recommendations for snappy horse

T

the watcher

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At my yard there is a mare who is very snappy in her stable, not so bad when whe has a headcollar on and is out of the stable. Most days she lunges over the door with teeth snapping but i manage to dodge her. There are four stables in a small yard, my three occupy the others.
In the mornings I feed mine before turnout, and have got in the habit (at the owners request) of giving the snappy one some hay so she has something to eat at the same time. it tides her over until her owner arrives, which is rarely before 10am.
This morning she went for my head, snapped the side of my head and pushed me into the metal grille so I have an attractive egg shaped bruise on my forehead now.

I get on with the owner very well and don't want to cause her any problems, but don't want to be injured dealing with her horse (I turn it out for her if she is ever away)

So, suggestions...
should I a)ask her to get out of bed earlier and do her own horse in the mornings b) adopt a suit of armour and cattle prod approach c)stop being a wuss, who needs fingers and toes anyway
 
Rather than hay can you feed it the same time as yours? It's probably jealous as your horses have feed and she doesn't hay is not as nice as feed.
 
To be fair.. she should probably get up and feed the horse at the same time as others are being fed. If you're on DIY, you should be prepared to get up and see to your horse (if she likes her sleep, she should be on full or part really!) It's not really your responsibility to feed her horse... particularly if its a bit difficult and you're getting hurt.

My first horse was terribly grumpy in his box and would lunge at people over the door
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He was all face and never actually bit but was terribly intimidating all the same!

He was on full and fed etc at the exact same time but nothing ever changed him sadly
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He was a darling to ride and once you were IN with him, he was as good as gold... but at the other side of the door it was like having a crocodile coming at you :/
 
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I am sure it would, so maybe asking her to leave a breakfast ready would help..still have to go in the stable with it to put the food in (**thinks** maybe a very long pole)

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I suspect that is the problem, and will be solved if a feed can be put in for it.

On previous yard and this one, horses are all fed at the same time AM. It really helps knock behaviour like this on the head - and just prevent it happening full stop.
 
You wuss!
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I would ask he to leave the mares feed so you can feed her at the same time as yours. If you are happy with that?!

I onced worked with one like this, we have big round plastic bowls tied to some plaited bailing twine, chuck feed in tub, slide open door, boot feed in tucking twine under door, pull twine back and then tie to the door!

Hb
 
I think you are all right, and getting the owner to leave breakfast made is the way forward..just really wanted to confirm that I wasn't being unreasonable asking her to do that, there is no way I would leave her horse without something while mine are being fed, especially if mine get turned out and hers gets left behind on its own (but I draw the line at turning out 4 and still being behind my desk by 8am)
 
Mine bite me - and they are MINE!!!
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I think its cos they are spolit brats and they all want to be first.

I solve it by having a little jumping whip down by my side and then being quicker than him when he comes to bite me - so far it has worked a treat and the biting has reduced considerably.

I think perhaps she is just telling you she wants some attention too, tell her mum to get out of bed!

Mine scream if I'm late.
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Water pistols are excellent for curing nipping/biting obviously you cant introduce this on someone elses horse but maybe you could suggest it?

everytime the horse goes to bite quickly squirt a small water pistol at their nose but dont make any eye contact! It confuses and shocks them because they dont know where it came from.

Works a treat on cheeky colts!!
 
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