Is horse playing or threatening?

Birker2020

Birker2020

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My horse has been in since the 5th January due to the snow. During this period he has gone on the walker for an hour once, and sometimes twice a day. The last week he has gone into our indoor school which is approx 25 x 25m and he has been loose. I normally letting him have a roll in the school and then loose school him by chasing him with a lunge whip, and he usually pretty good at going around and not getting 'stuck' in the corners. However this last three days when I have approached him with the whip towards his side to send him on he has been deliberately moving his quarters away from me, so he is facing me. When I approach with the whip he starts to paw the ground out at me with his front feet. However last night his naughtiness reached epic proportions as I shouted at him for squaring up to me, and he proceeded to rear. His ears weren't back, either when he reared or when he pawed the ground, and when he sped off on a cirle his front inside leg came up quite high when he struck off into canter, so I presume he is playing with me. However it has been said by a couple of people that I shouldn't let him get away with such antics, paritcularly the pawing which has always been seen in horses as a stallion trait. I think he is just being a bit silly due to the fact he's been in so long. I am hoping that he can go out in the field tommorow as we appear to be defrosting quite quickly now.

What would you think? Do you think I should shout at him, or do you think its because he's got lots of pent up energy and he just forgot himself? He is a lovely natured 17.1hh warmblood, who has never bitten, kicked, bucked or reared previously. He hasn't got a vicious bone in his body.
 
He is playing because he's bored out of his mind, just like the rest of us. BUT if he actually connects with you you'll be just as hurt whether he "meant it" or not. If he's coming towards you and/or making you feel uncomfortable, simply step in behind him and send him away again, perhaps a little more smartly than usual. You could add a stiff "stop" or similar but I wouldn't yell.

Frankly, I quite like to play with my horses and I'm happy when they feel confident enough to do so. BUT - and it's a big one - I set the place, the time and the rules. And if I think it's going over the top, it stops. I never play with a horse that has issues with aggression or is particularly sharp or with one I don't know well. There are some I'd never play with and it's not necessarily dependent on just their behaviour at other times. Then there are some that love a good play and it really brings them out of themselves.

I really wouldn't stress about it at the stage you're describing but keep an eye on it, in case he takes it as an excuse to push the envelope.
 
As above, my two love to play, they are rising six, both with each other and with people - we play tag and sometimes we play football and follow the leader. They also do this with my 9 year old niece but especially with her, they are very gentle and chase (slowly trot) after her playing follow my leader and all seem to have great fun. I have had Stinky since a yearling and trust him 99% never to bite or kick. Ditto Farra, she is a very gentle mare though a big girl and has learnt personal space since we got her as a four year old.

Stinky has occasionally reared up as you describe, pawing the air doing his little "stallion" impression. Never on top of me and never at me. It is his way of letting of steam and is often followed by a mad dash round the school bucking like a nutter often with Farra joining in.

Mine will occasionally go along flicking their heels in my direction, but again never that close. They are very obviously playing.

Should they get too close to my space, they will get a flick at them with the whip and told "out", so now know what is and what is not acceptable. Even with my two very trusted horses, I do like my niece to carry a schooling whip or a lead rope just in case things start to get too close so she can drive them away quickly.

Mine are not agressive, nor that sharp, with something that was, I would be more cautious. I have played with sharp TB types, but always had a long whip that I could reinforce the boundaries of how close is acceptable.

Maybe you could start with some inhand exercises to have him really thinking about you and your space and once a bit settled and thinking of where you are, then let him loose to play and keep reinforcing the personal space by driving out with body language and if necessary a long whip for your safety. Also given some mental thought work will help with the boredom and excess energy. My two find "mental" inhand work far more exhausting than running around.
 
Playing like this can be great fun and a good work out for you!! But as said above it needs to be on your terms and any leaping about should be done well clear of you.

I have a very playful horse and do enjoy some fun now and again. He normally 'suggests' he might be feeling frisky then I'll send him away and that's it...we normally race each other (I get beaten funnily enough!) accross school or field, then its a skid to a halt and we both stand staring at each other then I leap in the air (my version of a buck!) and run off, he goes nuts then tears off in the same direction. Apparently its very amusing for onlookers but I dont care, hours of fun
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He's playing. As long as he is nowhere near striking you then I'd let him play and laugh at him as you watch his antics.

If he gets within striking distance, I'd have that lunge whip connect and send him off in a jiffy, but he sounds like he is showing respect for your space.
 
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My horse has been in since the 5th January due to the snow. During this period he has gone on the walker for an hour once, and sometimes twice a day. The last week he has gone into our indoor school which is approx 25 x 25m and he has been loose. I normally letting him have a roll in the school and then loose school him by chasing him with a lunge whip, and he usually pretty good at going around and not getting 'stuck' in the corners. However this last three days when I have approached him with the whip towards his side to send him on he has been deliberately moving his quarters away from me, so he is facing me. When I approach with the whip he starts to paw the ground out at me with his front feet. However last night his naughtiness reached epic proportions as I shouted at him for squaring up to me, and he proceeded to rear. His ears weren't back, either when he reared or when he pawed the ground, and when he sped off on a cirle his front inside leg came up quite high when he struck off into canter, so I presume he is playing with me. However it has been said by a couple of people that I shouldn't let him get away with such antics, paritcularly the pawing which has always been seen in horses as a stallion trait. I think he is just being a bit silly due to the fact he's been in so long. I am hoping that he can go out in the field tommorow as we appear to be defrosting quite quickly now.

What would you think? Do you think I should shout at him, or do you think its because he's got lots of pent up energy and he just forgot himself? He is a lovely natured 17.1hh warmblood, who has never bitten, kicked, bucked or reared previously. He hasn't got a vicious bone in his body.

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Do you approach him from the side with the lunge whip pointing towards his back end? if so he is turning to face you because you are asking him to. In other words if you point the whip anywhere from his mid line - 1/4's the horse will be reading your body language and will move his 1/4s away and turn face.

I agree he is playing with you but maybe with a certain amount of frustration because he is only doing as you ask and not what you want.
 
Pawing the ground is a displacement activity. It just means the horse wishes it was able to move but circumstances mean it can't so it gets cross or anxious. You often see it when horses are mounted and ready to go but the riders are chatting or whatever so the horse has to stand still. You also see it at feeding times when some horses paw the ground as they eat from their feed bowls. It just means the horse expects to be MOVING as it's eating so its feet try to do just that.

So, when your horse paws the ground, he wants to be moving. I doubt if it's a threat OR a play action. I'd read it as anxiety. Maybe you're chasing him with the whip too strongly. Take a big ball into the school and have some gentler fun with that. Try to see it from HIS point of view.
 
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