Possessive hairy pony :/

russianhorse

russianhorse

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Morning,

I've recently been going on about my dilemma on whether to take on my friends hairy cob. After getting some great advice on here, I decided to take the plunge because I think he is worth the financial squeeze :D

Anyway, briefly, hairy lad is only 4. He's been passed from pillar to post up until 18 months ago when friend took him on. She's moved both ponies around an awful lot too and then put hairy lad out to loan but he came home after 2 weeks (apparently because loaner realised he was too small? :/). Also friend doesn't really like him much, for no real reason but because she adores her pony and hairy lad is just really ponies companion so pony is very very very dominant over hairy lad (I also previously mentioned he appeared to be very "dead behind the eyes")

So......... After deciding to take the plunge, I have spent lots of time with him, brushing him, trying to get the knots out of his feathers, dealing with wounds from dreadlocks on his feather and laying a fresh new bed because he barely had any on concrete (I have however been a consistent person 2-3 times a week anyway, as look after him when friend at college and exercise him, for more than 6 months).

A couple of days after I told him he was mine, he walked up to me, sniffed me, looked into my eyes, blew through his nostrils, put his head on my shoulder and then licked my cheek :D. When I muck out or clean the field, he stands with me and falls asleep

BUT....... Other pony is very dominant, and tries to come over first or butt into our "loving moments". Yesterday as soon as I turned up, hairy lad came running over, but so did pony. Hairy lad took umbridge at this and a fight ensued, whereby hairy lads bum swidged me against the fencing. Unfortunately hairy lad isn't really aware of personal space yet :/. Anyway, every time pony walked towards me, or even looked at me, a fight kicked off as it seems he's become possessive of me

So..... Advice please. It's a pretty dangerous situation for me to be in when they kick off next to me. (unfortunately the way yard is set, it's all open so can't seperate), but I do scream and yell and wave my arms for them to get away, but it's the initial kick off that's the problem :(

Come spring I will be moving hairy lad to my field, so shouldn't be an issue. But for now, what do I do?

Lots of cake and chocolate if you read all this waffle and made head or tail of it :D x
 
Make a temporary electric fence pen, stay inside it and when he gets to the pen gate let yours in and then close it fast. Only needs to be the size of the main gate squared off and will keep you safe. Also please wear a hat and pref a body protector while all this is going on, I know its a pain to have to faff about but better than being hurt.

Sounds like you are going to have a very close bond with this cobby.
 
Just learn how to gently move both ponies on when you don't want them on top of you. It's very easy and doesn't need to be scary or confrontational, and once they have learned, they will keep out of your space and respond quickly to any suggestion from you that they're too close ;)

When you're in field and a pony is a bit close, just turn, focus your attention on them, and take a step or two towards them, saying "go away" - and mean it :D You don't have to shout (they don't know what you're saying, it's just helping you to mean it). Keep moving towards them until they take a step or two away and then immediately go back to what you're doing. If you have to raise your arms (if they're not moving) just lift them up and make them big. No contact with pony at all required.

Keep practising until both ponies move away when you ask. Once they understand about doing this when there's no high energy or adrenalin, they will understand much better when things get a bit lively.

Apart from that, don't stress too much - horses quickly learn who's working with whom. We had a new pony in the field a few weeks back who was a bit of a pest, but after teaching him "go away" and then just working with my own horse, new pony now doesn't even look up when I come into the field :)

Your new lad is just enjoying having a bit of consistent care and attention, and is defending this as best he can -but you need him to understand about moving away from you when wanted too! (I occasionally get our herd galloping full tilt towards me led by my boy going "Play time!" - I just say "go away" and they all head off in another direction :D
 
PLEASE can we have some piccies :D

Don't worry, it will sort itself out- I think he's proud of his new mummy. If you have to, take a stick into the field with you, just in case.
 
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