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New Mini doesn't seem to like my son

3K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  Yogiwick 
#1 ·
Hi. I purchased a mini for my son, who is 3 1/2, about 3 weeks ago. I was told that he was great with kids and that he is "probably" around 10 years old (not sure how accurate the age is and I'm trying to figure out how I can go about estimating his age myself until the vet comes out). He is still a stud and I do plan to have him gelded in the next few weeks. I was told that he was really good with kids and as far as my 10 year old daughter goes, he is great. He is also really good with us. His ground manners are good, he ties just fine, and has no issues with his feet being picked up or being touched or groomed... He actually loves attention and follows me around like a dog. My issue with him is he obviously does not like my son very much at all. My son was leading him, with me walking on the other side of my son, and out of the clear blue turned around and bit him on the hand. It was not a nip either. This is the first mini I have ever owned or dealt with. I have owned many horses over the years but I have never had biting issues so this is new to me as well. As I stated, he is still a stud. He has his own paddock which is next to the pasture with my 3 other horses (2 geldings, one who wasn't gelded until he was almost 11, and a mare). One other thing that he did was pin his ears at my son and stomped his foot at him a couple of nights ago. I have only dealt with one Stallion prior to our mini which is the gelding that I have now that wasn't gelded until he was 11. He was great with my 2 girls (at that time they were 6 and 12) as a stud when I first bought him. They rode him, groomed him, led him around and he was just the greatest horse. The only way you could tell he was a stud was by the physical aspect. I know that all horses are different. What I'm wondering here is if this little guy just don't like small kids? Could him being a stud be playing a part in this? Will things be different once I geld him? I had planned to call and have the vet come out this week to do the procedure but due to my daughter having a car accident Sunday and us having to be transferred to a children's hospital a few hours away, financially I can't do this for 2 or 3 weeks along with her current condition and injuries (as well as the follow up appointments we have that require us to travel several hours away) it would be very hard to keep up with his well being and healing progress. I am the type of person who views my horses as family members so I always want what's best for them as well. We really like this little guy (we call him Buckshot) and I would hate to get rid of him but if it's inevitable that he will never like my son I really won't have any choice. My boy loves the horses but they are all just too big for him and even after being bit he still isn't afraid of his pony and loves him. It would probably upset him to lose his pony so any advice on the situation would be much appreciated and maybe if there are any ways I can help my son and Buckshot develop a friendship. I am more than willing to try anything that may help. And if there is any hope at all, I will be getting him gelded asap, in the next couple of weeks. Thanks in advance.

Angie
 
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#2 ·
I would not classify a 3.5 year old as as children but more of a toddler.
He may like children taht are bigger and capable of more control. Gelding him may help. It wouldn't surprise me that he wants to be the leader of something more his size and being a boy his stallion tendancies may be threatened. Dont know that part for sure but I know stallions can be dangerous when females are menstrating.
 
#3 ·
I would get him gelded ASAP. Remember, it will take a while for his horomones too cool down after gelding since he is so old. Make sure to always be with your kids when around him as well. He is small yes. But he is a stud and they are not like mares or geldings. They can be very dangerous. Also, your son is a meer toddler. A horse/pony/etc is not gonna respect him at all. They wont ever be "friends" and he will never "like" him or anyone else. Horses don't have that emotion or way of thinking. They are well behaved around those they respect. You're daughter being 10, is big enough and mature enough to make him mind her. And he probably senses that. While your son is not. You will deal with this with every horse and pony until he is mature enough and strong enough to make them mind. And at his age, he doesn't get that whole process. So just accompany him when he visits the mini, and you make the mini mind.
 
#4 ·
I should have been a bit more clear in a few things that I stated and I apologize for that. When I was purchasing the pony, I bought him from my farrier's son (and he has been my farrier for many years and is a family friend), so they knew the age of my son and the fact he is a toddler. As far as they knew, he was good with kids of all ages and felt he would be a suitable pony for my child. Otherwise I would have never purchased him and I honestly don't believe they would have sold him to me. I have owned horses the majority of my life (but they have all been geldings except for the mare I have now and the gelding I purchased as a stud) so I should have used the term respect rather than "like" and "friendship". :) That was bad wording on my part. I'm sorry about that.
I never allow my kids, except for my 16 year old, around any of the horses without me being outside to supervise them. I don't believe in a "bomb proof" horse by any means. What both of you have said makes a lot of sense... the size factor, my son not being big or strong enough to make the pony mind him, along with the fact my son doesn't understand these things either. I guess my thing is/was that I have seen many children my son's age and younger with ponies, leading, riding, grooming them, etc... and there were no problems?? When the pony bit him, I was right there but walking on the other side of my son. The pony was fine, I was watching him, and just out of the clear blue bit him on the hand. When he pinned his ears and stomped his foot, I was also right there. So when my son wants to walk him around should I more or less lead the pony and then allow my son to hold the rope on the other side of me? And how do these other people who have ponies for their young kids/toddlers get them to where they are safe for their children? I've just seen so many young kids who are out leading them around and grooming them and their parents not right there with them (not that I don't want to be right with my child, or have any desire not to be, but I'm basically curious I guess)? I've always done the horse thing on my own, I didn't own a horse when my girls were very young. When I was a kid and got my first horse I literally learned everything with very little guidance or supervision... I guess you could say I mostly learned by trial and error in the beginning (and there was A lot of errors). But with that being said, I don't intend on my kids learning the same way by no means. More or less stating that this in new for me. I will be having him gelded as quickly as possible, within the next 3 weeks at the most. That was at the top of the list when I purchased him because I do know some stallions can be unruly and hopefully it will help some. On his age, I'm really not sure that he is 10. I'm going to google how to estimate the age by their teeth and look at them this evening. One of my geldings just turned 11 and their teeth don't look the same in comparison?
churumbeque, I had been told the same about stallions being dangerous to menstruating females all of my life but personally I never had any problems with the horse that I bought as a stallion or the one I handled on a daily basis, for almost 2 years, at a barn I boarded at many years ago (and he was used solely for breeding). However, I never dismissed what I had been told and was always cautious. But in more recent years I have been told many times that it's a myth? I guess if you break it down, horses don’t menstruate and stallions don’t think of humans as mates, I could see it being false. But I am no expert and personally I'll always stick to being cautious either way. :) Again, thank you both for your replies, churumbeque and Larissa.
 
#5 ·
Hi. I purchased a mini for my son, who is 3 1/2, about 3 weeks ago. I was told that he was great with kids and that he is "probably" around 10 years old (not sure how accurate the age is and I'm trying to figure out how I can go about estimating his age myself until the vet comes out). He is still a stud.
I hate to say this but this is a bad situation that isn't going to get better. A miniature that has been a stud this long, will likely still keep most of his stud behaviors, not likely improving the situation you are in with your son. IF you are lucky with time, you might be able to see some changes with lots and lots of handling-but I wouldn't hold my breath in case it doesn't change enough. On a side note, it will likely cost you as much money to geld this guy, than it cost you to buy him in the first place.

I would be returning this little stud if its an option and would get yourself another miniature that is not a stud, and a bit older. A pony that has been confirmed that is good with kids because not all minis are.
 
#6 ·
Thank you My2Geldings. I can't say that I can return him but I don't think I would have much of a problem reselling him for what I paid. Granted I like the little guy but he isn't for me, or my 10 year old, and I need something that is suitable for my child. I don't want to spend the money on gelding him if it isn't going to help the situation. Imo, it would make more sense to sell, add the money I would spend to geld him and purchase a different one. I had my one horse gelded when he was older but he didn't have any behavioral issues to begin with so there wasn't much difference with him after the procedure other than lack of interest in mares (which he was still fairly well behaved around mares when he was intact too).
 
#7 ·
He is doing this because your son is probably the only person around that is smaller than him and he saw a chance to dominate the kid and he took it. Sounds like he is respectful of children that are bigger than he is. I would geld him as you are planning and micro manage that mini around your son until he learns that even little people are herd leaders too.
 
#8 ·
Please do whatever you feel is best for you and your son. Perhaps you should look into a POA. They are very nice from my experience and would take him longer to out grow it. Not to mention your 10 year old could hop on and straighten it out if needed for her little brother. I really like them honestly. I want another one, when I find one and can afford it. I have nothing but good things to say about these guys. I am sorry things didn't work with the mini and your little boy. You had good intentions.
 
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