The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

How to get a horse to stop chasing cows when at liberty?

17K views 47 replies 22 participants last post by  Elizabeth Bowers 
#1 ·
The only reason i'm asking this is because it's beginning to cost me on a regular basis now to keep fixing fence.
My father in law has a quarter pony type mare, she's very food aggressive, is about half wild, and has absolutely no regard if your working with another horse or not, she's just an all around jerk. :evil: She's been on our farm now for almost 3 years, and just recently she got a fascination with chasing our cows, to the point where they're exhausted and go through the fence.:-x I've tried throwing things at her, chasing her clear into the next pasture, catching her and tying her away for a while. And it seems nothing has sank in. No one fools with her on a regular basis, she's just a pasture pet, a really nasty one at that.:? I can't seem to find a way to get her to stop chasing the cows. I know they should be pastured separately but, all of our pastures are connected for the winter months, that way they have plenty of water sources to get to and shelter from the elements, and it makes it easier to feed everyone when there is more space. My grandmother in law said, that if she see the horse chasing the cows she's going to crack her with a whip :shock:(my thought is it'll make her run through the fence too with the cows). Would any one have any ideas to help? I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Thank you in advance!!! :)
I'm adding a pic so you have an idea of what she looks like...
Horse Mammal Vertebrate Pasture Colt
 
See less See more
1
#2 ·
She sounds like she needs a leader. Someone who can work with her constantly.

Another thing too if nothing works is to just separate the cows far enough that the horse can't get to them.

But I feel like this horse needs someone experienced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Elizabeth Bowers
#3 ·
It *could* be a lot of things. I am going to say my thoughts go first to boredom - you said yourself no one really does much with her, she isn't worked regularly, etc. Consistent work would give her somewhere to focus her energy and mind and a tired horse (mentally and physically) is much less likley to go looking for somewhere to burn off energy (ie cow chasing).
 
#4 ·
We have quarter horses, and they will also chase cattle if they get into the same pasture. They're bred to be "cowy" and we actually herd cattle when we ride them, so can't really blame them. I'm sure lots of other horses would do the same.

I don't think there's anything you can do about this other than keep them seperate. My horses are generally well-behaved around people, but we have to keep them in a different pasture. Lots of people around here have horses and cattle, and they keep them in different pastures.

Sorry, that's probably not what you want to hear.
 
#8 ·
Quick answer you don't. You can't be out there 24/7 to stop her as long as she is in with the cattle. And coming from a ranching background, anything that is endangering the revenue producing livestock is gone or locked up. Plain and simple. If she is running cows then in all likelihood she may kill a calf. So you guys need to sit down and talk it out. Decisions have to be made. It doesn't matter in the long run why she started this.
 
#9 ·
Saddlebag, it became my responsibility when i'm the only person reliable to keep fixing the stupid fence, and rounding up the cattle.
I agree with everyone, i do think she needs 1) consistent work 2) a good leader/owner 3) separated from the livestock.
She's gotten so wild to the point where you can hardly catch her now. I'll discuss it with them and see if i can pen her in the barn for now, until something can be done with her. It's beginning to get out of hand. She has even gotten aggressive towards people too, she isn't with me, but i've watched her with everyone else....i personally think she needs to go, she's mean to everything.
Thank you every one for your responses.
 
#11 ·
I don't care the issue (boredom, needs work etc.). If she cannot be separated and she won't be separated (for good) and is not going to be worked with, abd us lousy to be around (man or beast) why have her?

I tried putting a horse with cattle. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Better to keep them separate. No one needs a horse running cattle anymoe than you need a dog that runs cattle. There really is no difference.
 
#12 ·
If she's useless/unused and dangerous to man and beast, get rid of her. Sounds like she's causing a lot more grief than pleasure, better for her to be gone to a new home if you can find one looking for a challenge or put her down yourself for the cost of a bullet and a hole. I'm not a fan of meat-buyer or auctions myself because I'd worry too much about what an animal might suffer in another country's slaughter facility or some idiot's backyard, but it's a valid option for many. If she was a nice horse just eating up hay, it would be one thing, and maybe she can become one for someone else, but it's not working out well for you or her where you're at now.
 
#13 ·
Breezy2011, she isn't alone, she has 2 pasture mates, and they don't chase the cattle!! I just chased her across pasture a little while ago, she was doing it again <UGH>. I couldn't catch her or she would be in the barn by now. (plus the ice on top of the snow makes an interesting challenge in itself :shock: )
Elana, i asked my in-law the same thing, the only reason he has her is because i have my 3. I've been trying to get him to get rid of her for nearly 2 years, no one around us wants her, because they've seen what she's like.
Sharpie, i agree, she's cost me nearly $1,000 in fencing alone this summer on into winter now. And now i have to wonder the woods in order to find my loose cattle, she's caused a real mess. I would love to spare the bullet....and i'm getting awful close to doing it myself. I think she'd make a good horse if someone would put the time and effort into her.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas. :)
 
#18 ·
So WHY does your father-in-law have this horse if he 1) does not do anything with her 2) does not pay you board for her 3) has not pitched in for any of these fence expenses that this horse is causing.

Even before reading the whole thread, my first suggestion was to sell the horse. Get rid of her. It's not worth your headache or your money. Especially when it's not clear why he even has this half-wild mean horse anyway. She isn't worth much in this market (a mean unbroke horse) but maybe you'd at least be able to give her away. Heck, she may just make a heck of a cow horse, if she's got that much cow in her to chase the cows around on her own.

My mother's horse hates cows. She will also go out of her way to chase them (never through fences though), if they ever get put in with them. And she is one hell of a cow horse. Best for sorting. She'll never let a cow (or calf) get by you.
 
#20 · (Edited)
beau159, I wish i could answer that question. He did this before when my husband was a kid, wouldn't go buy a car, but went to the auction and bought a 3yo stud for $300, turned out the stud got loose and bred the neighbors mare, and it couldn't be kept in a fence. His parents (husbands grandparents) made him sell it, eventually. He lives in some fantasy land, where he thinks the horse is perfect, and he's more worried about his house, girl friend and PS3 than the welfare of his horse or the cattle, i've brought it to his attention several times....i might as well talk to a wall. -_-
Ian McDonald, i agree she would....

As of this moment she is penned up in the barn with her barn buddy, until we can get all the fence put back up and sectioned off. :)
 
#21 ·
Send her to Ian for a few months....:twisted::shock:

He's just got to promise not to get bucked off and not to get hurt because we want to see more of him training horses!
 
#23 ·
LOL Elana, he's a looooonnnnggg ways away from me!!! idk how that would even be possible. Nice thought though! :)
Janna, you don't even know how tempting it is.....if i could make it happen i sure would....
 
#24 ·
What a pity. Sounds like the horse is just bored. I am with everyone else. She might make someone a great team penning horse if properly trained. If the land/pastures are yours, tell FIL horse has got to go. If the pastures/land is his that is another quandary.

Even if FIL lives in la la land, surely he will see that running the cows through the fence isn't good for cows, horses or humans. On the other hand - he could just be an idiot. Lots of those running around reproducing. ;-)
 
#25 ·
If the land/pastures are yours, tell FIL horse has got to go. If the pastures/land is his that is another quandary.

On the other hand - he could just be an idiot. Lots of those running around reproducing. ;-)
My FIL only owns 3 acres, we own 61 (64 total). I have, and i'll be telling him until he actually does something, or i don't want to hear it when i do, plain and simple.
And you hit he nail on the head there rotflmao ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: QOS
#26 ·
LOL yeah...sometimes the resulting griping, ******* and moaning makes you want to drop kick them for a field goal. :)

But in this case, repairing fences could make me break nails, rip my pantyhose, break a sweat....you get the idea. Not something I want to do so FIL would have to do something with this PITA horse - better yet, put the horse on his 3 acres and surround the 3 acres with a heavy duty fence. ;-)
 
#27 ·
QOS, Yeah that is pretty much what he does everytime i mention something, and yes i've thought about it on several occasions....LOL

I'm really starting to consider the idea, and then some. :) half tempted to put his horse in his basement :shock: (then maybe he'd get the idea)
 
  • Like
Reactions: QOS
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top