Kicking Horse

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Rosalie McFall

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Hi,

I've just recently got a 4 year old, 16.3hh filly on loan. I'd been riding her for about a week at her old yard and just brought her home two days ago. I allowed her a day to settle in and get used to her surroundings before riding her. I saddled her up this afternoon and rode her around the field for 15-20 mins (didn't want to do too much with her for the first week or so).
She's been very friendly all along and comes to greet me at the fence and walks right up to me when I enter the field. My dog barks at her but she doesn't seem bothered and is very used to dogs at her old home. This evening I entered the field to check a fence. The mare was at the opposite end of the field to me, but she walked right towards me when she saw me. She approached me calmly and walked beside me but then motioned to bite me. I slapped at her nose and chastised her.
She then started walking behind me back towards the gate. Just then my dog came running through the yard. She wasn't barking or anything but I thought she was going to run into the field so I shouted at her to stop. At that moment, the horse turned around and kicked out at me with both hind legs. Thankfully I got out of the way and she didn't get me but it really scared me. I didn't see exactly what happened as she'd been behind walking behind me.
I don't know if the dog scared her, or if I scared her, or if she was just asserting dominance. I'm quite an experienced rider but I have never owned my own horse and I am quite new to all this. Perhaps she doesn't like or respect me.
I'd really appreciate any insights you could offer me.

Many thanks,
Rosalie
 
There are several points to pick up on, first is she living alone? if so she may appear happy but be unable to relax properly, it is not ideal for any horse to live alone, if she has company that is fine but if not her behaviour in general may deteriorate over time.

Secondly you thought she may bite, but did not make contact yet you slapped her nose, an overreaction to what may have been a harmless welcome, she was probably hurt and upset then you started yelling at the dog so she really thought something was about to happen, possibly another unnecessary slap so she overreacted by turning and kicking in defense before you could do anything to her.

I would not take it personally, she did not do it out of lack of respect or due to not liking you but as a natural reaction to the circumstances, spend time getting to know her, she may want to put her muzzle to you, let her and do not react unless she really does try to bite, get the dog used to her and her used to the dog, they both live there so need to accept each other, my dog loves "her" horses they spend time together and trust each other, try to stop overreacting to things that have not happened, being sensible and preventing incidents is a good idea but not if the prevention is out of proportion to the "crime" , finally get her an equine companion and any unwanted behaviour may well be prevented as she can play with them rather than you.
 
Thank you for your response, be positive. I hadn't considered that the "bite" might be just a welcome gesture. Her ears went back and I could see her teeth so I automatically assumed it was an aggressive action. I know horses bite each other and it's not always out of aggression so I will remember that next time before I react.

She is living alone at present. She'd been grazing alone for a few weeks, then went to a stable yard where there were other horses, and now she's alone again.

As for the dog, I will continue to allow her to hang out with me when I'm around the horse. It's when the horse comes close to me that the dog starts barking. I guess it's her size that scares the dog, and maybe she feels she needs to protect me from this giant that's walking towards us. Hopefully with time they'll get used to each other and become friends.

Thanks again for your comments,
R
 
In the interests of safety I would keep the horse and dog well apart. My horses live at hoe and the dogs share the yard but NEVER at the same time and the dogs are not allowed into the fields. How would you feel if the dog got kicked? Or the horse got bitten? What would the horse's owner do if the horse got bitten?

Again, for safety, until you know each other really well, don't let the horse accompany you as you walk around the field. Rather, catch her and lead her to the gate with you, she was herding you out of her field, which you must not allow. As for the biting, unless she actually makes contact, you only need to push her head away. If you feel that she is threatening you and you need to slap her shoulder or neck, rather than her nose. However if a horse let fly at me with its hind legs, I would have walloped its back end with a lead rope and shouted and waved my arms to get it moving sharply away. That is really bad manners.

As above, she needs a field companion in order to feel relaxed and to behave like a horse with other horses, rather than with humans.
 
I'm another believer in keeping horses and dogs a good distance apart to start with and she needs an equine companion. Not fair to keep her isolated for 20+ hours a day.

With out seeing the 'bite' it's hard to gauge what she was doing but I would give her the benefit of the doubt, she's in a potentially stressful situation.
 
Rosalie McFall said:
Hi,

I've just recently got a 4 year old, 16.3hh filly on loan. I'd been riding her for about a week at her old yard and just brought her home two days ago. I allowed her a day to settle in and get used to her surroundings before riding her. I saddled her up this afternoon and rode her around the field for 15-20 mins (didn't want to do too much with her for the first week or so).
She's been very friendly all along and comes to greet me at the fence and walks right up to me when I enter the field. My dog barks at her but she doesn't seem bothered and is very used to dogs at her old home. This evening I entered the field to check a fence. The mare was at the opposite end of the field to me, but she walked right towards me when she saw me. She approached me calmly and walked beside me but then motioned to bite me. I slapped at her nose and chastised her.
She then started walking behind me back towards the gate. Just then my dog came running through the yard. She wasn't barking or anything but I thought she was going to run into the field so I shouted at her to stop. At that moment, the horse turned around and kicked out at me with both hind legs. Thankfully I got out of the way and she didn't get me but it really scared me. I didn't see exactly what happened as she'd been behind walking behind me.
I don't know if the dog scared her, or if I scared her, or if she was just asserting dominance. I'm quite an experienced rider but I have never owned my own horse and I am quite new to all this. Perhaps she doesn't like or respect me.
I'd really appreciate any insights you could offer me.

Many thanks,
Rosalie
Click to expand...
I left my new loan mare a week to settle in before I rode her, a day is not very long is it. My mare kicks the door so we are working on it slowly slowly not rushing her as her whole life has changed

she spent a week segregated from the others then we did a split intro. We videoed the last intro to the boss of the field which went smoothly

owner/loaner
yard
friends
 
Thank you to everyone who replied to my thread and who offered advice and suggestions.

Just an update...

I rode the horse tonight for about 20 minutes. I had a bit of a hassle getting her to stand at the mounting block (she's 16.3hh) but I persisted and all was fine. She rode beautifully and walked, trotted, cantered, and halted on command.
I gave her an apple as a treat when I untacked. She then came over to the gate for cuddles. My dog was indoors the whole time and it was a very quiet, calm evening with no noise or distractions. I noticed a small piece of plastic wrapping that had blown into the field so I re-entered the pasture to retrieve the wrapper. The horse followed me but I kept one eye on her and walked on confidently and calmly. Just then the horse came trotting towards me then turned her back to me and kicked out at me with both hind legs. I moved out of the way and she did the same thing again (trotted towards me, ears back, then turned and kicked out at me). I made a big fuss and waved my arms about to move her away but she walked right back and invaded my space again until I moved her away and left the field.

Now I'm not blaming the horse. I'm willing to accept that my behaviour around her/or my treatment of her has resulted in her acting out like this. Don't get me wrong, I love her and treat her extremely well but perhaps there's something I'm doing or not doing that's causing these problems. I readily admit that I am nervous around her after what happened the other day so perhaps she feels my fear and is trying to assert dominance over me? Maybe she's testing me to see how far she can go? Maybe she doesn't respect me? Could she be afraid of me? Does she just want to play? I have so many questions and right now I think, although I'm a good rider, I might not be cut out to own/look after a horse of my own. Sorry for this really long message but right now I'm terrified to go into the field with her.

Thank you,
R
 
It's unsurprising that you're terrified, kicking out like that is so dangerous. Your mare is asserting her dominance. No one is currently bossing her around because she's on her own. She also will have loads of pent up playful energy because she has no one to play with. She's still young and most 4 year olds I know still very much want to play and annoy other horses. You really do need to find her at least one companion, preferably a similar sized young horse who will also want to play with her.
Re the ground issues for you, I'm not sure I can advise as it is so serious. You obviously need to prioritise your safety. Wear hat, gloves and even a body protector at all times. I would keep everything very matter of fact - catch her, lead her to your yard/tying up area, tie her up, ride etc. If you need to do even the tiniest thing in the field, she needs to be caught and then tied up to keep you safe. However at this point I would definitely be bringing in professional help. This behaviour needs to stop before you get hurt.
 
She needs another horse to play with, so that she doesn't need to play with you!

As I said before, whenever you go in the field - catch her, don't let her usher you out of the field, make her walk beside you. She is definitely pushing to see where the boundaries are, although I'm not really a subscriber to the dominance theory. You must stay safe, so take every precaution around her. Act confident, make her move, don't let her make you move.

It isn't that you are not cut out to own/look after a horse but maybe a 16.3hh 4 yr old isn't the right 1st horse for you
 
Second / third the safety gear and Id also carry a lunge whip - I don't really care what the owner does when behaviour threatens my well being the horse is quickly put in its place - human well being trumps horse. Agree with a companion.

I would also start doing equitation science - groundwork with her sort out go, stop, halt and park this well help sort out dominance issues. Its a bit hard without seeing the behaviour to advise do you have some who can help?

Be aware what you are doing with your feet and who is actually creating the need to move them, it can be subtle my mare 7 year old alpha broodie who I broke, used to move her head slightly when bridling just enough to make you step back etc she was a very tough nut to crack now we can play loose in the paddock and she is a lamb but little subtle things do creep up every now and again, things Id let possibly another horse away with but is her testing the boundaries.

Could be previous owner / handler let this behaviour develop and you will need to stop it.
 
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Groundwork, groundwork, groundwork! Try some free schooling - here's how: http://intheequinemind.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/sharper-plods-free-lunging.html (it's about more than just how to free lunge but ignore the rest - free lunging is useful for all sorts of things - one is gaining respect). If the horse gets close and threatens to kick while you're doing that, give her a good smack with your whip (just on the backside - nowhere near the head). That is unacceptable and she was going to knock you out so you better respond with the same intensity or she won't take you seriously. You should keep in mind her age too - until recently, she probably had older horses to keep her in check.
 
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