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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Dec 2010 : 12:40:58 PM
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I need some ideas please about how to deal with Mush's field mate who is a real bully. Normally I wave him off with a lunge whip but today that stopped working and he was coming for me and then lashed out when I waved the whip. As he's a big 17hh+ boy who's bargy and not scared of anything it's pretty scary and he's stopping me getting my horse out of the field as he runs rings around Mush and then lashes out with all four hooves at me.
Any ideas about what I can do to keep him away??? The only option at the moment is to only ever get Mush out when either field mate is in his stable, or when YO is around (which is difficult to time right). I obviously don't want to be completely dependent on YO's whereabouts and I don't like not having access to my horse at all times.
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West Sussex |
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Pashon2001
Platinum Member
3575 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2010 : 1:18:53 PM
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Personally I wouldnt wave the whip, I would hit him with it...........he has no respect for your personal space at all. Where is his owner, can you speak to them?? I presume there is no other paddock mush can go into?? Or the bully for that matter.
Is it possible to tie the monster up whilst you get Mush out?
Please be careful, any horse can seriously hurt you and an ignorant 17hh lump can cause a lot of damage to you or Mush.
I understand that he doesnt want you to take his friend away but there is no excuse for his ignorant behaviour. |
     
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Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2010 : 1:39:39 PM
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Is it just the two of them out together or are there other horses too and he's trying to keep his whole herd together?
I personally don't like just two horses together. If it is only two then I'd think about introducing another companion; although this will be very difficult with a dominant horse in a pair-bond.
Sorry, no real suggestions from me but do be careful that you don't get hurt.
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud)
aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips"
     
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South-East Essex |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2010 : 5:11:41 PM
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| Don't turn them out together, how long will it be before you or your horse are badly injured? There is a fine line between dominant and dangerous! |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2010 : 5:58:42 PM
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Does this horse respect electric fencing? If he does you could make a little corral and let either him or your horse into it, then you can safely catch your horse either in the corral or field.
Obviously it will only work if they respect the fencing - and I would make it with the 5 ft poles!!
Your YO has a duty of care towards you and your horse and really should not allow this to be happening. |
    
Hampshire |
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 27 Dec 2010 : 6:19:55 PM
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I dont think you or Mush should have to put up with that behaviour. I would ask YO to separate them asap. It is a ridiculous situation that you dont feel safe going in the field without a lunge whip. If the horse is that unsafe then it shouldnt be at a livery yard.
Sorry if I sound judgemental but all horses can cause injury. A 17hh horse with no manners is just dangerous and a timebomb waiting to explode. I wouldnt go anywhere near him if I were you. Your safety (and Mush's) has to come first.
So sorry that you have been put in that situation and hope that you can get a resolution soon.
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 10:36:11 AM
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| I have pretty much always had this problem as Spider is bottom of the pecking order. You just have to outsmart bully horse. Currently I am tricking Haflinger to stand behind the gate whilst Spider whips through it. Its a jungle out there. I dont think you can really blame the owners though especially if the horse is young, they are just behaving like horses. Its still annoying when yours is perfectly well behaved and co operative isnt it? |
   
West Sussex |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 2:02:47 PM
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Hmm, it's YO's horse so a bit 'political'. We've tried having three horses in the field, makes no difference. I can't separate them as all horses on the yard are paired up in their respective fields and that would leave Mush on his own which is not good.
Vera I like your idea, not sure YO would agree to building something though.
Will need to have another conversation with YO. She wants me working Mush more - which I want too - but hard to do when I can't even get him out of the field.
J - The question is how to outsmart Ed? He doesn't even let me anywhere near Mush so I can't trap him behind the gate (have tried that)... |
West Sussex |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 2:43:01 PM
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Such a pain having a horse like that around, my pals horse horse, same age as Ali, either chased him away or let him get to the gate and then kept mounting him....which Ali did not like. Got into a routine where Ali shot out of gate quickly so that I could keep the blighter in...
Got into quite a routine, not one that I would liked to have started but needs must! When he was very naughty I gave him a bucket of feed. Spose some would not be happy with that.
He is now fine with Ali coming out whenever, I call, they both come cantering over but Mica stops now a few yards from gate. Lucky for me!
Good luck ... very frustrating for you!
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 5:04:52 PM
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I'm with Saddlebred on this one Shah. Policical or not, would your YO rather try to sort something out or risk you or Mush being seriously hurt? A friend of mine is recovering from a lacerated liver as the result of a kick from one of her own horses 'guarding' the gate. Hope you manage to get something sorted out soon, please be careful  |
      
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2010 : 6:04:32 PM
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Oh dear. That is a bit tricky.
I am with Pashon on this one. I think if I would speak to the YO about potentially giving Ed a feed on the fence so that you dont have to go in the field, when you get yours out of the field. Just some hifi with a carrots in it or something as a distraction technique. I wouldnt normally want to reward bad behaviour but maybe he will associate you taking Mush out as a good thing then?
Whips and brute force wont work with a horse that big. He will have already realised you are no match for him and I do wonder as I have posted previously whether this big brute has affected your relationship with Mush. If you are stressed just trying to get Mush out the field then he will be picking that up before you even start trying to work with him.
I am sure YO wouldnt put up with that behaviour from your horse if it was the other way round. You would be given your marching orders quick sharp.
I really feel for you. It is clearly spoiling your time with your horse. I hope you can come up with a solution. Keep us updated.
Big hugs. |
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Dark Angel
Silver Member
England
285 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2010 : 10:38:58 PM
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When I was a kid I used to have an awful problem like this. One day I took a water pistol in the field and gave the bully pony a wet splash on the nose with it when he came to terrorise me and my pony. After one or two more catching sessions like this I only had to point my finger at him and he went on his own sweet way and never bothered me and my pony again.
You could always make like Rambo and arm yorself with one of those 'supersoaker' things  |
Hereford |
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Theo
Silver Member
England
368 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 10:26:29 AM
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or I could send you a bigger and uglier bully to whoop it's jacksie??? 
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Edited by - Theo on 31 Dec 2010 10:27:07 AM |
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 31 Dec 2010 : 6:21:22 PM
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| I like your style Theo. You are funny. I dont think any of your golden beauties are gonna be much of a match for this fella! |
Based Bewdley Worcs |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2011 : 2:42:48 PM
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| Water pistol sounds good, but I have to agree with Saddlebred you shouldnt have to risk yourself getting hurt just bringing your horse in, I think the owner should be there when you have to get Mush in, speak to her again and say your worried about it. |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2011 : 4:43:41 PM
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I absolutely love the suggestion of playing Rambo with a water pistol, what a great idea!! Trouble is I think it might just send Mush off in the wrong direction too...
Ed and I have finally come to a truce. As long as he's been ridden in the morning he doesn't want to come out again so will head the other direction when he sees a human. Also we've worked out that if they have a steady routine where they both come in/out on different times every day they are happy to leave each other without worrying too much. The problem now only seems to occur if Ed hasn't been ridden for a while and on those occasions I enlist the help of YO.
Might just have to go buy one of those water pistols though, I would love to see Ed's face... Mind you he's the one for water party tricks, he will take a mouthful of water and spit it out at you if you're near him when he drinks...   |
West Sussex |
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How to deal with field bully?
