horses and pigs

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anuvb

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The farm I keep my horse on bought pigs about four months ago and they've not proved an issue so far as they have been indoors over the winter. I'm having issues now though as the pigs have been turned out in a wood near to the yard and which is basically central to all our hacking. I can't get out to hack him without going past the pigs but I can't get my horse near them and I don't know what to do.

He's absolutely brilliant to hack normally, but he spooked himself last week when a friend rode him (we didn't know the pigs were there at the time) and normally I'd be able to work him through it within a ride or two but this time it's not getting any better. He's not frightened to leave the yard, but he is being a stroppy and taking leave of his senses if I try to turn him in any direction which he perceives as taking him towards the pigs.

I've just started long reining him and took him out last night on the long reins in the hope it would at least prevent me getting injured. It did, but as soon as we got near the pigs he tried to p**s off into a field so I water-skiied for a few metres until we were under control again. Am going to try again tonight, and am thinking about asking to put some pig manure in his stable (disgusting I know but it may at least help him to get a bit de-sensitised to the smell) but short of trying draw reins to stop him going up at the pigs (which is more likely to make him even worse if he's frightened) I'm not sure what else to do.

Any suggestions?
 
Who is the wood owned by?

We had an issue where some pigs were going to be placed right next to a bridleway - which we managed to successfully stop happening.

Horses and pigs are not a great mix, and I'm really suprised your YO did this.
 
Owned by the YO sadly - all the land is around us and the pigs are right in the middle not that far from the yard.
 
A neighbour put some pigs in the field opposite to our house and I use the lane there for hacking and also tie my horse up there in my driveway for the farrier. My lad was ok with them even though they do stink...it is the squealing noise that sets him off in a panic. I just ignore him now and he calms fairly quickly, but I had major issues one day when a farmer put some young pigs in a field where they have never been before...as I approached on the horse they started squealing and running around and my horse tried everything possible to run or get away from them.
In the end I got off and bribed him past by stuffing his face with a constant stream of polos...not ideal at all but the next time he was not so bad and I managed to get him past without too much hasstle.
Are the pigs loose in the wood then or fenced away from the actual track you use?
I might be inclined to lead your horse through in at least a bridle or possibly a chifney if you think he may break free from you and destract him with food...perhaps take a helper?
You may find after a few attempts that he is ok to be ridden past?
How is he with being in a group of other horses to protect him.
 
Horses have a bit of fear of pigs, I think due to possibly being eaten by wild bore many, many years ago (as in when the horse wasn't a horse but was what was originally the horse, when it has a hoof split into three (toes) and lived in the marsh land and hid for cover as opossed to running!)

Boring info aside, my mare is Mrs Spooky.

But we have dealt with pigs in the past and got through them, so my point is if you quietly persist I am sure you will have no problems - so don't worry. There is hope!

My method of doing this would be to agree with you, get some pig pooh! and also, lead her up there, let her graze near them and nearer again.. Do whatever you think would work best, I lead mine past a few times and then was fine. Do you have a more secure horse to buffer as you try and go past them?? Just keep at it, but not to the point where something major happens like she tanks off or does something silly, as then that will heighten her worry over it next time round.. so whatever you think would work. Personally I would lead as your by her side and she can take confidence from following you, if you long rein, she is out on her own so to speak.xxx Goodluck.xxx
 
Well done HR - glad you found a way to deal with it. I've never managed to conquer it with my mare - she has got used to cows and sheep (as originally had the same response to them) but we have pigs on most of my hacking routes and we either bolt past or I have to lead her past them.

I can normally work though a spook with her - she's a naturally confident and curious horse, but the lessons with pigs never seem to stick in her mind - we go back to step one each time.
 
Yes, its true that horses are naturally frightened of pigs as the wild boar was a predator which preyed on horses when they were only the size of a rabbit.

Is there any way you can let your horse see one close up in a pen? I did this once with a flighty TB and because he was able to stand outside and watch them in a barn as they were feeding at the open end, (there was a feed trough there and they could feed in full view without getting out of the barn), he soon realised they were no threat.
 
We have pigs too! Youngsters got used to them by being in the next paddock and ended up scratching their backs! I'm not saying they wouldn't have a wobbly if pigs were moved but they have got to know them. Neighbour who rides past in the season, one of her horses isn't too keen but has got better, the other one doesn't bother at all.
I echo the let them graze in hand nearby idea; just takes time and patience.
 
Use to breed pigs and most of my horses loved them. But I use to stable the sows in winter next to the horses, so they got use to their talk and if mucked out they DON'T SMELL!!!! I resent that people think they smell, they are the cleanest animal, they do everything in one spot, wish my dogs and horses would do the same, take time off mucking out and picking up dog mess from back garden. But keep taking your horse past pigs, he will get use to them.:D:D:D:D
 
We have pigs on our farm and one day my dad rescued a runt that was going to be despatched of and put it in our old starvation paddock next to my retired TBxID boy. He had always been unsure when we hacked near them before and he went bonkers when one was released in his next door paddock but after a short while he was fine with her and in the end they became inseparable!! So I think turning a pig out in a paddock adjacent to your horse might be the way forward. You might want to keep hold of your horse though for the first few minutes in case he jumps out!
 
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