The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Pasture aggressive horse is on the BO's bad side...

4K views 23 replies 10 participants last post by  Equilove 
#1 ·
So when I first brought Sav to the place I keep her (a friend's place with 4 other mares and one big pasture), my friend's 13 hand pony (who is a mean little snot) started tons of fights with her. Thing is, though, Savanna finished the fights. And now, every time she sees the pony, it seems like she pins her ears and tries to take a plug out of her. The pony starts it most of the time, but now my friend is getting angry at my horse and sent me kind of a mean email saying "I won't let my horses get chewed up" because the pony has a bite mark on her back (no broken skin, just raw). There's really no way to separate them because she is in the process of having the stalls built in the barn and there's one round bale for 5 horses to eat on all day, since the flooding has prevented the grass from growing. There's a smaller side field where she keeps the minis, but one mini is pregnant and will pick fights with the bigger horses, so if I put Sav over there and Gracie starts something, I'm afraid Sav will really hurt her. I'm just at a loss. My horse is a bully!
 
#2 ·
Find somewhere else to board. Your friend sounds like she's just about had it with your horse, and you're going to need to move her anyway. May as well do it before you lose the friendship.

I had a very horse aggressive gelding. It was MY responsibility to make sure he was at a place where he could have individual turnout. Since your horse is the one causing the problems, it's time for you to find a solution.
 
#3 ·
Find somewhere else to board. Your friend sounds like she's just about had it with your horse, and you're going to need to move her anyway. May as well do it before you lose the friendship.
Agreed.

I've found with barns if they won't seperate fighting horses, you need to take action by leaving before a horse (yours or someone elses) or yourself gets hurt. I'm lucky enough to have two horses, so most places will just keep them together which is really nice. It's hard when you only have one and almost every BO wants to put them with a herd. It sounds like your horse isn't overly aggressive, but became a little more hostile with another horse starting fights. Maybe if you move her and try her out in a herd where there is not so much of that, she'll be fine. Maybe not but you won't know until you try.

If you look at possible barns, tell them she might be aggressive with other horses...they will usually suggest sticking her with a large herd or putting her with a boss horse to kick her a** around a little - that always sends me running, but if you find a place that suggests a herd I would try it.
 
#6 ·
Thanks all. You know I hadn't even thought about it, and that is the most simple solution. I told my friend initially I could send her somewhere else until the stalls were built, and she said that was unnecessary. So she doesn't want me to move her, but I honestly don't want her horses (or mine!) getting scuffed or injured.

Let me give a bit of background: My friend Missy is close to 60 and has cancer. She cannot get out to be with her horses and take care of them like she wants. I've been friends with her since August of '10. I help her take care of her horses and in return she lets me keep my horse at her place for free. I'll voluntarily buy a round bale and a few bags of feed when I can sneak it in (she feels like I shouldn't have to do that). She is a very proud woman and extremely kind and giving, but she can also be rash and make impulsive decisions sometimes.

Me moving Savanna would be a good solution, but I would not be able to help Missy take care of her horses and work with Savanna like I need to simultaneously, since I am without a car at the moment. Even once I got my car, gas is so ridiculously high that it would just be unrealistic to visit both places regularly. Perhaps that is why I didn't automatically think of moving her to begin with. Maybe if I had given you the proper background information you would have seen that it would be difficult for me to do that. I appreciate it though, and understand completely how that would be a good solution!
 
#7 ·
Yes, that does make things a bit more complicated. :think:

Is there any way you can put up t-posts and string some hot wire to separate the existing pastures? That way, your mare can see the others but won't be able to get at them.
 
#8 ·
We have some extra hot wire, but not t-posts. Where do they sell those? Home Depot? TSC? She has some roundpen panels as well that would make a small roundpen, but then she would have no shelter. It has been storming awful bad lately.

And yes, very complicated indeed! Haha.
 
#9 ·
TSC and Lowe's both carry t-posts, as do most livestock cooperatives.

If you decide to go that route, don't forget caps for the t-posts. Horses are born looking for a way to commit suicide, and it's our duty to try and protect them from themselves! :-p
 
#12 ·
LOL! Of course! And since she'd be by herself, I could see her getting closer to the fence than she needs to be. She isn't herd sour from what I've experienced, but just to be safe... Thanks a lot. I didn't even think of Lowe's. It's right by Missy's place as well.

You can get them at TSC. A muzzle is something that's been suggested to me in the past.

ETA - Yes don't forget caps! :lol: My horses are extra suicidal and like to pull the caps off the t-posts.
I thought about a muzzle, since her aggression mostly entails biting. I never see her kick, although I've seen a wide hoofprint on Jessie's rump before. Will she be able to eat out of the round bale?
 
#14 ·
She could still eat, but like Always said will be on a diet. Speed has a good point too, it won't stop kicking.

Before Soda learned the fine art of double barrel kicking a muzzle could've taken care of his "issue", but it isn't a viable option now.

Actually come to think of it if you take away one defense mechanism (biting) the horse will more than likely start using a different one (kicking), so a muzzle probably won't help very much.
 
#22 ·
Actually I was thinking of that after I posted. I divided both my paddock and lean-to into two separate areas. Both horses have shelter and a run, it's actually worked really well for them.
I am going to try to take pictures of her setup. It might clarify how difficult it would be to do that, lol. If we separated it again, it would be separated into 3 different areas. We have half the barn and one pasture for the miniatures, and half the barn and the big pasture for the big mares.

Five horses on one round bale is asking for fights. Placing a second one as distant as possible is actually better for the horses as it keeps them moving back and forth. Often the stronger horses will keep the weaker one from the feed.
This is a great idea. I emailed Missy and suggested it to her. We shall see!
 
#23 ·
remember though, that although a muzzle can prevent biting, it makes it harder for a horse to each which can be a very bad thing if your animal doesn't hold its weight well, and although it eliminates the horse biting- it can still be bit by another horse (and have less of a way to protect itself) and it can still kick. Muzzles are only temporary solutions.

Its really sweet of you, Equilove- to be helping that lady out! I agree that hot wire might be a good, simple solution until you get stalls built. And really, if you need shelter (and I'm assuming that theres a shelter in the group pasture) you could use one or two of those roundpen pannels to section off a small part of the shelter for your mare, and use hot wire to divide the rest of the pasture.

I hope you find a solution!
 
#24 ·
Thank you! Yeah, I won't be doing the muzzle thing. I don't give her much grain and I let her eat the forage as she wishes (she's gained about 70-100lbs since I've had her, and she wasn't thin when I bought her, lol) which includes hay and grass.

If separating doesn't work, I think I'll just have to send her to a trainer or something (someone who will work her consistently) while the stalls are being built. Missy and I are supposed to be going out today or tomorrow and figuring out what will work best.

Also, I asked her about getting another round bale, and she said that unless we get another metal holder it won't work, and they can be pretty expensive. So, I'll be searching personally for one and might get it for her if I find a decent one that someone can deliver...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top