Possessive horses

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Waffles

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I've had my horse 6 months and he seems to think i am "his". He's not happy having anyone round when I'm giving him titbits, and now he's not happy if I talk to other humans! This is nothing serious and it's only putting his ears back a bit. Should I be flattered? He wasn't gelded till he was nearly 5 - would that have something to do with it? or is it just is personality? He's absolutely lovely in pretty much every way and is quite a bold ride.
 
Stop giving him treats, this is causing him to look to you as his slave, reverse the roles, he has to comply with your requirements , be firm, fair, and consistent, he is a horse, not a lapdog .
PS I am giving you the benefit of the doubt,, others will say: "Troll Alert"
 
Waffles said:
I've had my horse 6 months and he seems to think i am "his". He's not happy having anyone round when I'm giving him titbits, and now he's not happy if I talk to other humans! This is nothing serious and it's only putting his ears back a bit. Should I be flattered? He wasn't gelded till he was nearly 5 - would that have something to do with it? or is it just is personality? He's absolutely lovely in pretty much every way and is quite a bold ride.
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Don't tidbit him. As for the rest - sorry, get a grip:rolleyes:;):)
 
Sorry - didn't want to appear a "troll". This is my 4th horse and I've always give titbits - when I greet them in the stable, or catch them - not just randomly. None of my other horses were possessive like this. This horse has never had a "one to one" relationship with an owner before, so that may have something to do with it.
 
My little arab gets very cross when she doesn't get all the attention. When I first bought her, she was the one and only, then I got another one, and a boyfriend (now ex) who also had horses and her nose was well and truly put out of joint! She has got more used to it, but can still be very rude with other people. No tit bits I'd say, in case it escalates|!
 
There is nothing wrong with giving titbits as long as they are given appropriately. My horse is possessive too, but not around people, only other horses. He will circle me and charge at anything that comes close. This doesn't matter whether I have just worked him or not yet seen him that day he still does it. My horse also has a history of an abusive past and had severe trust issues so I take it as he really likes me as his human and anyone who knows what he was like when I first had him are really amazed to see the difference in him.
 
Unless I am there, my horse refuses to take titbits from my husband. I am pretty certain that the horse has not been abused. He certainly gets very aggressive when other horses are around in the field and shoos them out of the way - but that's probably the time of year with little grass in the field more than anything else. I wouldn't say he was aggressive when other humans are around, it's just a sort of ears back a bit, irritated "I want you all to myself" kind of thing. He'd never been fed any titbits before I had him and didn't know what carrots or apples were!
 
The Old Appy mare was very possesive of me. She was bought as a share for me and sister, was very much a family horse and interacted well with all people. However she was quite nasty with other horses in some circumstances. Dad had a little Grey Section A, who was quite a confident little thing, I rode her in the field next to the other mares and then turned her back out with the others. She swaggered in to the field and the Appy grabbed her by the back of the neck and dragged her up the fence line :eek: She did let go and the pony was only bruised, but it was quite unpleasant to witness. The same mare would let anybody ride her, but would misbehave horribly if I rode anything else while anyone else rode her. She ended up just my horse for many years and was fine. We just made the decision to 'allow' her to have me as a person. Interestingly following her retirement we bought the Current Appy, the two became firm friends and the old girl never minded me riding the new mare, even in the field where she could see it happening :)
 
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