New horse aggression

[Fairyhair]

Hi all, following my previous post about what kind of breeding my new boy has, I've decided he's a cross breed of chunky cob and total delinquent! (13'3, 5 year old gelding)
He has become very aggressive in the field. The first few days were fine, then he started to walk away when I went to catch him, and this has now evolved into charging me with ears pinned flat whenever I'm in the field! I know that he has worked out that I'm the weakest link, and I know I should forcefully send him away, but each time I've sent him away it seems he comes back at me for more, and with determination! I've seen videos of people keeping them moving when this happens, but I'm really concerned that in doing that he has free access to gain some speed and flatten me.
Apparently he had a bad start, has been abused and the person I bought him from put in a lot of work with him. He's a very quiet, almost bomb proof ride.
I've waited desperately for 30 years for my first horse, and I'm left feeling anxious, upset and hating him before I've had chance to learn to love him! (And somewhat terrified!!!!)
I'm not sure I'm after answers, as I think people will say to send him away and claim my place in our herd. I think I just needed to vent.
Anyone else have big teething issues with their first horse?

 

[paddy555]

Hi all, following my previous post about what kind of breeding my new boy has, I've decided he's a cross breed of chunky cob and total delinquent! (13'3, 5 year old gelding)
He has become very aggressive in the field. The first few days were fine, then he started to walk away when I went to catch him, and this has now evolved into charging me with ears pinned flat whenever I'm in the field! I know that he has worked out that I'm the weakest link, and I know I should forcefully send him away, but each time I've sent him away it seems he comes back at me for more, and with determination! I've seen videos of people keeping them moving when this happens, but I'm really concerned that in doing that he has free access to gain some speed and flatten me.
Apparently he had a bad start, has been abused and the person I bought him from put in a lot of work with him. He's a very quiet, almost bomb proof ride.
I've waited desperately for 30 years for my first horse, and I'm left feeling anxious, upset and hating him before I've had chance to learn to love him! (And somewhat terrified!!!!)
I'm not sure I'm after answers, as I think people will say to send him away and claim my place in our herd. I think I just needed to vent.
Anyone else have big teething issues with their first horse?

I'm sure that everyone has teething issues with their first horse. However, whatever you do don't send him away in the field. Some people with the confidence and timing could do this but not in your case. He has got the measure of you and it taking the piss. I would also not go into the field with him ATM until you find a solution or you are going to get hurt.

Is there anyone who can help you for a bit to show you ways to deal with him? can the previous owner help you? I haven't read your earlier posts but you need to find some way of catching him. Are you happy with him in a stable or enclosed space? If you use feed can you catch him over the field gate, leave a headcollar on and just clip a rope on? Alternatively can he come in from the field on his own into a stable?
I can imagine how upset you are but if he is doing this in the field ie trying it on he will also probably do it in the yard when you are leading him until you can get the message though to him that he is going to behave. I can only urge you to get some help. Everyone has to start somewhere with their first horse and it is very normal that the first few days are fine when a horse moves and changes owner. Then it gets a little confidence and starts to ask the question "what if" "what are you going to do about it"

 

[Laddy]

I think for what its worth, you need to catch him however way you can safely and start to establish good ground manners. Invest in a dually headcollar and send him back FIRMLY out of your space, be persistent and disciplined about it. He will love you more for it! Insist in him allowing you first out of the stable or field gates and quite soon he will learn to respect you. Plus in the field he will learn to be more respectful towards you too.

 

[Leo Walker]

Ring the old owners and ask them to come and take him back. A horse with issues who has needed a lot of work previously isnt a good idea for a first horse. Best case scenario is them taking him back and you starting again. I suspect that wont happen, so you need some help ASAP. If you say where you are then we can give you some recommendations of reputable people. In the meantime leave him alone before someone gets hurt.

 

[twiggy2]

Can you speak to the previous owners and ask how they dealt with this behaviour and even ask them to come and help you work him through it, offer to pay.
Ultimately if they spent a lot of time getting him right then they will want him to have a secure long term home with you rather than being sold on if it a I'll l gets too much so it is in their interest to help you make it work.
I agree these sorts of problems are not ideal for a first time horse owner but I think it's worth trying to make it work if he gives you a good feeling under saddle. There is probably a simple technique that makes hom easy to catch and the previous owners will know it.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[DabDab]

You need a professional to help. Whereabouts are you (roughly)?

 

[Shay]

Although Leo's words sound tough - they are wise. He's only 5 which is a baby in horse terms. He has a lot of learning to do - and horses that young are not ideal for a first time owner. He's not any particular breed - but there is a lot of stubborn cob type there and they are known for getting wayward and out of control very quickly with owners who have less experience.

It takes a lot of guts to recognize that you have made a horse mistake - but pretty much every person on here who has been around horses for a while has made at least one of those. Its nothing to be ashamed of. Fixing it quickly - and without getting hurt!! - and moving on is the key.

If his previous owner will take him back that would be the best option. If he has had a poor start and they have already done a lot of work with him they will care more about him and his welfare than the sale and hopefully will agree to take him back. Its disheartening to start again. But far better than getting hurt.

If you can't get the previous owner to take him back you need a lot of professional help. Bringing on a 5 year old who has been started well needs enough experience as it is - let alone one already with issues.

 

[Fairyhair]

Thanks all for your replies.

This morning I poo picked and kept the barrow between us, he was nice as pie (follows you, but I believe it is a friendly follow) I popped his head collar on with a mint afterwards. I let him know I had it and ge didnt get it until headcollar on. Sweet as a nut! I've left it on. Clipping a rope on is easy, at the moment (!) He let me hold him to put fly mask on, no problem, and then the usual protest about spray, but I can handle that abd uts somewhat normal for a lot of horses! Feeling a bit more positive today (good days and bad, I suppose!)
I won't send him away, but may grab a Dually head collar and keep him out of my space on the ground that way.
I'm a bit loathed to call old owners, as I don't believe they were honest with me about the extent of issues they may have "ironed out". They said he had been growled at, things thrown at him etc, and they struggled to pick his feet up until they worked with him. I have picked his feet up and most days with not too much issue.
I'm not working him too hard at mo, as feet need doing, and vacs need starting, so cant mix on the yard. So, just waiting for vet Wednesday and farrier Thursday. Farrier is aware of his behaviour and is a big bloke, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles him.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

They threw things at him! I wouldn't be at all surprised if this has contributed to him being defensive in the field.

 

[9tails]

They threw things at him! I wouldn't be at all surprised if this has contributed to him being defensive in the field.

I think she means before the previous owners got him and ironed out his problems.

 

[Auslander]

If he's not mixing on the yard, I assume that means he's turned out alone? If that's the case, I'd be tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being - he's probably not very happy being a lone wolf. That said, you need to stay safe, so I'd echo what others have said about not putting yourself at risk. If you do end up in a situation where you feel that he's gunning for you, whirling a rope in circles in front of you will keep him out of your space, without being aggressive - no horse in its right mind is going to run into a spinning rope. If he was on my yard, I'd keep a fieldsafe headcollar on at all times, then call him to the fence, and clip the rope on over the fence, so that I was never in the field with him unrestrained.
I make it very clear to all the horses here that they don't come into my space unless invited. I'm not mean to them, but I have no hesitation in making myself VERY large and intimidating if they try and step over the invisible line. Ironically, the two that are least respectful of my space are my own two. The big guy is allowed to get away with it because he and I know each other very well, and he will step away instantly if I make him. The young Shitland is just a massive brat in a very small body - he and I are currently working through his naughtiness with the assistance of a water pistol...

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Even if it was four owners ago, I wouldn't be surprised if someone throwing objects at a horse had a negative impact on their trust in humans, especially if it was done while they were very young. Things that happen to them when they are young seem to really stick really firmly in their minds IME.

 

[paddy555]

Even if it was four owners ago, I wouldn't be surprised if someone throwing objects at a horse had a negative impact on their trust in humans, especially if it was done while they were very young. Things that happen to them when they are young seem to really stick really firmly in their minds IME.

the other thing is that people think they can do things to these cobby sorts. Just a fat little pony and they are thick so it won't matter but in fact they are just as sensitive as the others. If you threw things at an arab you would get an explosion, these heavier sorts just put up with it, internalise it but it does affect them.
Hopefully the farrier, despite being a big bloke, will be very calm and quiet with the horse. Please be careful with the farrier Fairyhair. It only takes one minutes bad experience with this sort of horse and the results can last a lifetime.
My first horse was an abused cob possibly a bit similar to yours. The farrier, also a big bloke, was the start of my barefoot riding career. I had spent weeks getting him to pick his feet up for shoes. One whack from the farrier and he spent the next 22 years barefoot.
Good that you are feeling better today. He may not be the most ideal horse to have as your first but, if you can stand back and not feel anxious, upset and hating him (I'm sure you love him really) and see how he is viewing this it will be a great achievement when he comes right.

 

[Fairyhair]

Paddy, yes, I'm hoping he will come right, and it will be a massive achievement that we made together. I do think he may be a one man horse though!
Auslander, I thought that too, he's meeting his prospective field mate later this week. I do hope it works, and he doesn't get too herdy with him too!

 

[Micky]

This sound s very familiar,my lad did this to me when I first go at him too, ears flat back charging at me when I went to get him in his field..I was lucky and had a very good friend come over (with zillion years of experience) to check he wasn’t being a nutter or if he was taking the p#€§....he was taking the p#%*! She calmly ( I mean calmly, she was a very grounded intuitive sympathetic horse woman) kept him moving in the field until the licking and chewing appeared, and then he was fine. I kept this up for a few more weeks whenever he tried it on, and he has been fine since..however you do need someone like my old friend to help you if you carry on with this wee coblet, heed advice up thread but it can be done with time patience and experienced friends.

 

[midnight2025]

I would sell him or ask the old owners to take him back. I say you were sold a horse with these issues and it really hard to rid of aggression. I would do it for your own safety or before someone gets hurt.

 

[Fairyhair]

Thanks all, things seem to have calmed. He's out in a field safe head collar, so all I have to do is clip him on, no problem. He's working a bit more now, and we're gaining some mutual understanding.
I'm not considering selling him, as I'm a great believer that there's bound to be the odd issue with any animal you own, and you need to work through them.
It's all a learning curve, and hopefully we will come through it with a fair bond!

Thanks all for your experiences and thoughts.

 

[paddy555]

Thanks all, things seem to have calmed. He's out in a field safe head collar, so all I have to do is clip him on, no problem. He's working a bit more now, and we're gaining some mutual understanding.
I'm not considering selling him, as I'm a great believer that there's bound to be the odd issue with any animal you own, and you need to work through them.
It's all a learning curve, and hopefully we will come through it with a fair bond!

Thanks all for your experiences and thoughts.

nice to have an update. Glad it is coming together. Keep going, you will get there.

 

[Micky]

Good on you, keep going, and in the long run, you’ll hopefully have a good strong trust and bond..