No Manners or down right nasty horses!

[McNally]

My newish horse is a brat!

I work with horses including youngsters and a stallion so am not a nervous handler by any means, I spend much of my time at work dodging hoofs and teeth- it doesn't really bother me, its my job!

My own horses are very very well mannered and have the best temperaments I trust them 101% with me or anyone...until i got a new boy!

He bites and kicks seriously! I wouldnt dream of brushing or tacking up untied (infact i only brush holding him in my other hand so i know exactly where he is!!!)
Its not only being brushed/rugged etc I visited him in the field and got lunged at then double barreled last week also!
He's very easy to handle in other respects ie- my non horsey o/h can turn him out/bring in as long as the rugs etc are done.
I don't namby pamby him- he gets a good telling off and has had more than a few sharp smacks (my hand is scarred from the first bite before i grew wise!) I'm not scared of him but i am wary that
1. It bloody well hurts!
2- A kick could see me off work for a long time and
3- there is a foot path across his field and scarily i saw walkers approach my other horse today. He is VERY quick and i've only just got out the way a few times myself and thats knowing what he's like, some poor unsuspecting walker could be injured! (or my daughter)

What do you think? manners or plain bad tempered? and for either any suggestions- is it solve able??

 

[Wagtail]

Firstly, do not allow him loose in the field where walkers could be harmed. Can you not use electric fencing to keep him away from the footpath?

Sounds like he is either a really nasty piece of work, or more likely, he has pain issues. I would get him fully checked out, including scoping him for ulcers. If it is not pain related, then it sounds like he may have been abused in the past as this often makes horses aggressive.

 

[BlackRider]

My horse was awful when I first got him, but gradually got better, it took a long time for him to trust me, and that was his issue.

 

[classicalfan]

If he's new to you and the environlment he could just be challenging to see who the better horse is. We very rarely come up against truly nasty horses (2 in 40 years and 100s of horses). This sort of agressive behaviour is either pain related or heirarchy related - or both . Pain issues often manifest in aggression whilst being brushed, tacked up, etc. Aggession in the field tends to be behavioural (he is acting as the dominant horse in his territory).

With regards to the footpath crossing the field, you have a duty of care to the people using it. Therefore he cannot be able to approach or injure these people. You could find yourself in court if he hurts someone and be liable to pay damages.

 

[McNally]

I do intend to get some plastic posts and tape and fence off the path, thats only a recent thought as i have already fenced the field in two so its only been the last week he could get to the path anyway- I also considered warning signs?

He's been checked out by the vet and back lady, no problems. I actually bought him very cheaply due to his temperament I admit i didnt realize he was quite this bad! For what i want he is the perfect horse to ride and i have the others to cuddle and fuss over!
I can let my daughter ride him out alone or in company and be certain (as certain as you can with horses) that she is safe and to me this means enough to put up with other issues but it would be nice if we could iron them out.

 

[becca1305]

I dont know much about aggressive horses as have been very lucky with my lot. But i agree with definitely not letting him on the footpath. I just wanted to say be careful with signs as you dont want to make yourself liable as I assume signs in field would be similar to tabards for hacking on the roads and you have to be careful what goes on them. Avoid signs such as Caution! Aggressive horse/ horse kicks etc and stick for more general purpose signs such as please dont touch the horses/ go in horses field as I would imagine these would be safer from a liability point of view. Its ridiculous as they have no right to venture off footpaths into fenced fields but you want to protect yourself legally as best you can. Whatever sign you choose to write I would personally check with my insurance company (3rd party liability cover for the horses) that putting up said sign wont void your insurance just in case!

 

[McNally]

I wondered the exact same! He would never just approach a person (thats far to friendly!) but if someone walked over to him... (as this person did with my other horse)
I'd like to think its newness and will improve, this is his first ever one on one home- he is ex racer then was at a riding school for a short time (until it became obvious he was bit of a liability i think! ;-)) so maybe he will get better over time when he knows me or my daughter are the only people who will do anything with him? He's boss in the field the other 2 are submissive anyway.

thanks!

 

[FairyLights]

YOu say your oh can turn him out and bring him in ok. it might be an idea to sit and watch what he does or doent do,could be something to do with body language and the horse is testing you but not your o h.

 

[McNally]

Hi, No when i say he can bring him in or out i just mean that anyone can even a non horsey person, He's easy to handle and ride. I have no problems leading etc is all i ment!

Its just a case of clipping a rope on and he's ok (unless you brush him!)

 

[opinionuk]

My newish horse is a brat!

I work with horses including youngsters and a stallion so am not a nervous handler by any means, I spend much of my time at work dodging hoofs and teeth- it doesn't really bother me, its my job!

My own horses are very very well mannered and have the best temperaments I trust them 101% with me or anyone...until i got a new boy!

He bites and kicks seriously! I wouldnt dream of brushing or tacking up untied (infact i only brush holding him in my other hand so i know exactly where he is!!!)
Its not only being brushed/rugged etc I visited him in the field and got lunged at then double barreled last week also!
He's very easy to handle in other respects ie- my non horsey o/h can turn him out/bring in as long as the rugs etc are done.
I don't namby pamby him- he gets a good telling off and has had more than a few sharp smacks (my hand is scarred from the first bite before i grew wise!) I'm not scared of him but i am wary that
1. It bloody well hurts!
2- A kick could see me off work for a long time and
3- there is a foot path across his field and scarily i saw walkers approach my other horse today. He is VERY quick and i've only just got out the way a few times myself and thats knowing what he's like, some poor unsuspecting walker could be injured! (or my daughter)

What do you think? manners or plain bad tempered? and for either any suggestions- is it solve able??

Horses generally won't hurt you unless there is an underlying problem. I know that you have had a full MOT done on him, I had this problem with my mare and it was obvious that she had been abused in the past and there were so many times that I wanted to give up as I thought she was plain nasty, turned out all she needed was firm handling but no hitting as that would obviously cause a vicious circle leading back to her days of abuse, time and building of trust, it took over a year of frustration and hardwork and to be honest she never turned into a placid 'fussy' horse but I'd hate to think of where she would have ended up if I had given up on her.

 

[Orangehorse]

How old is he? I had a horse a bit like this, she was only 5 and had had a few homes. She had been through a dealer's hands and been returned once at least. The person I bought her from kept her living out and it was only in the stable that she exhibited this behaviour.

I was in despair as I had never come across horses difficult to handle before. I got some very good advice, from a magazine Agony Aunt, who said that she was being agressive because she was nervous and defending herself and I should become a calm leader and teacher. I became a lot more confident with her and more assertive, and she gradually improved although she was always a grump and inclinded to show her teeth and managed to kick me once (I shouldn't have been standing where I was, but she had no real reason to kick me!).

She did have some physical issues as well, I think her neck and chest muscles were quite sore (? collision with a tree when frightened by a hot air baloon??). She became much, much better although always a bit of a grump and I managed to sell her on warts and all to a new owner who said she had been kicked once, but she had a lot of good points as well, so was forgiven.


Hopefully with careful, consistent handling your horse should learn his new routine and gradually improve.

 

[AengusOg]

I don't namby pamby him- he gets a good telling off and has had more than a few sharp smacks

It's just possible that this has been a constant part of your horse's life to date.

 

[McNally]

It's just possible that this has been a constant part of your horse's life to date.

Mm, Now i feel bad for that. I NEVER usually hit my horses but when he has broken my skin which he has then yes he had a smack (wouldnt you? if not what would you do? i dont think biting and kicking is acceptable)

He's 13. He wandered over to me when i was poo picking today and accepted a stroke and pat which is unusual! I have had him for about 4 months now but i gave him time out at first as he has led an "establishment" life and worked hard I wanted him to relax and wind down whilst getting to know me/the other horses and his new home.

I keep them all in a very chilled out manner! They get stacks of turn out time (although he likes to be in so sometimes he will just stay in the stable) The field gate is open if i'm there and they will wander round with me doing my jobs- He wont join in quite as much as the others but he's starting to!
Maybe with time, fingers crossed- he's not going anywhere either way ;-)

 

[Rose Folly]

Time and patience may well sort the problem out. Had it with a TB mare some years ago - kicked, bit, charged. It all came right in a few months and she was a doddle - she just needed to trust someone.

But as everyone says, keep your fella off the footpath field if at all possible. And ditto re any signs like 'aggressive horse'. We have signs up which say 'please don't approach the horses' (simply because we don't want people feeding them). That should be safe. Good luck - and don't give up!!