OMG Horse tryed to kick mee!!!!!

OK. OP it seems from your post that your parents probably know not a lot about horses. So you need to get someone (knowledgable like the Yard Owner or an instructor) to talk to them and explain that you should not feed your horse/pony a least one hour before or after exercise. Then pay them to work with you and the horse through the kicking thing. Not one of your young friends but an experienced person (older). Sorry I do not mean to infer that you don't know what your doing but you come across as very young if you cannot get to the stables on your own even by bike. Can we ask why your horse/pony is in the stable is it turned out at all and how long for?
 
I agree with millitiger and that this needs to be worked through. I'm always amused how people put human emotions on horses - I like to be left alone/ in peace whilst eating so must my horse. Bizarre?

People don't realise that they actually create this issue about food and feed time with their horses, it's nothing to do with the fact your horse likes it's quiet time whilst eating etc. I've had my pony since he was 7 months old and he has absolutely no problem with me being around him whilst he's eating, I give him a full groom, pick up his feet, move around in his stable and he never so much as looks at me let alone swishes his tail or lifts a leg. And to be honest, why would he? When he was little I used to even pick up his feed, move it and he would never come at me.

I'm not saying every time your horse is eating fuss round him but to be able to go up to your horse, move him or do something is actually very important not only safety wise. How many people give their horses food and then back away right out of their space, and do it even quicker once their horse starts becoming aggressive around feed. Reinforcing the behaviour, I think so.
 
Archie07 said:
I agree with millitiger and that this needs to be worked through. I'm always amused how people put human emotions on horses - I like to be left alone/ in peace whilst eating so must my horse. Bizarre?

People don't realise that they actually create this issue about food and feed time with their horses, it's nothing to do with the fact your horse likes it's quiet time whilst eating etc. I've had my pony since he was 7 months old and he has absolutely no problem with me being around him whilst he's eating, I give him a full groom, pick up his feet, move around in his stable and he never so much as looks at me let alone swishes his tail or lifts a leg. And to be honest, why would he? When he was little I used to even pick up his feed, move it and he would never come at me.

I'm not saying every time your horse is eating fuss round him but to be able to go up to your horse, move him or do something is actually very important not only safety wise. How many people give their horses food and then back away right out of their space, and do it even quicker once their horse starts becoming aggressive around feed. Reinforcing the behaviour, I think so.
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I don't think this is always about humanising the horse.

Leaving an animal to eat food in peace should hopefully prevent it rushing, prevent any unneccessary anxiety (we don't all have horses from babies and some come with learned behaviours) and therefore prevent colic and similar problems.
 
If my horses aren't eating when I'm pulling manes etc, they get really really stressy! Better for my fingers and arms if they have food!

I just dont agree that they should be allowed to dictate that they eat in peace. Sorry.
 
This horse sounds like she's mightily p**d off. It's not clear whether she's in the stable all the time or whether she gets to go out (in the field, not the jumping arena).

If it's the former, then her behaviour is completely understandable.
 
I know how difficult it is to juggle everything when time pressured. Would it be possible for you to tie your horse up outside its stable for its breakfast and muck out whilst the horse is eating?
 
hackedoff said:
I know how difficult it is to juggle everything when time pressured. Would it be possible for you to tie your horse up outside its stable for its breakfast and muck out whilst the horse is eating?
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Someone suggested this earlier and the OP said and what if someone walked by and he kicked them:rolleyes:
 
I agree that there is no way a horse should be kicking out. This is a teenage girl and could be seriously injured so it needs to be nipped in the bud.

I understand you can't get there earlier (you try telling parents at age 14 what time they will be doing stuff for you!!) so I think the quick fixes in the morning are probably the way to go. Just ensure that if you are tying her up outside that EVERYONE on the yard knows that they must NOT get anywhere near her for their own safety. Might be worthwhile chucking a red ribbon in her tail before you feed her. However, I think you mentioned she gets 2 feeds so you could work with her in the evening when you have more time. Other's have mentioned some good techniques which may be worth trying (depending on what works best for you), personally I would either move her back or move the food away each time that she threatens you (and yes, even if she starts putting her ears back). Wait for her to relax and then return the food. Do not give food to an anxious stressed out horse as you are just reinforcing the behavious (sorry if I'm repeating another poster here). Try and stay calm and relaxed yourself as well as if you're nervous and tense she will pick up on it (easier said than done if you're worried about being kicked, I know).

We used to have a pony who was very food aggresive (he lived on the fells in a herd which was fed all together from a sheep feeding trough for the first 3 years of his life so it was understandable) but after a few weeks of working with him he was fine and before he was we NEVER took risks with him, if we had to muck out while he was eating we tied him up on the yard.

Anyway, I hope you manage to get this sorted quickly as I'd hate to come on here and here that you've been kicked.
 
Have to say I have just read and view of vids on the other post of today at 9.20 something this morning so obviously not that young as not at school to be posting at that time and seeing videos. OP needs to take on board whats being said. On both these threads over 20 times on same rein over the same jump. Geesh
 
QR

i havent read all the replies but those which i have read said leave to eat in peace...
however i disagree! the horse should learn not to kick out at people at all and i'd hav hit the roof over it and it certainly wouldnt be doin it again! its dangerous!!
 
Thankgod I am not a horse and owned by most of you lot!

TinyPony I completely agree with you... Eating to ANY animal is very important, as it is with us - Some horses like to be alone when they eat... Why not give them that? Do they not cart us around enough? My mare isn't bothered by what you do, but if she was I would leave her well alone.


Horses are not robots nor are they slaves!

OP, does your horse get turned out? Can you not feed, turn her out have a quick muck out then do a better job when your back down the yard later on!


x
 
I'm not speaking from a theoretical background. This is something I have had experience of with several horses. Take the mare I mentioned earlier (if anyone's read what I said). I left her in peace to eat... After a while the head stopped coming over the door if I walked past. Then she stopped lifting a front leg while eating. Then I could look in the door and change her water bucket (by the door) while she was eating. Then, the problem was gone. I could go in and change rugs, put up haynets etc if I wanted. That was because I'd changed her expectations of meal times, and removed the cause of her stress for a while. I still wouldn't go in and muck out while she was eating, for the reasons I outlined earlier. Why go in, kick up dust and subject your horse to the aromas of piss and **** while they are eating? Let it lie for a few more minutes until they finish.
(I also suggested going into the toilet to eat your breakfast after your OH has finished a long session and get an insight into what your horse experiences when you muck out around them and their feed bowl).
This horse has been asking it's owner for some time for some peace to eat, it's just asking louder now, that's all. The world won't end and anarchy won't ensue in the whole horse/human relationship if the owner decides to respect that request and let her horse eat in peace. I'm not some bunny hugger who thinks horses are fluffy pets, I will not put up with dangerous behaviour. However, I don't provoke horses into dangerous behaviour and then start disciplining them and throwing my weight around just because they have responded in a reasonable fashion (reasonable for a horse). My lot don't kick or bite, they are lovely. They weren't all like that when I got them.

(Naturally... I think we're agreeing with each other? Someone said kind of why not treat a horse as you'd treat your dog...)
 
I agree with Millitiger, I would consider it unacceptable for any of my horses to try to kick me, for any reason - a bucket of hard food is not an excuse for lashing out.
 
Tinypony said:
I'm not speaking from a theoretical background. This is something I have had experience of with several horses. Take the mare I mentioned earlier (if anyone's read what I said). I left her in peace to eat... After a while the head stopped coming over the door if I walked past. Then she stopped lifting a front leg while eating. Then I could look in the door and change her water bucket (by the door) while she was eating. Then, the problem was gone. I could go in and change rugs, put up haynets etc if I wanted. That was because I'd changed her expectations of meal times, and removed the cause of her stress for a while. I still wouldn't go in and muck out while she was eating, for the reasons I outlined earlier. Why go in, kick up dust and subject your horse to the aromas of piss and **** while they are eating? Let it lie for a few more minutes until they finish.
(I also suggested going into the toilet to eat your breakfast after your OH has finished a long session and get an insight into what your horse experiences when you muck out around them and their feed bowl).
This horse has been asking it's owner for some time for some peace to eat, it's just asking louder now, that's all. The world won't end and anarchy won't ensue in the whole horse/human relationship if the owner decides to respect that request and let her horse eat in peace. I'm not some bunny hugger who thinks horses are fluffy pets, I will not put up with dangerous behaviour. However, I don't provoke horses into dangerous behaviour and then start disciplining them and throwing my weight around just because they have responded in a reasonable fashion (reasonable for a horse). My lot don't kick or bite, they are lovely. They weren't all like that when I got them.

(Naturally... I think we're agreeing with each other? Someone said kind of why not treat a horse as you'd treat your dog...)
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Agree with this 100%

Bearing in mind that this is a 14 year old that is expected to 'sort out' a kicking aggressive horse, I'd be concerned that she would be putting herself at unnecessary risk. Horse left to eat in peace = no risk to handler and all's well. A horse that is being rushed through its routine on a morning is bound to get a bit tetchy. I've had food aggressive horses in the past, in most cases it has stemmed from previous issues of neglect and insecurity.
 
Haven't read all of the replies but I do agree with Tinypony, i'm about to feed my lot now and i will do it in a peaceful and organised way so that no one gets stressed and they can all eat their tea in peace. If i needed to go in and do something with them im 99% sure no one would object but why disturb them when you could organise your time better and give them a few minutes peace to eat their tea whilst you do your haynets or something. BSJAshowjumper, why don't you try to get to the yard a bit earlier so you're not having to do everything in a rush and can give her some food whilst you are doing other jobs.
 
Arabelle said:
I agree with Millitiger, I would consider it unacceptable for any of my horses to try to kick me, for any reason - a bucket of hard food is not an excuse for lashing out.
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Ditto!

If I choose to I can groom, rug and plait my horse whilst he's eating, never once has he lifted a hoof to me, the majority of the time he is left to eat in peace though.
 
Will the answers ever be revealed as to whether horse gets turned out, whether she can get there earlier, if not feeding is an option yada yada yada. I'm not holding my breath.....
 
millitiger said:
i'll disagree with everyone and say it is not acceptable for a horse to kick when it is eating and i certainly wouldn't leave her to it!!

i would don a hard hat and a body protector and work with the issue- staying around the front end to start with. perhaps just stand a few feet from her head and don't try to interact with her so she learns you aren't a threat and build up to moving around her slowly.

i have a mare who can be a bit stroppy and there is no way in hell i would allow her to dictate when i can and can't go in her stable!
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I dont agree with any of what you've said sorry!! they naturally protect their food so why should she be made to change,

op muck out then put her feed in as you've finished and are leaving!, ps please sort out you're spelling as it hurts my eyes when the letters are in the wrong order, or there are too many of them in a word...
 
Not giving any advice as don't know enough about the situation but when my old boy was on DIY, he would eat his brekkie whilst I did his rugs, his feet, started mucking out etc and he didn't ever look stressed by that. He probably was left with his bigger tea at night but if at DIY I preferred that he had finished before I left.
 
I have never mucked out horses, faffed around with them etc while they are eating. They get their peace and quiet, and I do things outside of the stable. I also had no problems with going near any of them when they were eating if on a very rare occasion it was necessary. The horse is being a horse, it knows someone is in its space and is saying 'er I would rather you wouldn't'. In my experience, if a horse wants to kick you, it jolly well will - my guess is that it is far more of a 'piss off and leave me to eat' warning than anything else, and exactly what horses do to other horses if another one gets too close.

What I do find a bit strange is that no one has commented that it must be blooming hard mucking out with the horse in the way - surely it is easier and quicker all round to a) take horse out of stable and tie up, b) muck out c) put horse back in stable d) feed horse. Or am I illogical?
 
I always leave a horse in peace to eat a feed. I've known someone try to pick out a horse's feet and groom it when being fed and she was lucky to be able to move fast when a leg came flying out, the horse was showing clear annoyance at being fiddled with when it was trying to eat. I'm sure I'll be shot down in flames for this but in my opinion I would say, horses are herd animals, her annoyance at you when she's eating is what she would do naturally if another horse approached if there was a hay pile out in the field that she assumed was hers. I think people forget sometimes that horses have hardwired instincts that you sometimes you can't as a human always overrule. I do believe in respect and space in a stable when you're in there but think feeding and all it symbolises to a horse is more about territory and protecting that food. I may be talking nonsense as it's hot and it's end of Friday and I've had a knock in my car s my brain may be a bit loose!
 
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