Playful/dangerous New Horse

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Curries

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I've recently acquired a new horse with an unknown history, she's 3yrs old and hasn't got a nasty bone in her body but is becoming increasingly playful and I need to nip it in the bud before someone gets hurt. The problem I have is when I go in the field with her she wants to play, as if I was another horse, rearing and dancing about at me. I don't want to shout and ball at her as she's not being nasty but how do I stop this behaviour?
 
Take a feed bucket or rope and when she comes up to you like that shout, wave your arms / bucket /rope and make yourself big and chase her away out your space. If you don't nip this in the bud then you'll end up being hurt.
 
Please don't take a bucket in with you.

But do shout sharply at her and give a good clap of your hands with your arms out wide, making yourself look bigger.
 
Is she kept on her own at the moment? She sounds like she needs some older equines to put her in her place in the pecking order.

It also sounds to me (although it's difficult to be sure as her history is unknown) that she might have been hand reared ...
 
Mrs B said:
Is she kept on her own at the moment? She sounds like she needs some older equines to put her in her place in the pecking order.

It also sounds to me (although it's difficult to be sure as her history is unknown) that she might have been hand reared ...
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Yes she is on her own and definitely needs a playmate, unfortunately she needs to put weight on and my other horse is on restricted grazing so until they need the same grazing I can't put them together, hopefully only a few more weeks though 😊
 
Curries said:
Yes she is on her own and definitely needs a playmate, unfortunately she needs to put weight on and my other horse is on restricted grazing so until they need the same grazing I can't put them together, hopefully only a few more weeks though ��
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IMHO I think that keeping a youngster on its own is asking for problems..
 
mynutmeg said:
Take a feed bucket or rope and when she comes up to you like that shout, wave your arms / bucket /rope and make yourself big and chase her away out your space. If you don't nip this in the bud then you'll end up being hurt.
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I think i will have to, just don't want to end up with the reverse problem of her not wanting to come near me!
 
Curries said:
Yes she is on her own and definitely needs a playmate, unfortunately she needs to put weight on and my other horse is on restricted grazing so until they need the same grazing I can't put them together, hopefully only a few more weeks though 😊
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There's your problem. Put a grazing muzzle on the other one and give the new one a mate.
 
amymay said:
Please don't take a bucket in with you.

But do shout sharply at her and give a good clap of your hands with your arms out wide, making yourself look bigger.
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I'm thinking of something softish (we use tub trugs) that you can chuck if needs be but if she's after food that might not be a good plan :o Suppose it depends on whether she's ever had a bucket feed :)
 
Curries said:
Yes she is on her own and definitely needs a playmate, unfortunately she needs to put weight on and my other horse is on restricted grazing so until they need the same grazing I can't put them together, hopefully only a few more weeks though 
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Could you put them together during the day or night and in the paddock with more grazing the other half of the day. That way she still gets some company. It's what we used to do with our tb youngster and good doer cob so they had company but the tb had extra grass.
 
I would get her to maintain a sensible distance from you and if she comes too close especially if she is being rude just clap, shout, stomp briskly towards her to chase her out of your space and keep doing so until she doesn't come back within a few feet. Also do some exercises in leading etc in the field, getting her to understand 'back up' and to go away when you move your arms at her. Don't hand treat her and if you are going to feed her in the field use it as an opportunity to make her step back and stand nicely with her head down and ears forward before you give it to her... This will probably take some working on but my little youngster who was getting a bit boisterous now knows to do it and knows not to rear or charge up behind people as she did a couple of times with my boyfriend who is less firm with her.

Being out with another horse would be likely to help if she isn't already, I find even if you can only do so occasionally it makes a difference.
 
Curries said:
I think i will have to, just don't want to end up with the reverse problem of her not wanting to come near me!
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If you're only chasing her when she's being rude then you won't. I've had to do the same with my 4 month old colt when he's got too pushy / playful (I don't like hooves on my shoulders :p ) and it doesn't stop him coming over he just starts to have some manners for a while. Be welcoming and do scratches when she comes over politely but when she is too pushy then chase her away. It's exactly what other horses would do, just be consistent in what you chase her for and what she's allowed to do.
 
All really good advice thanks. It was only a short term solution her being in a separate field, because of the grass and also as I have an important competition next week with my other one so can't risk any injuries. After that they can go in together and hopefully little miss playful will calm down!
 
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