Striking out with front legs and side ways with hind in stable

[Buck-a-roo]

I'm not riding at the moment but currently reading a Jilly Cooper book and something reminded me of a horse I used to know with unusual behaviour that I've not encountered before or since.

He could be quite tricky in the stable and strike out with front legs if being groomed or rugged. He also had an aversion to tops of hind legs being groomed and would kick out sideways with intent. I'd heard he had turned his hind end to people trying to rug or groom in the past but this was remedied by being tied up. He'd also rear in hand with others and also apparently known to bite!

I found that these issues were kept in check by being very firm but fair and not allowing him to be dominant while also it reacting aggressively, and generally with that kind of handling he was a delight.

Checked by vet but I always wondered if there could have been a pain element or whether he was simply insecure and this had been compounded by previous nervous handlers?

Would be interested if anyone else has come across this!

 

[planete]

I encountered this kind of behaviour with a mare I first met when she came back to her owner from a national hunt trainer. I was her groom for a few months. One day I saw the owner take a whip to her in the stable where the mare was tied up when the mare kicked out while having the area at the top of her tail clipped. She had obviously been 'corrected' for fighting back and had the temperament to escalate the fight. My solution, which worked, was to totally ignore her aggressive moves in spite of sustaining at least one real bite to my arm which only managed to give me a serious bruise through my winter clothing. This was the turning point and she never showed me any aggression after that day and was a delight to handle and ride. I would say such horses distrust people, usually for very good reasons.

 

[JillA]

It's all self defence, from some handling in the past which has made the afraid for their safety. Some horses are more sensitive to it than others - I have had a couple who were strong willed and I would fully expect to fight back if I had ever got stroppy with them. Taught me a lot about how to control them without aggression

 

[Shay]

Echo both of those - its a response to poor handling. It can be to pain as well - but poor handling causes pain. We had one you couldn't even tie. He hated being restrained in any way - he was terrified he would be beaten and was just the temperament to take the fight right back at you - he would get you first before you could get him. Even if you had absolutely no intention of getting him! We did everything inside a large stable with the door open and a single chain guard. He could move away if he wanted to but equally the groom had the space to get away and get out under the chain if he came at them - and he did occasionally in the first weeks. Over a few months he came to understand that we would not hurt him and we could tie up etc. But across all the 5 years we owned him you always had to be very aware and careful. It wasn't his fault - he was only scared from poor handling.