Odd behaviour? Rearing in the field?!

ImmyS

ImmyS

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 April 2012
Messages
2,329
Visit site
So I have a 5 year old ex racer who generally is a real sweetie, easy to handle, tack up, ride etc.. And never unwilling or 'moody'. She is never moody with other horses when turned out either however is the least dominant between her and her field mate.

Anyway since we have had her, on random occasions she will be really moody with people either stroking her over the fence or in the field with her. There doesn't seem to be any logical pattern to it, some days she will be fine and happy to be fussed over in the field, but others she will be ears flat back try and bite, sometimes escalates to rearing (admittedly half hearted and not near enough to actually hit you) but still scary and unacceptable behaviour.

I also don't know how to react to it, I usually just sternly say no, lookat her in the eye and she will usually wonder off, getting aggressive with her only makes it worse and she becomes more threatening.

Anyone know why she may be doing this, I think perhaps it's because she knows she is ranked below her field mate and so tests the boundaries with people instead? But I would like to hear your thoughts. Also how should I react when she does threaten me as ideally I would like her to stop this behaviour!

Thank you for getting this far!

Immy
 
It is a very common problem with low ranked horses. They often try it on with humans. If I come across a pushy, aggressive horse towards humans, it is nearly always very low ranking in the herd. You need to do lots of groundwork with her and teach her the boundaries.
 
Yes that's what I assumed. Another horse will be turned out with them soon and as he is very relaxed and happily sits at the bottom of the pecking order I'm hoping the dynamics might change and our girl won't feel so suppressed in the herd. It's difficult because as soon as you pop a head collar on you can't fault her but I will definitely do more groundwork. Thanksfor your reply
 
I used to have an ex racer who was also bottom of the pecking order and would be aggressive towards me in the field. You definitely need to nip it in the bud before it gets worse, she needs to know that this behaviour is not acceptable.
 
My boy was like this when i first got him. He is an ex racer and low in the pecking order. He would charge at me or others in the field. It stopped quickly once he realised we wouldn't run away! I would use the lead rope and swing it above my head and advance on him when he did it until he turned and walked away. Usually his demeanor would then change, ears forward and he'd walk up to me to be caught. Interestingly, when i moved yards last winter he briefly did this again. Must have been due to sorting out his ranking in the 'new' herd. Just make sure anyone in the field doesn't react to it by running away or moving back. Be stern and don't let her come to you unless she has ears forward and is non agressive. When she is agressive make yourself big and make her move away. If it will give you more confidence take somone with you or carry a rope or lungeing whip that you can use to make you look 'bigger'. Good luck, i'm sure she will settle down once she knows you are not going to react as she wants. :-D
 
I agree with Bay TB and the swinging leadrope trick.

My 17hh WB has been through this rearing phase recently. He went from totally aggressive, biting, kicking and striking devil last year to a sweet horse. Then he suddenly became TOO friendly - he would not only follow me poo picking around the paddocks, but actually stop me from moving by planting himself right in front of me wanting scratches - first his wither then his bottom, then his wither on the other side and his bottom. If I went around him he really objected often by rearing. He would gallop up to me full pelt when I first arrived at his paddock stopping by inches sway from me.

Anyway I resolved all this a) by making him back up and away from me via one hand on his nose and to give me personal space and b) by turning my youngster out with him. Now he has a playmate his focus is off me.
 
Agree with Wagtail. Plus racers do tend to be stabled for longer at an earlier age than others, so the usual behavior learnt from being out with a normal herd of nanny mares & youngsters isn't as ingrained, but does usually come in time.
Another possibility is fear aggression. Ones who've been regularly kept isolated or mistreated ( not really that common in racing though) can get aggressive & defensive when out. We have a pony that won't tolerate dogs, cats, birds, strangers in the field, & being aggressive back would be counter productive. If my mares out she's fine, & now ok if people stay at a distance when mine isn't out. But I wouldn't fancy a dog/persons chances of trying to handle her if my mare or people she knows were'nt there. She has/is improving over time though.
 
It's just hard to know what to do. Some days if I stand my ground, stare at her in the eye and ward her off using body language she will walk off however other days she's more aggressive and it's hard to stand your ground when she's coming close to you and rearing or backing up to kick out. I dont think it's a fearful thing as she is a confident little thing, I think it's just a mixture of being a bit Marish and wanting to test the boundaries.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top