I have a 16 month old Miniature gelding named Koda. He is being boarded for the first time and has been there only 9 days so far. He shares a pasture with a 27 year old Shetland Pony gelding who is owned by the barn manager. The Shetland, Hammer, steals Koda's food and runs him around occasionally but generally they seem to tolerate each other. They exchange pinned ears and kicks but Koda steers clear of Hammer for the most part.
There is a noticeable change in Koda's behavior for the worst since he came to the ranch one week ago. He is acting liked a complete spoiled brat. He rears, bites, and is pushy while leading. I do not tolerate this and I am very stern with him - harsh voice, no shying away from him, slap on the shoulder, etc. I don't let him get away with things just because he's small and cute.
Could it be that he is "frustrated" at being suddenly moved to a new place with a mean pony that bosses him and steals his food? Is he taking it out on me? He was gelded in May and his behavior was steadily getting better, now he's a total brat all of a sudden and it's really annoying and embarrassing. Should I continue to just be stern with him and not put up with his foolishness, and hope he'll settle down to his new life soon?
(Side note - he is not all bad! This morning, though he did have some extreme bratty moments, he did load into his trailer with no refusal or fuss at all (lots of praise for that), and then while I was picking out one of his hooves, he unexpectedly just laid down on the ground, rolled over, and stood back up (no idea, lol). The other day, I gave him his breakfast and then I sat under a tree and read a book, when he was done he walked over to me, laid down, sprawled out, and napped beside me for an hour. I think he is just a bratty little yearling who has his moments.)
The picture is him sleeping beside me in the shade the other day.
There is a noticeable change in Koda's behavior for the worst since he came to the ranch one week ago. He is acting liked a complete spoiled brat. He rears, bites, and is pushy while leading. I do not tolerate this and I am very stern with him - harsh voice, no shying away from him, slap on the shoulder, etc. I don't let him get away with things just because he's small and cute.
Could it be that he is "frustrated" at being suddenly moved to a new place with a mean pony that bosses him and steals his food? Is he taking it out on me? He was gelded in May and his behavior was steadily getting better, now he's a total brat all of a sudden and it's really annoying and embarrassing. Should I continue to just be stern with him and not put up with his foolishness, and hope he'll settle down to his new life soon?
(Side note - he is not all bad! This morning, though he did have some extreme bratty moments, he did load into his trailer with no refusal or fuss at all (lots of praise for that), and then while I was picking out one of his hooves, he unexpectedly just laid down on the ground, rolled over, and stood back up (no idea, lol). The other day, I gave him his breakfast and then I sat under a tree and read a book, when he was done he walked over to me, laid down, sprawled out, and napped beside me for an hour. I think he is just a bratty little yearling who has his moments.)
The picture is him sleeping beside me in the shade the other day.