My horse kicked me across the yard today

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

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He has been so grumpy (even more so than normal if that's possible!) this past week or so. I haven't been able to ride him for two weeks due to snow/ice and he has still been getting same amount of feed and I think it's all the sugar and not enough exercise, especially as they've been kept in some days is just winding him up.

Anyway, was crouching down brushing his front legs and saw some mud on the opposite front leg and went to reach across to brush it off and I don't really know what happened as it happened so quick but he lashed out with teeth and then kicked/barged me with his front leg and I skidded across the yard on my back.

It bloody hurt and I got covered in mud from skidding across the yard! I was winded quite badly but when I got up went straight over to him and gave him a few good smacks and screamed at him.

It is really out of character for him really to do that? Don't get my wrong he's a very bargy, bolshy cob sometimes. He does bite when you're doing his rugs etc and is very bolshy around food. I am trying so hard to install some manners into him but it's hard.

I rode him today and got loads of energy out of him, he will start to be ridden regularly again now. I'm just a bit worried as i've got a sharer and she's got a 10 year old daughter who helps groom him etc and if he'd have done that to her
crazy.gif
 
Its horrible when they surprise you with unpleasant behaviour like this, hope your not too bruised.
Regards the sharer you do have a responsibility to tell her as she has a 10yr old daughter I am afraid, you just need to make sure the daughter is protected and by telling the mum you have done your duty.
*big hugs* to you, its incredibly upsetting when they behave in such a manner, just take care.
 
ummm, why on earth is he on the same amount of feed as before if he's not been ridden for 2 wks and has been kept in for a few days?!
i'd knock all his hard feed on the head and install some serious manners asap, personally... thank goodness he didn't reay hurt you, and well done for the instant retaliation... i think horses can learn right from wrong in this way.
 
To be honest I didn't think about cutting it down as he doesn't have a lot anymore anyway, I cut it right down about 2 months ago as he was getting fat and also didn't know how long snow/ice would last for, I honestly thought it was gonna be gone in a couple of days and everytime I went down yard I kept thinking 'i'm gonna ride' and then i'd get down and everyhwere would still be like an ice rink and I thought better of it.

If it happens again he can just have a handful of chaff in his feed whilst he's not being ridden just so he thinks he's getting something.
 
Well it might not be good manners on his part, but he was actually responding quite instinctively as a horse.

If you were brushing one side, you probably took him a bit by surprise by reaching across to brush the opposite leg. So 0/10 for manners, but 10/10 for reaction to sudden unexpected stimulus to leg - after all, it could have been a snake!
 
Feed was my first thought, but that's too late to change now. Just glad you were not too badly hurt.
 
i dont think excess feed is any excuse for him kicking the crap out of you!
tBh i think you did the right thing giving him a bollocking. to be sure id cut the feed down next time he's off work but i dont think its an excuse this time.
 
maverick galloped off when we bought him in... and then chose to gallop between me, wilma and the hedge... and i got knocked over and rolled; disaster... but ill tell you later

i personally dont think feed would of changed him as he has like nothing anyway.

but theyve all been acting strange differently, maybe its the air; or he is bored cos of no work....
 
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To be honest I didn't think about cutting it down as he doesn't have a lot anymore anyway, I cut it right down about 2 months ago as he was getting fat and also didn't know how long snow/ice would last for, I honestly thought it was gonna be gone in a couple of days and everytime I went down yard I kept thinking 'i'm gonna ride' and then i'd get down and everyhwere would still be like an ice rink and I thought better of it.

If it happens again he can just have a handful of chaff in his feed whilst he's not being ridden just so he thinks he's getting something.

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Try to stick to the old maxim of feeding AFTER the work. This does not mean literally but rather that a horse should be fed for the work done instead of for the work it will (might) be doing.
 
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