Very aggressive horse - what to do?

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Merlotmonster

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Hi, Im hoping for some advice!

I have owned my 17.3hh polish warmblood for nearly three years and he has always been the nicest horse to handle. However, over the last three months or so he has become increasingly aggressive in the stable towards me. I ride in the evening after work when he has already been put to bed (he is on full livery) so can imagine he is not happy about being dragged out again.

He is only like this with me and my sister (who also rides him at that time). He is fine with everyone else! He is fine outside the stable and in the field. Hes fine to be tacked up (again outside the stable) and is happy at shows.

Last night he literally lunged at me with teeth bared running at me the moment I opened his door. I stood my ground and shouted at him and he backed off slightly however, the moment I went to move towards him he was doing it again. In the end I went in with a broom (which I didnt need to touch him with) which meant he backed off me. Every time I went to touch him, he snaked his head at me with teeth showing and ears flat back.

If I tie him up he will tolerate me but still has his ears back

This behaviour is getting worse and Im not sure how to deal with it. Ive had horses for many years but have never come across one quite so aggressive in the stable. I know I need to reassert myself as pack leader.

Any ideas would be welcomed!
 
If you are absolutely sure it is not related to pain in any way, then it sounds to me like a dominance/territory issue.

I have a mare who is very territorial over her stable, maybe not as aggressive as you say your is, so therefore do not insist on tacking up etc in his stable and tie him outside.
 
The fact that he has been put to bed should not affect him in this way, it is more likely that something else has happened over the last 3 months, has anything else changed recently?
I would think there is probably something that is hurting and he associates you with work not food and turnout which the grooms will be doing during the day. Is he the same if you ride during the day at a weekend, I would have a look at how he really is the rest of the time, it may be that someone on the yard is scared of him and handling him badly.
My initial reaction would be to get a vet out, or a physio to check him to rule out pain, look into his routine, feed, any changes in staff and be fairly thorough to go through things one at a time until I found the reason for such a change, I am sure there will be a reason and that it is not just that he has become bad tempered because he feels like being the boss.
 
I have been the proud owner of a hugely aggressive gelding. In the case of my horse, he had started life out being a bit "grumpy" and people who had no patience, or too quick a hand turned him from grumpy to outright nasty.
He didn't favour much mucking about, he knew if I was going into the stable to "do" something or if I was going to attempt to try something heinous like a hug ;) and he'd respond accordingly. The first and last time I hugged him, he reached over my head and picked me up by the thigh. I have the picture of the wound, but its probably not neccessary here!

I could do anything with him only I had to make sure I approached with the right mindset and that I respected the fact he really didn't want to be fussed/cuddled by me at all. He would lift legs (acceptable to me so long as he didn't kick out). Pull faces (acceptable so long as he didn't bite) and of course then there was the out and out bite (not acceptable, he DID get reprimanded for this!)

Please be very careful, in all your handling. Like BP says, my horse went from grumpy to vicious - someone caused that somehow! Hope you get to the bottom of yours!
 
I would find out if there is a problem with a groom, it is difficult to believe he is selecting only you and your sister.
Agree with the saddle thing, but he would be very ears back as soon as you tried to saddle him.
If things don't improve I would consider moving him, as yards tend to keep stum about things in my experience.
At the very least go and see him being fed by staff.
Tack him up outside the stable in the meantime, and groom him tied up.
Is he on a high grain diet which could cause ulcers?
Does he get turnout?
 
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Hi, thanks for the replies.. I have seen him with the grooms and the yard owner and he is absolutely fine with them.. He is also fine with the saddle when tacking up outside.. Tonight he did it again. I then went in with the broom to back him away from me and took his net away.. He did seem nicer after that so maybe he is being territorial.. I've spent the last 45 mins going in and out so without being attacked. He is out in the field all day. Will keep persevering with it. Thanks for taking the time to reply.. I will bear in mind your responses!
 
He may be In pain, but however much pain he may be in, he still has to know that attacking you is not on. What's he like out in the field if you approach him?
 
He's totally fine.. And he's fine outside.. I will get his back checked out. He feels no different though. He's much fitter than he used to be so maybe he is feeling bolshy.. It's very strange
 
It could be as simple as the timing of your visit, and his work, in relation to his routine. If he is full after his hay he may just be uncomfortable at his work.

Maybe your yard owner would be able to adjust his routine so he was pleased to see you when you arrive.
 
My mare started to be really agressive when I got her saddle out and brought her into be ridden however much I told her off she still did it and was lunging at me and I had bruises all over my arms.

It turns out she had hock and SI pain and my vet couldnt see it, it took a bone scan to find the problems with her!
 
My youngster is a horrid little ***** at about 10am every day at the moment, I try and avoid doing much with him. He has got in the habit of coming in and having a nice relaxing snooze every morning at about 9, and just hates being made to work at bedtime. It could be just that - as AngusO has suggested.
 
Our livery horses that get ridden in the evenings are only given half their PM hay so their owners can give them the other half. Could you try that so he doesn't think he's missing out when he comes in from the field?
 
This might sound totally random (and it probably is) but I don't suppose you and your sister wear the same perfume? Admittedly I've only ever seen this in stallions but sometimes perfumes can cause a reaction from Horses.

But yes, be careful! I spent a while working at a dealers yard. There was this one rather large gelding who was very aggressive. He was the same with everyone and very intimidating. I never went near him in the stable without a broom. Oddly though when you got on him he was the lightest, most obedient Horse I have ever ridden (and I have ridden some grand prix level SJ'ers, just as a groom mind you). He was 17.2hh and built like a tank but was like a fairy to ride!! So light, balanced, fingertip snaffle control and just the smallest squeeze with your legs. He clearly enjoyed being worked. I'd have bought him and put up with his aggressive nature he was that nice to ride - and he'd jump anything you put him at!! It's a mystery I will forever ponder. I never did find out where he ended up :-(
 
If this is a new situation with a horse you have owned for some time then my initial reaction would be that it is pain related.

Especially as it's only you and your sister that ride the horse.
 
I doubt it has anything to do with him being being annoyed at being ridden once he's been put to bed, horses dont think like that. I would definately get his back checked (by two seperate people to be extra sure), his teeth and also his saddle. It sounds like he's upset at the thought of being ridden and is linking this to you / your sister arriving. I would have expected it to definately be pain related.
 
I've owned my horse twelve years and he's turned like this in the last 6 months or so.
I had him scoped for Ulcers in May, which he had and they've been successfully treated, but he is still aggressive at times. He's much better to brush off but he's does the ears back and snaking in his stable sometimes if I go in to do something with him. He's ok if I'm mucking out around him etc and basically ignoring him whilst he eats his net.

My take is that although we have several horses on the yard he is actually in the field on his own and his is getting to be dominant - he's used to being the underdog with other horses.

I would be questioning with yours, what has changed? Is the yard a new one? Is he on his own in the field?

Hope you get to the bottom of this - its very frustrating, they just don't appreciate us!
 
i was given a new horse in november as she had become too agressive to handle (reared and kicked my farrier in the head with her front feet on day 2 of being with me). I tracked down her owner from the previous home and they said she was always a very loving mare, typical red head but never aggressive, so i knew it was 'man made'.

Basically the long and short of it was PAIN. i got the saddler out to check her saddle and sure enough, too tight. but the length of time she had been ridden (upto 4 hours a day for a year) had caused huge muscle problems in the wither area, shoulders, neck and quarters.
The pain wasnt the end of it though, she had been 'told off' for her bad behavour so she then had boundry and trust issues, no one was listening too her so she had no option but to lash out.

She still throws her head around when i tack her up but doesnt bite anymore, no longer kicks out when putting a rug on, and is now a more loving horse.

My only advise would be listen to your horse, they dont just wake up in the morning and decide to turn aggresive, there is a reason as to why your horse is behaving as he is, pain is the first thing i thought, what happens if you go in with polo's? If you have someone in you area maybe try thermal imaging to see if there are any hot spots that are pain related? Good luck
 
You say he is ok with the grooms. If his behaviour is triggered by the fact that he knows you and your sister are going to ride him and anticipates pain, would it be worth asking one of the grooms to go into his stable in riding clothes carrying his tack and see how he reacts then?
 
I've seen them go in with him and he's fine. I've had others go in the stable too and he only does it to me.. An getting his back checked out. His teeth are fine. He doesn't react to the saddle being put on when outside his box though which I think he would do if in pain.
The only real change is two new horses have arrived in the last couple of months and are out with him.
If I go in with food he is lovely and friendly! Yes, it's upsetting.. I feel he hates me! And weirdly it's only evenings he's like this. If I go up on a Saturday morning he is fine.
 
My husband got a real wallop of a kick on his thigh two days ago from a previously unagressive horse. We talked about why it had suddenly turned (he had been stroking him and attempted to clip on the leg strap which had come loose) and the only conclusion we came to was we had changed his field companions from his older brothers to two yearlings, and he'd been bossing them about. I think in his head for a moment he forgot who was the boss..
I would try and change your horse's routine a little so it isn't so fixed, arrive at 5 am for instance and ride, see if he is as bad.
Get him checked for his saddle and ulcers, and don't back down an inch when he has a go. Pain or not he should not be allowed to be so rude.
I would also spend some time working him on the ground , insisting he backs up, turns, stands etc , he needs to understand who is in charge again I think.
 
I would say pain. My horse was aggressive to me and my daughter but not to everbody else. He was desperately trying to tell us he was in chronic pain and actually had been for years. He was diagnosed eventually by Sue Dyson at Newmarket with chronic sacro illiac dysfunction. Now he has been treated and rehabed he is a different horse - sweet and loving. Don't kid yourself horses can just be plain nasty - they are remember a flight animal - they won't waste energy fighting unless there is a cause.

I would bet money on it being a pain issue. He's aggressive to you because you ride him and you should be the one to listen. It's not necessarily his back - it could be a hock or a splint coming or sidebone or ulcers - it could be anything as yet undiagnosed. Could you pay for some thermal imaging? That's inexpensive at around £60. I use a holistic vet and they understand about behaviour and pain - it's very related.
Why not try a bute trial stick him on bute for 5 days and note any difference in temperament.
 
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aregona said:
i was given a new horse in november as she had become too agressive to handle (reared and kicked my farrier in the head with her front feet on day 2 of being with me). I tracked down her owner from the previous home and they said she was always a very loving mare, typical red head but never aggressive, so i knew it was 'man made'.

Basically the long and short of it was PAIN. i got the saddler out to check her saddle and sure enough, too tight. but the length of time she had been ridden (upto 4 hours a day for a year) had caused huge muscle problems in the wither area, shoulders, neck and quarters.
The pain wasnt the end of it though, she had been 'told off' for her bad behavour so she then had boundry and trust issues, no one was listening too her so she had no option but to lash out.

She still throws her head around when i tack her up but doesnt bite anymore, no longer kicks out when putting a rug on, and is now a more loving horse.

My only advise would be listen to your horse, they dont just wake up in the morning and decide to turn aggresive, there is a reason as to why your horse is behaving as he is, pain is the first thing i thought, what happens if you go in with polo's? If you have someone in you area maybe try thermal imaging to see if there are any hot spots that are pain related? Good luck
Click to expand...

^^ Exactly this!
 
henryhorn said:
My husband got a real wallop of a kick on his thigh two days ago from a previously unagressive horse. We talked about why it had suddenly turned (he had been stroking him and attempted to clip on the leg strap which had come loose) and the only conclusion we came to was we had changed his field companions from his older brothers to two yearlings, and he'd been bossing them about. I think in his head for a moment he forgot who was the boss..
Click to expand...

My horse has always been extremely dominant and bossy towards other horses and me. Earlier this summer he kicked my daughter's new horse and so has been banished to the laminitic field for 2 months along with a couple of doddery old ponies that are beneath his dignity to associate with.

And since then, he has never been so nice to have around! Freed from the stresses of being dominant top dog in the field, forever on red alert, he has become gentle to handle, less spooky to ride, and almost (in comparison) quite loving. Other people have commented on how much nicer he is too, so I am not imagining it.

So is there a connection with the two new field companions? Although you feel it is just you and your sister, presumably the grooms at the yard are all doing things with him that he likes - morning feed, turn out, back in to hay net, all positive and fitting in with his normal routine - then you come along later to ride and he isn't so keen to play ball.

Can you find out if he is either being bullied by the new companions, or in turn has become top dog?
 
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