Nervous.. Could this lead into getting hurt?

[jessica]

Hi i have a problem.... I have been boarding at a private stable for about 3 months now, and i have a problem. When i go out to catch my horse in the field, there is only 1 other horse with him in the field also. When i go and catch him, the other horse always trys to run me over, or nip at me, or is very pushy.. or when i try to bring my horse out of the gate, the other horse trys to escape.. Please help.. It has really been bugging me and i don't want to get my self hurt for in the future, if this horse becomes more agressive with me.. it is not my horse who is behaving like this towards me, it is his field buddy.. I have no problem with my boy... and he doesn't ever do this. Only the other horse that is with him in the field. Please help. Am I doing somethin wrong?? please help
Jessica

[Kozalyn]

My horse in a field with a horse just like that. What I do is when I goto get him I flick a lead shank at her when she comes up to me. Make sure you ask the owner of the other horse about this first. Don't hit the other horse with the lead shank just fick it in his direction enough to shoo him away. I don't know if this will help or not but its worth a try.

[Gracie]

This happens all the time with my horse too! Maybe if you just give the other horse hay or a treat to keep him occupied! Or maybe ask for help from someone at the stable! It's certainly better to be safe then sorry! IF someone else holds the horse will you get yours that can be very helpful! Or maybe see if they can add another buddy to your horses turnout! That way the other horse will be occupied by the third horse!
Good Luck!

[Outrider]

I don't know about giving treats to other peoples horses. I wouldn't want others to give mine anything I didn't know about. If there is an extra halter handy or perhaps they hang the halters on the fence of the ones who are turned out, halter the offending horse and tie him up away from the gate. Then get your horse out, and go and release the knothead. This may take a little extra time, but it will be safer. The lead rope idea is good too, but he may ignore it if you never connect with him. You might try carrying a long stock whip to and pop it in the air at him.

[Flo]

Hi Jessica

Have you asked the other horses owner for advice? You need to know if he's been like this before since if he can get nasty you need to know (someone didn't warn me once and I still have a few small scars from literally crawling through a hedge backwards). It may just be that you need to assert a bit of authority on him - by barging him back, shouting at him and making yourself look big and scarey etc whilst making it clear to your horse that its not him you're warning off. If all else fails, or if the owner warns you off, you probably need to tie the other horse up first or get someone else to come and help you.

I wouldn't suggest giving treats in the field - the last thing you want is for this horse to associate you with free grub.

[Cathy Reynolds]

Guinness bullies Benny near the electric fence exit but we are lucky and have a grass alleyway outside the field area leading to a gate. So, what I do is turn the electric off and take the fence back just a foot or two and Benny has learnt that if he sidles round Guinness's far side he can slide through the fence gap very, very quickly, whilst Guinness is trying to investigate my pockets. Benny then stands still as a rock by that main gate whilst I sort out the fence and Guinness. He (Benny) then gets a treat. I was at my wits end trying to sort out how to manage this but Benny actually showed me how to manage things.

Neither of them like being left behind though. At that may be your problem.

If it's really filthy I bring them both in together - that's a real treat and I get full cooperation and no hassle. You have to admit ponies aren't daft!

[Dizzy]

situation, when you and your horse eventually make it out does this horse settle down or is it anxious?

At one yard I was at there was about 20 horses and ponies all out together, when you have that many they sort of split into about 3 separate little herds. One or two of them (ponies not herds) used to create a bit of a problem, especially in winter when only one or two would come in for the night and the rest were foddered.

They obviously saw the human presence at that time of the day as 'food is arriving'. So there would be quite abit of pushing and shoving.

I used to carry a length of white plastic piping the sort electricians use, its quite narrow in diameter, but being white its easily seen. If some one was being a bit pushy I would give them a flash of the pipe, its not often I made contact but I did on some occasions, they must be taught to respect your 'space'.

If I was you I would chat to the other horses owner and find out what he is capable of, and maybe between you work out a way to get this horse to respect your 'space'. There's nothing more un-nerving than having a loose horse having a go at you. It would be much better as Gracie said if there was a 3rd horse in the field and then he wouldn't be left on his own, which is probably why he's trying to stop his friend from being taken away.

It can turn into a nasty situation, so carry something, be it a whip or whatever, but if his owner agrees could you not bring them in together and leave him in a box with some hay until you've done what you want to do and put them both out back together.

If not then you must make yourself into the 'top' horse', make your self big, arms out and lots of voice and don't let yourself be bullied, I know its difficult, good luck!!! and let us know how you come on.

Lesley

[jessica]

Hi, Well when i go to catch my horse, i have tried using a strong voice and say "quick" ect.. When i say that the other horse gets even more agressive.. I have tried pushing the other horse on it's chest to back away.. but it just puts it's head up high.. and put it's head near me like it's going to ite me. There are two horses in this field my horse and the other, they are very good friends.. but everytime i take him away, say in the barn.. the other horse wants my horse to come back. I have tried moving this horse with my hands and pushing him towards a box stall to get him out of the way, but he just comes back or fights... or if i try & make him run off further down the field they will get excited and both run!! There are 4 horses there, 2 in the other field also, so when i take my horse out, the other guy also has other buddies. Anytime i go to pet this horse i feel nervous.. It seems like he's gonna bite me.. I have been around horses's for tens years, and have been around all kinds, and ridden many, and been in shows ect. I guess that this is just a horse i don't have a strong feeling about. When ever i come to the stable, they both run to the gate... even when there eating, or i will take my horse out when they are eating, then the other will follow. No one else i know wants to hold this horse, becuase the are afriad.. but not really experienced either. So i don't really have any help unless the other owner is there. I've tried a lot of things to help. but nothin seems to be working at the moment. I would appreciate any other opinions or suggestions on my situation, and thank you all for the following tips above.
Jessica E

[jessica]

Sorry in my message before i went to say "QUIT", in the first sentence!:)

[Outrider]

It seems to me that the easiest soulution to your problem is what I mentioned in my previous post. Halter the offending horse and tie him to the fence a good distance from the gate, get your horse out and then untie the other guy. I really don't think he is trying to bite. He is just being pushy and thinks perhaps that you have a treat, which would cause him to stretch his neck towards you and/or try and lip or nibble at you. Happy Trails!

[jessica]

I did halter him, and he reared up, and broke the chain! Should i move Tonto?:S
Jessica E

[Outrider]

If the other horse reared when you tried to halter him, I would ask the barn manager to let you put your horse out with a different one and not this one, and I would inform the horse's owner of the rearing occurence. That could be dangerous for both you and your horse. If the barn manager refuses to let you pasture with a different horse, then find another barn. Voting with your pocketbook works wonders! Good luck with this! Keep us informed.

[jessica]

Okay, today i was out with my horse & I had brought a friend along. We went out in the field to catch Tonto, when the other horse(Tom) was pushing my friend around, and tried to jump up on her!! (like rear)she then walk away from he as he followed and trying to jump on her... as i was trying to lock the gate, he took a nip at my arm, but didn't bite down hard(like i could feel tom's teeth) i was then trying to get into the field to clean it out, but he wouldn't let me unlock the gate once i put my horse away. when i tried going near the gate he would put his head up high and try to bite, seriously.
Getting Worse, but i don't know the owner at all....she is much older than me. I think i will be moving Tonto.

[Outrider]

Its time and past time to get the barn owner involved in your situation. Have him or her talk to the owner of the offending horse and at the very least, tell the barn owner that you will not allow the other horse to be turned out with yours. You have a right to have a safe environment for both you and your horse, and the owner has a responsibility to provide that for you. Why should you have to go to the trouble of finding and moving to a new stables? The owner needs to handle this. If they refuse or don't do anything effectively, then move and encourage others there to do the same thing. Then maybe they will get an idea of their responsibility to their customers.

[Dizzy]

I totally agree with Outrider, this is becoming a dangerous situation, are the other owners having a similar problem? As Outrider says its the other horse that is a problem and it would be a shame if you had to move because of it.

Hope you get it sorted out soon, and in the mean time becareful!

[Groovn]

you said, it just your horse and another horse. Have you thought of maybe putting another horse in the pasture with him, or adding these two to another paddock. The other horse could be doing this because this is his way of saying he is lonely!

Just an idea!

[floppy]

In my case where i work in a training establishment most horses except being left alone in the field when their field buddies are taken out to be ridden. However there are some horses that simply dont like being left alone and so both horses have to be brought in (there are 2 horses to each paddock) and then after one horse has been ridden they are either both let back out into the paddock or both left in their stables. And the hor sei ride privately nearer to my home...if she has been out all morning with her companion and i want to ride her i have to bring her and her buddy in and then they stay in the yard for the rest of the afternoon. but i think its best that you talk with the other hroses owner to find a suitable solution for this problem:)!