BuckSkinBabe
Elementary Poster
Resident Tack Store Employee, ask me anything, I just might have the answer.
Posts: 65
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Post by BuckSkinBabe on Dec 21, 2005 5:08:31 GMT 1
I have posted before how my horse Buddy is somewhat aggressive at times. Well I finally figured out why. He is greedy of his food. When I bought him he was practically starved (although the pervious owner thought he was healthy  ). So of course now that he is strong and the dominate horse he make sure his food is protected. When he is eating don't even try to pet him for he will pin his ears bar and threaten to bite. (He has never actually bitten) He kicks at my mare once in a while when he eating because she is walking past. She is often afraid to come in the barn while he is eatting out of fear of being kicked. Usually when I feed him I just leave him alone, don't talk to him, don't pet him, don't bother him and he seems pretty happy. When he is done eatting he is usually pretty social. But I am wondering is there anything I can do to put his mind at ease that he is not going to get skinny again and that I am not going to take his food? I ask this because I don't want him to get so greedy that it will cause health problems in the future. |
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anon
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,014
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Post by anon on Dec 21, 2005 9:16:53 GMT 1
yes - thats it - behave like a subordinate member of the herd - and mind you NEVER fotget your place - otherwise he will chastise you with teeth and heels!
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Post by kas on Dec 21, 2005 9:59:19 GMT 1
An equine behaviourist advised me to first start by doing what you are doing, letting the horse relax at feedtime and leaving them alone. In my case what I found was that as time went on I was able to start to be around the horse while it was eating, then groom, pick feet etc. Just being a bit understanding and patience really.
Or, you can take the view that anon does that you constantly have to be on top of your horse, be the top horse in the herd and always impose what you want to do on him. Eventually you would be able to then also do what you want when he's eating. I'm sure both ways would work eventually, it's really down to which sits most comfortably with you.
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anon
Grand Prix Poster
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Post by anon on Dec 21, 2005 11:28:36 GMT 1
No - you dont constantly have to "be on top" and "impose" - you just accept that you ARE the herd leader - and not LET your horse boss YOU about.
You may - as herd leader - decide to leave your horse alone while he is eating.
You may - as hherd leader - decide to move your horse away from his food.
I have done both - with different horses - and with the same horse.
I dont "upset" my horses while they are eating - but yes - with all of them - I could eventually do things to them while they are eating - and they are not in the slightest bit worried. I use "kind" and not "domineering" methods - but always remembering that I *am* the herd leader, and not the horse!
I can give leadership tasks TO my horse - ie they can choose their hacks, and speed. But ultimately - say when there is danger around from vehicles etc - then *I* decide.
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Post by LisaM on Dec 21, 2005 11:45:49 GMT 1
do you feed from a bucket or the floor? I know it gets wasted when using the floor but if you spread his feed in a line along the floor you can build up what you do with him... i.e moving him, touching him etc as he can move when asked but not leave his feed totally as he would need to do if he was eating from a bucket...
The other thing you could try is holding the bucket whilst he eats?
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Post by mickeymoo on Dec 21, 2005 12:22:09 GMT 1
Don't mean to sound funny, so don't jump on me - but why do you want to pet him when he is eating? Try it at home - get someone to pat you while you are eating your dinner...
I leave Mick to eat his dinner in peace. I can be in the stable at the same time there is no problem - I muck out in the morning around him, but in the evening when I have more time, I let him enjoy his food.
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Post by LisaM on Dec 21, 2005 15:43:42 GMT 1
I get the impression that rather than petting him it's just a case of him hating having anyone equine or human too close.
I like to eat in peace as horses do but I had a horse like this once who hated anyone coming too close, even if all you wanted was to nip into his stable for the water bucket!
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Post by mickeymoo on Dec 21, 2005 16:00:24 GMT 1
The thing is you never know what has happened to them in the past - Buddy was starved - my friend had a horse that was like that and they found out it had been beaten every time someone entered the stable, so when my friend went in the horse defended itself.
Why are people so cruel? in answer to that one I think half of it is the lack of knowledge or wanting to find out.
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Post by kas on Dec 21, 2005 19:40:22 GMT 1
"yes - thats it - behave like a subordinate member of the herd - and mind you NEVER fotget your place - otherwise he will chastise you with teeth and heels!" What did you expect as a reply to that anon? Your next post was much more informative on where you're coming from, even if you did feel the need to SHOUT a lot  |
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BuckSkinBabe
Elementary Poster
Resident Tack Store Employee, ask me anything, I just might have the answer.
Posts: 65
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Post by BuckSkinBabe on Dec 21, 2005 22:16:58 GMT 1
No - you dont constantly have to "be on top" and "impose" - you just accept that you ARE the herd leader - and not LET your horse boss YOU about. You may - as herd leader - decide to leave your horse alone while he is eating. You may - as hherd leader - decide to move your horse away from his food. I have done both - with different horses - and with the same horse. I dont "upset" my horses while they are eating - but yes - with all of them - I could eventually do things to them while they are eating - and they are not in the slightest bit worried. I use "kind" and not "domineering" methods - but always remembering that I *am* the herd leader, and not the horse! I can give leadership tasks TO my horse - ie they can choose their hacks, and speed. But ultimately - say when there is danger around from vehicles etc - then *I* decide. I don't let him boss me around Anon, but I don't want him to start actually biting me either. This horse is a perfect gentleman in every other aspect, he just wants make sure no one gets his food. Besides didn't Kelly Marks herself say that a horse is a partner, not a thing on the opposite side you have to fight with. There is one thing I forgot to mention. His personality diffences between me and my mother. My mother likes to pet him and "bother" him while he is eating. Well I on the other hand, I, walk to his feed bucket, dump in the feed, walk away and let him eat it. Now when he is not eating, he is happy to see me, but puts his ears back immediately when my mother comes up to him. If he likes to be left alone when he eats and he is happier than be all means I will leave him alone, because he is a much easier horse to work with afterwards. I asked this question in the first place not because I am worried about my place in the herd for I know he respects me, I am worried about his mental well being first of all. To constantly think, "OMG, I have got to eat this fast so no one else gets it and I have to be nasty to everyone or they will take it from me", is not a good mentality for any creature to have. I will try holding on to the bucket while he eats out of it more often because he really likes that. I don't know why, but he likes when someone holds the bucket for him. I wil also try some clicker traning in conjuction with this. Thanks Lisa. |
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Post by KoLaTo on Dec 21, 2005 23:34:35 GMT 1
Buckskinbabe - I have similar feed issues with my little boy, previously he was in a mini herd situation for a couple of years so maybe this is where it comes from as he was bottom in the pecking order somewhat although always well fed. We have horrible faces pulled at us and back leg stamping in or out of the stable or even in the field with his hay and my mare. He hasn't changed a jot since I've had him, if anything he worsened when I got my mare even thou he lived with her previously in the same herd. We can enter the stable whilst he is eating and approach him and he is much better with my little girl who is his best friend but once that stable door is closed, woe betide anyone who dares to look at him or go past the stable! He will thrust his ears back and stamp and swish around! If I feed him outside and my mare walks past, he will swing round and raise his leg at her and in the field, he will kick out at her. Luckily she is so laid back, she couldn't give too hoots and just ignores him.
I have kinda got used to it now althou would love him to chill a little but as he is such a perfect little boy in all other ways then I can live with the faces and have found it easier just to shut the door and leave him in peace until he has finished. Incidentally he loves cuddles at all other times and will actively seek a scratch and a head cuddle from us!
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Lydia00
Olympic Poster
I have nothing to fear; and here my story ends. My troubles are all over, and I am at home.
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Post by Lydia00 on Dec 28, 2005 21:36:46 GMT 1
I have a smiliar issue with mine a though she isnt too bad. With her haynets she puts her ears back at me, but once she realises im not taking it away from her and simply just brushing her or mucking out aruond her, she's fine and just leaves me to it!
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). So of course now that he is strong and the dominate horse he make sure his food is protected. When he is eating don't even try to pet him for he will pin his ears bar and threaten to bite. (He has never actually bitten) He kicks at my mare once in a while when he eating because she is walking past. She is often afraid to come in the barn while he is eatting out of fear of being kicked. Usually when I feed him I just leave him alone, don't talk to him, don't pet him, don't bother him and he seems pretty happy. When he is done eatting he is usually pretty social. But I am wondering is there anything I can do to put his mind at ease that he is not going to get skinny again and that I am not going to take his food? I ask this because I don't want him to get so greedy that it will cause health problems in the future. 
