Possessive over food

M

Morrigan_Lady

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www.teamterrellshowjumping.co.uk
Does anyone elses horse turn EVIL when you give them hay or their feed?

I had some lovely cuddles with Arch in his stable last night (b4 his hay was in there!) and groomed him for ages and he was lovely, but when Id finished I went to put his haynet in and went for me! He grabbed the haynet and reared up with it in his mouth, so I shouted at him and he turned his back end on me. He was like a horse possesed. He's also pretty bad when I put his dinner. It really ruined a nice evening together and Im getting really fed up with him now.
Im thinking of putting his haylage on the floor as I think the small holes in the haylege net really frustrate him.

Any ideas?
 
My mare used to get really bargy when I brought her feed in. Used to just run at me and stuff her head in the bucket and threaten to bite and turn her bum on me if I wasn't quick enough to put the feed down. I went in one day with a whip, gave her a smack across the shoulders and pointed the whip at her and she went backwards. Now all I need to do is point at her and she goes to the back of the stable. She now knows that once I have walked away she can run for her food and pull as many faces as she wants, aslong as I am out of the way! As for the putting the hayledge on the floor, it is a more natural feeding position for horses and some horses prefer it, you could always try it?
 
Is he always like this over food MW? I'd take a long hard look at the bigger picture. Does he have neighbours that hassle him when he's got food? Can they reach round and make him worried? Does he have to go a long time without feed/hay? I honestly think if you yell at him when his food DOES appear, you're just teaching him that it's a stressful time. A huge number of people will give their horse a haynet to keep them occupied while eg the farrier is there or they are waiting for something or being groomed, so I'm surprised your ned is so stressed when a simple haynet appears UNLESS some of the things above are upsetting him. I'd always aim for ad lib hay, ie permanent access while he's in his stable. If you can get the REASON sorted, the rest should go away BUT threatening to kick is always a no-no!
 
Yes ! The C boy used to be terrible - doing all the things you mention. Then I started standing in his stable holding his dinner and didn't put it down until he put his ears forward. He learnt very quickly and is so much better mannered now.
 
Amy was pretty bad with feed, and Thumper is not much better. So I've adopted a habit of putting the feed in and letting them eat in peace.

However, hay is a different matter - and to show aggression like that when putting a hay net up is just not on.

But - in your horses defence, how hungry may he have been?? Our winter turnout has bugger all grass in it now, and Thumper is comming in very hungry. I let him have his hay and dinner before I do any faffing with him. Makes him a much more obliging fellow.
 

Box_of_frogs - He has always been possessive over his dinner, but never like this with his hay. Since we have been at this yard (about a month now) he has been on haylege and having it in a net, where as at the old yard he had hay on the floor and seemed ok. Ive only not put it on the floor yet, coz he will eat it in seconds! Theres also no grass in the field, so Im thinking he's porb starving! Ive been putting haylege out in the field so hoping that will help.
I cant give him a haynet to keep him happy while Im in the stable or grooming coz he turns nasty. He's a saint with no food though.
He's go no reason (that I can see) to behave to like this, his hay is on the other side of his stable where he doenst have a neighbour so theres no one annoying him.
 

AmyMay - Yes, I think the lack of grass has got some thing to do with it, but even it I let Arhc have some hay b4 I groom him, he is still a sod. He was lovely last night and I really enjoyed spending the time with him in his stable, but just felt crap after Id givin him his hay.
Trouble is, I may be selling hims soon, so I want to get this sorted.
 
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Ive not completely decided, but Im thinking Id like summut abit older and wiser (and that doesnt chuck me off every 5 minutes!!!)

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Ahh, seems reasonable!
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I have noticed at this time of year that the horses are very hungry when they come in. When you groom him is there anywhere you can tie him up with a haynet and then you can put a haylet up in his stable ready for when he goes back into the stable, i.e removing the opportunity that he has of attacking you with the haynet?
 
Have a strict, 'whilst im holding the haynet you do not touch it, it is yours when i move away from it' attitude, and walk into the stable with it behind you rather than infront, ive done this with every horse ever since a grumpy little mare decided to take a chunk out of my side because i got in her way whilst i was trying up the haynet. Horses learn very quickly that they have to wait, and its worked with every stroppy around food horse ive ever encountered.
 
We bought a 3 year old last year that came from a yard where there was competition for food. We have individual 3 acre paddocks so its not a problem
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The seller warned us that he was a face puller! He is NEVER aggressive but does pull the most horrible faces when you feed/catch him, when you approach his stable etc but we have been kind but very firm and he is softening to us- funny thing is he LOVES a fuss/ cuddle and will hang with you for hours if you are in his field
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BUT i am sure that if they are allowed to bully you then many horses can get very nasty. My friends mare used to attack you with teeth and feet if you dared to try to enter her stable with a feed bucket- she used to throw the feed over the door to avoid being chomped
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As others have said, make sure he isnt stressed by competition for food and dont accept his behaviour- it may well be related to the riding problems you have had- if he thinks he is the dominent half of your partnership then he may need putting in his place...
 
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