My horse doesnt want me to touch him

kellybee

kellybee

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I went up there yesterday in the morning and changed horses rugs. took my niece out with the shetland on lead rein then came back and fed them all. All was fine. Went back up in the evening and checked them over/fed and again all was fine, except for a scrape to Ollie's face which I can only guess is from one of their coltish play fights. Nothing a little wound powder won't dry up.

Alfie however was prancing round like an idiot and wouldn't come near me. I assumed it was because it was starting to get dark and I'd been burning rubbish/stank of smoke, and had torch-weilding bf with me.

This morning I fed them and every time I went near him he snorted and walked away to push one of the others off their bucket. They weren't particularly hungry as there's a full bale out morning and night between the three of them plus what's left of the round they trashed at the weekend. This afternoon he'd got one of his leg straps undone and put a hoof through the loop, so I tried to free him but again, walking away from me. Then trotting. He isn't lame I've stood watching them mess about all morning.

Eventually, after rattling a polo packet he gave in, but kept snatching polos and running off like I was some kind of monster. I spent a few mins with each of the others straightening rugs and checking feet/legs and Alfie being the bossy one eventually shooed the other two away and let me touch his neck. This is the first time since yesterday morning I've got near him. After lots of polos and lots of cooing/neck scratching he put his head down to eat hay and had absolutely no qualms with me picking up his hoof, and re-fastening the leg strap. I checked him all over and nothing seems wrong. They were trotting about as I left and look sound if a little cautious of the bumpy ground.

It just seems like really uncharacteristic behaviour. My coat still stinks of burning/smoke but is that enough to really make him blow and snort at me like I was a bear about to kill him? The only other difference is that I was wearing a big woolly hat which keeps slipping down over my eyes. Could it be the weather making him snarky? Last yr when he was in at night he was always the one that dragged me in from the field and dragged his heels when he went out in the morning.
 
I'd put money on the hat if you don't wear one often. I make the point of wearing my hood up when they're chilled out a lot as seems to be an issue if I don't do it for a while then pop it on.
 
Thanks, I did wonder!

I've always got hats on come rain or shine, but I left my usual one at home and found this in the boot of my mum's car. I wasn't wearing it last night when I went up, although Dan was with me and was carrying a torch, and Alfie's often silly with strangers, particularly men. He's petrified of the vicar (I always thought it was because he trudles over the field with a squeaky wheelbarrow to dump his garden waste on the muck heap) and he has to make friends with the farrier every time he comes, but usually settles just fine after a scratch and a chat.
 
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My horse wouldn't come near me for the first 3 or 4 times I went to the yard wearing a furry hat with ear covers, as daft as it seems.

Think it really freaked him out and he didn't know what on earth was trying to touch him but it sure as heck didn't look like me lol :)
 
I'd put money on the hat too.

I have a red bandana that I wore once down to the stables. As soon as My friends old horse who was usually the most chilled out old boy (at 21yo) spotted it, he just went berserk! Spooking in his stable as i was talking to him over the door and doing anything to get away from me. Took it off and it's like it never happened!
 
kellybee said:
He's petrified of the vicar (I always thought it was because he trudles over the field with a squeaky wheelbarrow to dump his garden waste on the muck heap)
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who WOULDNT be scared of the vicar with the squeaky wheelbarrow!.......are you sure its garden waste he's dumping.....and not from futher a-field to make more room......(if you get what i mean ;)) may be feeling hes next!

horses can be silly over such petty things......cant walk past port-a-loo one way, but the other ways just fine......

wouldnt worry, just re-build his trust!
 
Prob your hat. I worn antlers to the field over xmas (as you do) and Pink ran round snorting like a dragon.

He may also be cold? Roo is jumpy and doesn't want touched if he gets cold.
 
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They really don't like it when we change our shape!

I've had the same problem - usually in winter when I've worn a long raincoat or a scarf, or had my hood up - they think you're a monster.

Storm off snorting and prancing.

Glad you caught him - always seems to happen when a strap comes undone and then they get silly about being fixed up.
 
Hmm.. The science person in me says change only one variable at a time. Go back being the exact same as when last ok. Try coat, try hat, try hat and coat. If none of these bother, is there anything else? Horses are funny things and mine always have seemed sensitive to colour, white esp. So if you have snow that may be affecting?
 
One of mine doesn't like gloves.

OH wears sunglasses and I always thought this was something that would scare them, but no, they are fine with those.

Think Kallibear might have hit the nail on the head, he might be cold and using it as an excuse for a bit of silliness. Bless. lol
 
To be honest hes in a weatherbeeta full neck heavyweight, native type with teddy bear coat. I put my hands under his rugs to check hes dry but hes always toasty.
 
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