Is anyone else's horse 'just grumpy'?

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crystalclear

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Just wondering who else is in the same situation as me.

My 6 yr old TB x is grumpy most of the time. Not only when you out her rug on or groom her in the field but when you walk up to her she will out her ears flat back at you and at times try and bite.

If this was a horse I didn't know I'd be concerned about this but I have known her since she was 6 months old as she was born at the livery yard I used to keep my horse at and I owned her since she was one yr old.

Before I got her, she was weaned from her mum too early for a few months then the owner felt bad and out her back with her for a while before taking her away again. She was found to have a nail in we hoof combine with a suspected Gastric ulcer hence was stabled continually for a few months. There were two stables next to each other and every day she would physically be herded to the other stable so the other could be mucked out.

She learnt to bite and kick anyone that came near her. That's when I came along. No one would go near her, you couldn't touch her anywhere she would bite, kick, out her ears back an do anything to get you away from her. So it was kind of learnt behaviour and the only way she knew to treat humans as she'd had not other interaction.

With her head collar on and in ridden work she's fab! It's just in the field as I mentioned above. Sorry to ramble on...back to my original question, does anyone else have a horse that is 'just grumpy?'
 
I have one that can be very sceptical when it comes to doing anything "fun" he's not a cuddly horse at all and takes a long time to trust new people, and can take a very bizarre dislike to some people for apparently no reason. He can be a complete grouch about things like loading, tacking up etc. There's nothing wrong with him, he wants for nothing but I guess he is just pessimistic! I've owned him since he was 3 so I know nothing bad has happened to him, unlike your poor soul who seems to have had a few negative experiences at a young, impressionable age. I try to cheer my chap up by doing things he likes. He loves to jump and that seems to be the one thing that he gets really enthusiastic about. Why not try a few different things with yours and find out what lights him up?

In contrast my youngster is the most cheerful horse I've ever met! I've had her since she was 10 months old, now four and she's always happy and willing to give anything a try. If horses could smile she would be grinning constantly. :D I think some just have a different outlook on life and each are so individual.
 
Thanks for your story too. I'm gla I'm not the only one. My horse is thriving in ridden work and lies jumping and hacking. She's even recently done her first hunter trial, bless. As I say, with her head collar on she's fab just without she's not. She's not cuddly at all either! I just treat her a bit like a child and say, I'm not scared and you don't mean it, which I think annoys her more hehe
 
I've got one who had a similar start in life as yours OP and behaves similarly.
(traumatic accident as a foal, traumatic early weaning and left entirely alone with very little horse company or much human interaction for approx a year, so poorly socialised with either humans or horses).
He's also fab with all new things, great attitude to work etc so his grumpy bits just seem like stuck behaviours from the bad old days. (we do work on improving his manners tho and don't let him get away with anything too much, even so.)
As you say, I know him so I know how far his grumpiness extends. I'm sure others might not be so keen on him though!
 
Ha that what I think! Not many people would put up with them but we love them :) I always wonder if there is something wrong but I know she's always been like it.
 
Knobberpony is a grump.She loves her work and has never put a foot wrong under the saddle,but dislikes being groomed,fussed or touched,and isn't keen on other equines either.After we'd had her about a year,she did start to neigh in welcome when she saw me and she'll rarely attempt to bite me,but I've come to accept that she'll never be a friendly,cuddly pony.

I discovered that in the past,she had a bad reputation for being caught,led and loaded,so much so that her 2nd owners couldn't handle her at all.She has either softened with age or is happy enough not to bother playing up now,as my daughters have always caught,led and loaded her with no issues.

In contrast,my youngest daughters little pony is always pleased to see us,follows us around,loves a fuss,and loves to wrap his neck around his jockey in a hug.
 
I have a grump of a mare too. I've owned her since she was born and trust me she has wanted for nothing and has never been abused. She is just really a grump in her stable. Like she does not like you standing outside the stable looking at her. But I climb under her chain and she perks right up. She likes her space. In the field no bother unless I just put out fresh hay. But that's towards her mates. She is always one to greet me with a whinny when she sees me. Today I walked out to see how the saved fields were doing from the edge her her paddock and she came up behind me and put her head on my shoulder. So while not lovey, she has her moments. If you didn't know her you'd be inclined to think she was horrid. But 100% to ride and do anything with. She has her own personality and that is that. She is allowed to be her as long as she stays in boundries. She knows.

Terri
 
Mine likes fuss & a cuddle but is very girthy,snappy when groomed & very snappy with rugs. I got him as unhandled(didn't even lead!!!) 2 yr old & is now 17. Was like this right from the start,has had gastric ulcers several times(thanks to several long vet stays for surgery) & my god when he's got ulcers the only place you can safely touch him is his head! But once treated & gone he reverts back to his normal levels of being a bit grumpy. I do wonder about hind gut ulcers & think will get some egusin to try. Wierdly he's angelic to clip with only 1 or 2 tickly bits that make him fidget. He also can't abide dogs & won't have them anywhere near him when in stable yet doesn't mind them running about in his field!
 
I've always wondered if she's had any more gastric ulcers but had never lost performance or condition really. She's always grot so not sure what else to look for
 
*grumpy that's meant to say! She's out 24/7 and got suspected ulcers previously as a foal due to not being fed enough and weaning too early
 
My mum's mare is a grumpy face! She never bites or kicks out but it's a very rare moment if she has a happy face on! She just seems to always have her ears back and a "I cannot be bothered with you peasents" look on her face :rolleyes:
 
Mine isn't grumpy, he's downright vile!!

His sire was mean, he breeds meanies and Tiger is a classic example. Have contacted his breeders who said that he was always a thug. He will happily bite, kick, stamp on you and try to pin you down by gabbing hold of you with his teeth and standing on you.

He is not for the faint hearted but is the happiest horse alive when you ride him and would do absolutely anything for me.

You know your horse is unpleasant when friends refer to him as "smiler", "killer" and my all time favourite "jaws"............
 
My ex racer is grumpy in the stable - especially when taking off/putting on rugs and if you go hear her when she's having her dinner .. apart from that she's fine.

My arab on the otherhand never has a grumpy face :rolleyes:
 
My 20 year old cob is a grumpy old man! He will put his ears back when you approach him in the field, and when grooming (especially his belly!) but never bites. He hates most children with a passion but my 6 year old granddaughter can do whatever she likes to him and he doesn't bat an eye. He will often stand with his head on her shoulder whilst she combs his mane or she will sit on the stool in the barn whilst I groom him and he will put his head in her lap and let her cuddle him :rolleyes:
 
my tbs always grumpy when he's hungry. he's also a nightmare when he doesnt get turned out for a few days, but i put this down to the fact that he was left starving in a stable before i got him. everyone always comments on how different he is in the summer when hes out 24/7.

he's not very cuddly either, last week i hugged him round the neck and he bit my bum!
 
I probably torture mine a bit. Sometimes a good song comes on the radio and you can't help but dance and sing. None of the others pay me any mind. Abba on the other hand brings her grump self up to the front of the stable to pin her ears and let me know that I can't dance or sing. And it's not like I'm standing in front of her or anything. She just has a strict no dancing and singing policy while she is in the barn. We call her "Mean Bunny Green". One of her many nicknames. But brushing her over she falls asleep and loves you spending time brushing her tail. And butt scratches. She's weird. She used to be in a field near the main road. Cyclists used to come by in a group. She would promply gallop along side hedge and rail pinning her ears. She's always been a bit different. Before anyone asks she has been seen by vets and had the kitchen sink of investigations. She's just weird.

Terri
 
I had a TB mare on loan over the winter period (you can see my posts on here) and she was 99% vile. There were odd times of genuine kindness and bonding but they were so few and far between it was pretty misserable keeping her.
She was vile in her stable, dangerous to feed. If she wasnt trying to bite you when you put rugs on she was scraping her teeth up the wall in frustration that she wasnt trying to bite you ...
You needed a firm grip when picking her back feet out, weakness would result in a near miss. Tacking up was a misserable experience and you were always on your guard .. ALWAYS.... because she was constantly trying to nip you. Her moods would change in a second and you never knew what was coming next, good mood or vile mood! She really disliked affection and was a nightmare in the field and boy if you tried to touch her rug when she wasnt tied up you took your life in your hands because she would have you!

We had a certain bond you could say and i truely felt for her as she had issues that i couldnt help her with and i felt guilty about that (very relieved when her owner missed her and wanted her back tho!)

That bond/ understanding was never truer than on the day she went home. She was standing tied up on the yard and i was tieing her haynet up when my friend came over to say goodbye to her and she really went for my friend .. thank god i was actually in the middle because she meant to get her big time but thankfully i dissolved the situation within a second.

Will never have a mare again and when i was tralling through the for sale adverts it didnt matter how good the horse looked and sounded if they mentioned it was a 'bit grumpy' I would be clicking off the advert faster than my browser could cope. Nothing is more important to me than a friendly and trusting horse. Everything else i can deal with but that is my number one priority now. Thankfully my new horse :D is really friendly and loves to be fussed and hasnt got a bad bone in his body :D
 
I know you weren't posting to ask for advice but do try and get her better.

She's only 6, nobody knows what is lying round the corner in their lives, one day you maybe forced to sell.
And having her more manageable is the best thing that you can do for her in those circumstances.

I'd try some clicker training, it's a different approach and allows the horse some control of it's reactions and from the history, that's something that she hasn't ever had.
 
My boy is nick named jaws by everyone on the yard. Not many people will handle him after he kicked one poor girl in the face and and another got bitten quite badly. He is fine to ride, groom, tack up but it's when you walk away from him you need eyes in the back of your head !!!
 
I have a grumpy girly too! Not sure what her history is but if she is unhappy about something she'll certainly let you know it. I've had her for nearly two years and have made gradual progress with her - if you get everything just so she's pretty sweet, but do something wrong (box rest, go away on holiday) and she'll tell you about it. Best thing I have done so far is put her on Topspec, not sure why but she has become a much happier horse on that!
 
My mare is a right grump!

She's fine with me and my mum, but can be a bit funny with other people, and is a witch to other horses, Always the boss and makes sure that her field mates remember it!

When we were away from home while I was at uni, she terrified all the wee kiddies that tried to catch their ponies... as she would chase them and pull her camel faces... :o

At least she won't be stolen in a hurry!

Its all a front, but she's definitely my baby!

ets: I've had her since she was 2... she's just a cow bag!
 
Woah lots of grumpy horses around! Yes I believe she did but not 100% certain as she wasn't mine and I wasn't there all the time. She's always been grumpy due to how she was bought up initially. As I say other symptoms or gastric ulcers are lack if energy or performance and she's beer like that. I of course consider them but being grumpy is the only symptom she's showing and she's always been like that. She's out 24/7 and fed twice a day
 
Just looked on the net and other than being grumpy she isn't showing signs of any of:


Poor appetite
Weight loss and poor body condition
Poor hair coat
Mild colic
Mental dullness or attitude changes
Poor performance
Lying down more than normal

Would glady get the vet out if needed but She's always grumpy and recently she's gone off and won't eat alfa nuts but I think that's because she's picky as she still has her appetite and eats all of her tea just not the nuts!
 
crystalclear said:
Just looked on the net and other than being grumpy she isn't showing signs of any of:


Poor appetite
Weight loss and poor body condition
Poor hair coat
Mild colic
Mental dullness or attitude changes
Poor performance
Lying down more than normal

Would glady get the vet out if needed but She's always grumpy and recently she's gone off and won't eat alfa nuts but I think that's because she's picky as she still has her appetite and eats all of her tea just not the nuts!
Click to expand...

I had my mare scoped as I was worried about ulcers as she was grumpy and we were struggling to improve her condition. I decided to scope to check all was ok - they found one insignificant ulcer which the vet said might have been caused by the starvation period required prior to scoping, but that it was not going to be causing any issues. No treatment required and she's since improved condition wise (grumpyness still the same). :rolleyes:

Only issue is she's now not insured for colic or any gastrointestinal issues unless they can be certain that they weren't caused by ulcers (which'll be tricky to prove and not something I can be certain of prior to £££ colic surgery if, god forbid, she should need it). I just wanted to highlight that risk, its certainly not something I thought of and I may not have scoped if I'd known!
 
Thank you for the document it's very interesting but I'm still not sure it applies to my horse. Yes she's grumpy but always has been so no attitude changes and she gets grumpy when you touch her specifically on the inside of her back legs and near udders purely because she wasn't handled for ages as a youngster and I'm usually feeling her there when I have cold hands oops! The criteria otherwise she doesn't really fit?

Good idea oreviouy about clicker training I did buy a clicker so may start using it. As I say it's mainly when her head collars not on, when its on she's a different pony!
 
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