Opinions: feeding treats over the door.

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Serianas

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Ok so personally I hate this as I was taught that it makes ponies nippy, but I was wondering what others opinions are?

I was particularly put out as the lady next door has been feeding his treats every time she has seen my pony, and when asked to stop (as he is on a diet) she simply replied that 'they are herbal' and shoved one in his face. Im the mild type so I didn't do anything but stand there aghast as she walked off. Not seen her since :S
 
i never feed other peoples horses without their permission. I feed mine loads of treats over the door though!! :o
 
milliepops said:
i never feed other peoples horses without their permission. I feed mine loads of treats over the door though!! :o
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Ditto.....

Why don't you put up a no treats sign on your door.....I never give other horses treats as the next thing there is door banging....and I do not want to be held responsible....I think a few treats that I do give will not turn my cob into a 'hippo'....my only concern would be if it created attention seeking behaviour!
 
I don't believe in feeding other people's horses treats without knowing they are ok with it. Classic example are our two minis, we have never fed from the hand, always the floor or a bucket, "oh your shetlands are lovely they don't nip or bite" yes, because we knew they would be around kids so made it a very strict rule no tit bits from the hand.....the big ones are not so bad but minis....!!!
 
You should absolutely never feed someone else's horse without permission - good grief! I do feed treats over the door to mine - but if it had any impact on poor manners for them I wouldn't. I have had ponies in the past who got nippy or were on a diet and I put up "No treats please - explanation" signs. However in this case I suspect even a notice won't stop this woman. You may well need to speak to her about it. Even herbal treats have calories I'm afraid!
 
Serianas said:
Ok so personally I hate this as I was taught that it makes ponies nippy, but I was wondering what others opinions are?

I was particularly put out as the lady next door has been feeding his treats every time she has seen my pony, and when asked to stop (as he is on a diet) she simply replied that 'they are herbal' and shoved one in his face. Im the mild type so I didn't do anything but stand there aghast as she walked off. Not seen her since :S
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I don't mind people giving my horse treats over the door (he gets through half to a whole packet of strong mints a day and has done for 11 years - very good for stretching physio exercises) but the issue here is the fact that you asked her to stop and she refused.

I always listen to what other liveries say in regards to feeding treats and always ask first unless there is something that you know is okay to have them because the owner has already said they don't mind. I agree that some horses will bang the door when others are given treats but that would not stop me feeding my own just because they are being rude. If you fed something stood next to my horse he wouldn't dream of banging the door or stamping his feet as he has very good manners but I know all are not the same.
 
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There's no way, ever, that someone should feed another person's horse without express permission over the stable door, or anywhere else. (I'm usually quite easy-going as long as no-one's getting hurt, but this is something that does bother me!)

Personally, I don't feed over the stable door. I sometimes do in the field after turning out following work, but that's because my horse doesn't push for it. She'll wait a moment after I take her headcollar off, then if she realises I've not got a treat, she'll just go off and do her own thing. I don't like being around horses that are constantly mithering for treats.
 
What the h e l l is wrong with people! I would never dream of feeding treats to someone else's horse and especially if the owner had just told me not to!!

My horse would start biting every time someone walked by his stable if people were to feed him! I only give a treat when he's earned it!
 
Serianas said:
Ok so personally I hate this as I was taught that it makes ponies nippy, but I was wondering what others opinions are?

I was particularly put out as the lady next door has been feeding his treats every time she has seen my pony, and when asked to stop (as he is on a diet) she simply replied that 'they are herbal' and shoved one in his face. Im the mild type so I didn't do anything but stand there aghast as she walked off. Not seen her since :S
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I do and have done all my life and will continue to do so with my horses.
 
As others say, never feed anyones else's horse!


As for rmy own, depends on the horse. Some are fine am others get barge or nippy. I prefer they've done something to earn it, even if it is just back up or move over
 
Treat when they've been working - yes
Treat to make them pause while you step back when turning out - yes
Treat as a tit-bit, over door or in field - NO

Someone else's horse - never
 
Kezzabell2 said:
What the h e l l is wrong with people! I would never dream of feeding treats to someone else's horse and especially if the owner had just told me not to!!

My horse would start biting every time someone walked by his stable if people were to feed him! I only give a treat when he's earned it!
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Echo this, I do give the occasional carrot but mine have to do something for it - stepping back is what I usually insist on to stop them barging
 
I treat my own and have a vast array of tidbits for variety, but I don't treat other horses. What for? It only encourages them to anticipate your arrival and possibly kick the door for attention.
 
JillA said:
Echo this, I do give the occasional carrot but mine have to do something for it - stepping back is what I usually insist on to stop them barging
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mine is allowed carrots in his feed!!

but actually when I do treat him its actually not carrots usually! i buy a bag of bailey's fibre plus nuggets, they look just like the herby treats and cost far less, I use these. He gets a couple when he's done well on each rein of the lunge! I also use them to get him to do his stretches! but he doesn't get them if he's been naughty on the lunge, which is very rare now!
 
Would I give treats to someone else's horse without being given the go ahead? No

Would I give treats someone else's horse if specifically asked not to? No

Do I give treats to my own horses? No (except for carrot stretches).

Do I give treats to my dog? No

Think I'm in the no treat camp ;).

OP, you're right to be cross. This woman must be made or persuaded to desist.
 
Thanks guys... it bugs me that its taken 18 months to get him to stop nipping people (he was a b*gger for it when I got him). It also baffles me that she sometimes has a toddler with her who loves to stroke my pony, possibly because he is smaller and he is ever so gentle with her, why she would put the little one at risk as she knows pony can be nippy...

he now contents himself with stealing shoelaces...
 
Mine don't get treats over the door or from the hand - they start to expect it and then start mugging me and banging doors.

I would never give someone else's horse a treat!

In summer I will occasionally go to the field when not riding and will take them some apples/carrots but it's not very often as again I don't want them to 'expect' food/treat every time they see me.
 
Serianas said:
Thanks guys... it bugs me that its taken 18 months to get him to stop nipping people (he was a b*gger for it when I got him). It also baffles me that she sometimes has a toddler with her who loves to stroke my pony, possibly because he is smaller and he is ever so gentle with her, why she would put the little one at risk as she knows pony can be nippy...

he now contents himself with stealing shoelaces...
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Everything else aside, I just don't understand how or why some people think it's ok to ignore a horses owners direct instructions, let alone wandering around doing whatever they want to other peoples horses without permission. There have been a few threads recently about other people doing unwanted things to forum members horses and I just find it mind boggling. How do these situations arise? I'm genuinely intrigued. I just can't imagine anyone defying my rules about my horse to be honest.

As for treating, I noticed today that Orca has started 'nudging' for treats and made the decision just an hour ago that they'll be reserved for specific work based rewards from here on in ��
 
omg how bloody rude of her! It's not ok to feed someone else's horse anything without permission ever, especially treats over the door. I don't even give most of mine treats myself (they get over cheeky with treats exept one who is an absolute saint so I do tend to spoil her 😊) so I would be pretty annoyed if somebody fed mine. My field sharer often tells me she's given my (overweight) ponies bread knowing exactly how much It irritates me but I'm pretty sure she's just taking the pee, I hope she is anyway!
 
Absolutely not, even if its your own. The only food they ever get is in a bucket unless its a reward for being caught or for a young pony at the start of its training. I have a highland that if he smells carrots on you would push you over to get in your pocket.
 
I remember a pony at the stables where I rode as a child, he used to bite so he had a sign on his door which sticks with me to this day (20 odd years ago!) "I snap and I bite, so keep out of sight - PLEASE DO NOT FEED ME" We all used to give him a wide berth! Might be worth OP putting up a sign to try and stop people ignoring her wishes.
 
I give my own some but if they showed any inclination for mugging or snipping it would stop. Both are old so know biting is not on lol
 
I have no hard and fast rules for treats. But I try to keep in mind that every time I give a treat, I am training my horse and reinforcing a behaviour. Since I'd never go out and deliberately train somebody else's horse without their permission, I also won't give any treats to other people's horses. But I find treats a very useful tool for training my own horse, so I won't rule out their use entirely.
 
Mine don't get anything unless it's a bucket or on the floor.
I get really annoyed at other people feeding my horses treats....why people think it's OK is beyond me. You wouldn't walk up to someone dog and give them a treat, or their child and give them sweets without asking first.
 
What a rude woman!
Would never treat someone else's horse, let alone when asked not to!
Never really treat over the door, but do give them from the hand. Mostly I use them for stretches, but if she has been really good (or I have been particularly crap) then I will just give her a couple. As soon as she smells them on me she stretches round to one side without me asking, which amuses me.
 
Serianas said:
Thanks guys... it bugs me that its taken 18 months to get him to stop nipping people (he was a b*gger for it when I got him). It also baffles me that she sometimes has a toddler with her who loves to stroke my pony, possibly because he is smaller and he is ever so gentle with her, why she would put the little one at risk as she knows pony can be nippy...

he now contents himself with stealing shoelaces...
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If she has children then buy a fun pack of chocolates and shove them in the mouths of her kids every time you see them!! she how she likes it!
 
Just tell her next time you see her that feeding him treats will encourage him to bite, he has previous history with this, and if he bites her child you won't be held responsible. Actually you shouldn't be held responsible anyway if you have told her and she is in charge of the child, but spelling it out won't hurt.
 
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