting, this is only an added incentive to act like a wally.
 
JustFindingTheDecorations said:
The opposite, in my opinion - by all means put him in and immediately feed him - but do NOT leave his feed in there waiting for him. If he breaks away and races up to his stable to find his tea waiting, this is only an added incentive to act like a wally.
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This is what I was thinking - don't want anything that could be seen as a reward by him! We normally have a haynet up and ready for him but may stop doing this as he doesn't get food immediately as he goes in; this could be why he is over keen to get in as he is obsessed with food and there's no grass :/
 
mandwhy said:
Don't know if you saw my post about my mare suddenly starting to become very aggressive this week, but its strange that a lot of horses are having this sudden behaviour change and must be something to do with the frosty grass maybe?

I would lead in a bridle and lunge line over his poll with gloves, be strong! Also carry a stick and be strict if he overtakes you even a little bit, hold stick in front of his chest and give him a tap on chest if necessary...

I hope it is just a bit of seasonal change silliness and they'll all go back to normal :-)
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Yes, I really hope he will go back to his normal self as it's very worrying :/
 
Don't suppose you are anywhere near west Yorkshire? Have been through very similar with my house and learned a lot of stuff which could really help.
Pm me if you like
:)
 
Lyric lady said:
This is what I was thinking - don't want anything that could be seen as a reward by him! We normally have a haynet up and ready for him but may stop doing this as he doesn't get food immediately as he goes in; this could be why he is over keen to get in as he is obsessed with food and there's no grass :/
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If you have no grass, and he is hungry it may explain why he is so deperate to get in. I have found that my two are suddenly hungry this week, they have started coming back to the yard at lunch time to see if they can persuade me to give them their feed, and I am able to put hay out in field, as well as still having grass on the field.

You have probably already thought of the answer, by trying to arrange for him to come in earlier. Some of our older mares used to only want to go out for 3 - 4 hours in winter when their was little goodness in the grass.

Hope you can sort something out, it is so hard when you can not put out hay in field during this cold weather.
 
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