nasty horse blocking gate - im scared to lead mine out!

Can't you just be straight with the owner? Explain that the last thing you want to do is upset their horse , and you're happy to work with them/an instructor to resolve the issue, but if they don't wish to do this (or bring in by 3) then you will need to go in to fetch your horse and to keep you both safe you will need to take a big whip in with you. Then the ball is in their court.

If you keep waiting patiently for them they are never going to change their behaviour cos they will always think it's ok.
 
ty everyone - im going to text owner now and tell her how horrid it is

If that doesnt work i will speak to yo - if i go to field and feel worried i will knock on yos door and ask him to help me bring my horse in

ooooooooooo wish me luck!!! I really dont like doing this but i cannot be hurt - i have children and work
ty xxxxxxxx :)
 
I see what you mean:(

The guarders owners MUST take control of this situation. It appears that your only option is to nag the YO to remove the trouble maker to another paddock. Your not being a wimp and far from it because you just want your horse to be safe and for you to be able to enjoy your time with him, not for the pair of you to be terrified to death.

But I do think you are going to have to be a grown up and put your foot down.
 
I do feel sorry for you as it sounds like you have deliberately chosen a quiet cob you can handle yourself as you are a novice and don't want to handle difficult scary horses and are now finding yourself in a situation where you are being frightened through no fault of your own. It can be frightening if a horse is charging towards you or they are fighting near the gate.

I do hope you manage to sort it out. YO are normally aware of what is going on their yards so he probably won't be surprised that the horse is causing a problem.

Has the owner actually seen what happens when you try and take your horse out?
 
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i have texted again
and to prevuious poster - ive had owner talkign ot me about her problems, its nto their fault really - they sent hors eot be reschooled - he came back angry, people and whip shy
i could only offer my instructors number - not been taken up
Im actually gutted ive had to ring them again complaining
 
The owner needs speaking too. The horse isn't being nasty- it just doesn't know any other way. If he's never been taught to 'back' by someone- we can't expect them to magically understand that 'back' means back. He needs to be taught.

Either move fields until the horse is taught, or take an extra headcollar out. Get the gelding, and perhaps tie him to the fence while you wait to give yourself room to get out and then take your horse out, and untie the other horse.
 
SO1 said:
I do feel sorry for you as it sounds like you have deliberately chosen a quiet cob you can handle yourself as you are a novice and don't want to handle difficult scary horses and are now finding yourself in a situation where you are being frightened through no fault of your own. It can be frightening if a horse is charging towards you or they are fighting near the gate.

I do hope you manage to sort it out. YO are normally aware of what is going on their yards so he probably won't be surprised that the horse is causing a problem.

Has the owner actually seen what happens when you try and take your horse out?
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ty so - yes if i could handle all horses maybe i could deal with it better but i cant, i can do my safe cob but not this agressive tb - i just feel so guilty now!
 
Don't tie him straight to the fence! I'm sorry, I don't normally directly contradict others, but if he freaks while tied straight to the fence he could either break the fence (causing massive freaking out and a scared and aggressive horse potentially running round a field with a bit of wood attached to it, not to mention a whacking great hole in the fence) or he could just outright kill himself. Not good, either way!
 
well ive done what you all suggested - texted owner to say imn having big problems - if nothing is done i will speak to yo and show him my texts to show im not just beign evil!
worse thing is its a small yard and if they got people in we would all follow what they suggested x
 
Are the owners insured for any injury resulting from their horses behavior ? does the YO have insurance ? it's amasing how many people dont, and useually the ones with nasty horses ! if any worries are brought to the owners and YO attention surely they would be neglegent if any incident was to occur, perhaps they need a tactfull reminder !
 
Not a long term solution but could you put some hay or similar to lure the horse away from the gate and while he is busy eating you can get out the gate with your horse. It is not ideal and you will need to let the owner know what you are giving her horse but if you really need to get the horse out the way it could work.
Of course you have to be careful as you don't want the horse to start associating you with food and equally you do not want to start a potential squabble with any other horses in the field.
 
Roast_Spud said:
Don't tie him straight to the fence! I'm sorry, I don't normally directly contradict others, but if he freaks while tied straight to the fence he could either break the fence (causing massive freaking out and a scared and aggressive horse potentially running round a field with a bit of wood attached to it, not to mention a whacking great hole in the fence) or he could just outright kill himself. Not good, either way!
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i wouldnt x
 
Roast_Spud said:
Don't tie him straight to the fence! I'm sorry, I don't normally directly contradict others, but if he freaks while tied straight to the fence he could either break the fence (causing massive freaking out and a scared and aggressive horse potentially running round a field with a bit of wood attached to it, not to mention a whacking great hole in the fence) or he could just outright kill himself. Not good, either way!
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WSS! DONT EVER TIE DIRECT TO FENCE - baler twine ok - it breaks but not the fence!
 
mae said:
Not a long term solution but could you put some hay or similar to lure the horse away from the gate and while he is busy eating you can get out the gate with your horse. It is not ideal and you will need to let the owner know what you are giving her horse but if you really need to get the horse out the way it could work.
Of course you have to be careful as you don't want the horse to start associating you with food and equally you do not want to start a potential squabble with any other horses in the field.
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mae there are 12 horses in the field - ty though but too many horses xxx
 
Roast_Spud said:
Don't tie him straight to the fence! I'm sorry, I don't normally directly contradict others, but if he freaks while tied straight to the fence he could either break the fence (causing massive freaking out and a scared and aggressive horse potentially running round a field with a bit of wood attached to it, not to mention a whacking great hole in the fence) or he could just outright kill himself. Not good, either way!
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Oh my bad! I thought he was a safe horse who just didn't want to move.
 
do not feel guilty, some really nice people have very badly behaved horses, and by speaking out you could be preventing someone else from having an accident not just yourself, what would happened if a new livery came and it was a child who wanted to get their pony from the field and they got knocked over or attacked.

i would not advise tying the horse to a fence if he is really angry/desperate he may get very cross about being tied up and having to wait whilst the other horse is removed and either break free or go mad. this you would also mean you would either to tie your horse to the gate or fence to then go back and untie the horse as you would not be able to leave the scary horse tied to the fence unsupervised whilst you take your horse back to the yard.

the owners have bought a difficult horse they can't handle and the situation is not good for them but they have to take responsibility for that horse be that employing someone to help with bringing it in the short term or looking at getting someone to help them train the horse to move away from the gate when requested, ideally the training could involve the other liveries so that they are shown what to do too. the situation is not going to get better on its own.

they have tried to have the horse reschooled in the past so that they must be wanting to have help.
 
I instantly wanted to say take a lunge whip down but read he is whip shy, but actually I'm still tempted to say take a whip down! Just to shoo him away (obviously not to 'beat' him with or anything!!!)
 
lassiesuca said:
Oh my bad! I thought he was a safe horse who just didn't want to move.
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No worries - it sounds as though this horse has some issues tbh.

I seem to remember a post on here a while back from someone who had tied their horse straight to a fence, the horse was normally ok but something spooked it, it went up and broke its neck. Horrible:( A friend of mine also had a near miss with a horse tied to string attached to a gate, the horse spooked, the string didn't break, the gate came off the hinges and the whole lot headed down the track:eek: Fortunately the horse stopped and no serious harm was done - but it was a really lucky escape for all involved. So I am a bit evangelical about this:o
 
Oh I agree- don't tie a dangerous/scared horse.

I think hay would be an equally good idea- if the horse does create. Distract him with something. Aren't there any other horses which could go in the field to keep him company? When yours leaves?
 
I really do feel for you, and the owners, and the horse in question. What an unhappy situation all round.

Temporarily, and in agreement with the other owners and the YO, could you set up a corral inside the gate with tape and posts? At least you'd have a fighting chance of getting your horse through if you could distract the aggresive horse and the others if you throw a bit of hay over at the other end of where you'd bring your own horse through (if that makes sense?). And... a very good way of getting an aggressive horse away, and not using a whip, is to open a large umberella at them. It's not a whip, but it,s big, scary, and very unexpected.

TBH my heart bleeds for the horse, he must have gone through hell to have got to that state. Good luck, hope it all works out.
 
lassiesuca said:
Oh I agree- don't tie a dangerous/scared horse.

I think hay would be an equally good idea- if the horse does create. Distract him with something. Aren't there any other horses which could go in the field to keep him company? When yours leaves?
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i knew it - not teh fun starts - ive texted her, she says my horse has knocked her over twice in past week!
ive tolld her to tell yo - i just knew it!
 
OP...poor you I do sympathize with you....and the poor horse :(

At a yard I work at sometimes, there is a gate hogging mare....and she can be such a handful (little but determined welshy!). Sometimes I can chase her away from the gate with enough time to quickly sneak another horse out of the gateway, however other times she is too dominating and has to be brought in before everyone else....for fear of other horses around her being kicked.

Don't feel bad about texting the owner of telling the YO, you have a right to be able to safely get your horse out of the field. This horse sounds dangerous and in the end someone/another horse may be badly hurt. The owner has admitted that this horse is dangerous....I can understand that getting the horse in at 3pm may be a problem for the owner.

I think for a short term solution, until the owner has sorted out this horses problems/horse is sold....it needs to be in a separate paddock. I personally do not like separate paddocks, you have said that the owner has done this before but they weren't happy about it. TBH if this were my horse I would be sectioning off part of the field for said horse, but so it is still able to contact the other horses over the electric fence. Rather this than my horse seriously hurting someone! Or could you create some sort of coral by the gate, might give you a chance to get your horse out?
 
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gala said:
I really do feel for you, and the owners, and the horse in question. What an unhappy situation all round.

Temporarily, and in agreement with the other owners and the YO, could you set up a corral inside the gate with tape and posts? At least you'd have a fighting chance of getting your horse through if you could distract the aggresive horse and the others if you throw a bit of hay over at the other end of where you'd bring your own horse through (if that makes sense?). And... a very good way of getting an aggressive horse away, and not using a whip, is to open a large umberella at them. It's not a whip, but it,s big, scary, and very unexpected.

TBH my heart bleeds for the horse, he must have gone through hell to have got to that state. Good luck, hope it all works out.
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totally agree - he is a changed horse, was never like this last year, he has obvuiosly been through hell - which i also feel sorry for owners for - they paid for the horse to be this traumatised(unknowingly of course) - just very sad but also scarey when you have ot deal with him daily, as ive said before ive suggested instructors ot help but if its not your horse you cant force can you ?
 
Putting hay out is probably the worst idea unless your going to put a ton out as they'll just fight and someone else's horse (or yours!) is likely to get injured
 
narkymare said:
i knew it - not teh fun starts - ive texted her, she says my horse has knocked her over twice in past week!
ive tolld her to tell yo - i just knew it!
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That's a pity, she really must take responsibility for her own horse's issues. The thing is she knows the truth as do you and the other owners that share the field.

So, just keep to the facts and don't get drawn into a 'slanging match' - I actually know you won't 'cos you're a mature lady too (although not quite as 'mature' as me :) ) Being a youngster she may not be able to act reasonably in sorting this out and may resort to all sorts of ridiculous statements - just keep in mind that she knows when she is making it up.

Good luck and I totally understand where you're coming from, I've only had my 14.3 mare for a year (also my first horse) and would not be able to deal with large aggressive/feisty horses.
 
owners text me back and thinks its down to lack of food - we will ask yo to put haylage ring in field - ive said id happily pay extra 10 or 20 to stop this problem lol - wish us luck!!!!!!!1
 
Okay - if we are now at gloves off stage, and you wont use a lunge whip - and yes i can see why this idea may be rejected, and you wont or cant catch it in, and you cant hay it out the way try a bucket of water. I do agree never to tie anyting directly to anything and even if you use charlie band please half it - its the bailer twine of yesteryear that used to break so easily not this modern plasticie stuff, and ive seen a horse very very badly damaged when it dissaperead with the top door of its stable banging between its legs as it galloped away.

Failing all the above - tell yo that you have no alterantive to start to seak alternative stabling and that you really dont want to leave but you find your self in an untenable situation and you would rather them know you are on the look out than here the gossip for themselves.

That gives them the chance to support you and sort it or support them and then you at least know where you stand

GW
 
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littleme said:
Putting hay out is probably the worst idea unless your going to put a ton out as they'll just fight and someone else's horse (or yours!) is likely to get injured
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Have to agree, especially if there is 12 horses I think you said.

Also agree with HollyB66, don't get into a slanging match with this girl. Keep it professional and talk to the YO again. If other liveries are concerned about the situation then the YO can't risk liveries leaving because of the situation.
 
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