I am dissapointed

[champsmom]

I am really bummed. I have horses and minis but have been wanting a pony that I could ride. I found out through a friend that a friend of hers was looking for a home for a 20 year old pony that she has had for 2 years but who was previously a rescue from the humane society. We have been discussing this horse for a month now and she delivered him to me today. She told me that the only problem she had ever had from him was that he would pin his ears back when she fed him and that he tried to bite her when she first got him but she hollered at him and that was the end of him trying to bite her. I should state here that he was gelded when he was almost 20.

I was tickled pink when she brought him this morning. I put him in a stall and went in with him several times and petted him and hugged him. My mare are out in the pasture and have come to the back barn gate by his stall and they have been nosing each other. I took my camera out to take a picture of him and he lunged at me and grabbed my jacket and bra strap. Thank god he didn't get skin. I have been nipped and bit at times but never lunged at and grabbed that way. Well, now i am unerved. and kind of scared of him. Do you think its because he is in a strange place , the fact that he was gelded so late or what. How long should I give him to settle in? What to do. I am afraid to tell my husband cause he will make me have her come back and get him right away and I don't want to jump the gun. I called the woman I got him from and told her about it and she said he has never done that to her. She is a nice lady who is just having to find homes for a few of he horses because of a divorce. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[frostedpineminis]

that in my opinion is not a new owner or home thing, he is disrespectful of humans, he obviously was able to get away with things for too long, not that it is the previous owners fault, she may have gotten him to respect her but he is pushing you to see how far he can get, being that old I would be very cautious. Honestly myself i would get rid of him because he would be a danger, especially if you are feeding or anything by yourself or have kids or grandkids around, and I definately wouldnt trust him with the rest of the horses!!! hope that everything works out for you but please be careful!!!

 

[Dee]

If he was gelded late and never taught proper manners that could be why.

I know from show jumping some barns that show stallions and they are extremely strict with how the stallions and are only handled by experienced trainers. It shows cause the stallions can live a much more social life with people and other horses safely with proper training and boundries.

People just don't realize how different a gelding and stallion can act.

I'm not sure how to correct this cause I don't want you getting hurt, but hopefully someone can post some good tips.

 

[rockin r]

IMO, gelding a horse at 20 yr of age, is great to stop the unwanted foals every year. But, with that said, his "Mind Set" is not going to change. He was a stallion for many years. I don't really think it is a new owner thing either. Sounds like he IS an aggressive stallion, who is used to ruling the roost. I would give him some time to see if he settles. I would NOT turn my back on him ever! He has trust issues maybe? If you do decide to keep him for awhile, I do beleive that only ONE person should handle him at first, till you get to know his body language. Good Luck...

 

[Molly's Run Minis]

honestly, if he did that again i would give him back. but if you are dead set on keeping him then you will have to convince him that is NOT the leader here, you are. NEVER EVER EVER turn your back on him!! i had a 14hh riding pony who lunged with pinned ears whom i was unable to give back because the owner claimed he would kill him if i did and this is how i handled it(hopefully i dont get flamed for this): if he tries to do it again(which he most likely will since he succeded the first time) you will have to make him think that you are the big stud in the barn, not him. i did this by screaming at my pony, hands in the air, lunging at him like he did at me. if he bit me i would dicipline him by giving him a hard slap on the side, its no worse than the lead horse giving him a kick for challenging him which is what he's doing. I would NEVER EVER let kids near him because he is not safe. this issue is not to be taken lightly, because if allowed he could get MUCH worse. you need to nip this in the bud now or give him back before you or someone else gets seriously hurt.

 

[miniwhinny]

Gelding late has nothing to do with it. I have a 5 year old stallion who lives with his mare full time and he's never batted an eye at me. This is 100% disrespect. If he's already intimidated you - he's already won. Go put your kevlar bra on and show that little brat that you're barn boss NOT him....believe me - you'll both be happier. But be careful, this isn't coming from thin air - I'm laying bets that he's been allowed to get away with this for years.

 

[Reble]

He just arrived and maybe to many things going on.

Give him some time to know his surrounding and sounds to me he is scared.

He is not sure of you and when a horse starts to trust his attitude will change.

When you want to handle him, make sure he has a halter and lead on.

Try cross tying and just for the next few days groom, groom groom.

Than take little baby steps. Remember he has just arrived and needs more time.

When and if you need to go in his stall have a crop in your hand.

Hope some of things will help and Good Luck.

Keep us posted..

 

[Eagle]

I am sorry that you are in such a difficult position. I have had several very mean stallions and geldings in our Show jumping yard and I must admit they don't phase me. You just need to learn to live together. I don't think you will be able to teach him who is boss at this age but you will be able to teach him the rules. I am a firm believer in anything goes for an easy life so I learn to work around their behaviour and this seems to bore them and after a while they chill out but you can never trust them. That said I no nothing of your situation. I would not keep a horse like this anywhere near kids. All our big horses live in 24/7 so they are no threat to other horses other than when being ridden.

I also never let the grooms work with these horses so that means that I have to do everything.

One thing is working with a top competition horse that is worth a small fortune and another thing is having a hobby that is very hard work. Are you sure that he is the best horse in the world for you? Only you can decide. If you choose to keep him I would advice that you get help from someone who has experience with dangerous horses before you get hurt.

Good Luck

 

[Minimor]

Unfamiliar place, unfamiliar people--he surely feels some stress and is reacting to that by exhibiting some protective/aggressive behavior. Personally I wouldn't give up on him right away, but then I am not easily intimidated by a horse that shows this sort of aggression.

Sometime in his past he has learned that showing this sort of aggressive behavior will make people back off and leave him alone, and so he is trying it out on you. He may never try it again, or he may try it a few times now and then give it up once he's settled into his new home. For time being I would be careful when around him, never turn your back on him and if you do make sure you still keep one eye on him and be ready for him if he tries to come at you. I think he will be okay in just a little while.

Once I had a gelding (Morgan) that was fairly new to me. I think it was the first summer I had him. He'd been in a poor home before, left a stallion to age 3 or 4, definitely knew that he ruled his owner, who was afraid of him. he wasn't well fed or well cared for, he then went to another home where he wasn't fed at all, then I got him. This one day I went to get him off grass before he was ready to come in. I slipped a rope around his neck and tried to lead him in. He pulled away. I went up to him & went to put the rope around his neck again & he pinned his ears, opened his mouth and with a mean look in his eyes he came at me. I was so surprised I turned around and presented my back, head down, thinking that he wouldn't get as good a grip with his teeth there--I half expected to be struck and knocked down. Nope. As soon as I turned away he had won--he stopped, dropped his head & went back to grazing. Fine, you silly coot, I said to him--I went & got a halter and caught him properly and he was fine about being caught & led in. In all the years I had him he never, ever exhibited that kind of behavior again.

I also had a young stallion that had been with a trainer who was afraid of him. The first time I worked him after bringing him home the horse turned and lunged at me with his mouth wide open, teeth ready to grab me. His nose connected with my fist. It surprised him so much that someone stood up to him that he backed off, thought OH, bad plan! and then never, ever tried that again. He'd gotten away with it with the trainer, obviously, but he realized it wouldn't work on me so he gave it up.

 

[Bonny]

Sadly, it doesnt sound safe to me. Also he sure doesnt sound like a pony your going to feel safe to ride.

I recently read about a stallion charging people, and biting. Not once but several times. If you really want to try I would send him to a trainer equiped to deal with him if you dont feel you can handle him. If not, send him packing. He WILL try it again, and it could be so much worse.

I wouldnt turn my back on him for a second.

Best wishes.

 

[champsmom]

Well, for the rest of the afternoon he has pinned his ears back at me and when I reached for him he attempted to bite me. When my husband came home he was able to grasp his halter and pet him several time but as soon as he let go of the halter, the pony pinned his ears back and lunged at him. I called the woman I got him from and told her I just couldn't keep him. I have small grandchildren and I would just die if they were to get hurt. My husband didn't even trust him for me to get in the stall to feed and water him so he took him out on a lead rope. She is going to come get him in the morning. Apparently she tried to give him away before and for some reason they didn't keep him. I admit I am somewhat timid but I have a 16 1/2 hand mare that is the love of my life but she is 26 and I am not very flexible mounting her anymore. I also have a 20 year old thoughrobred mare that i used to ride but she is recovering from a hoof wound. I have had several other full size horses and have ridden for years and none have ever lunged at me like that. I have minis also and a stud that does not bite so Im afraid I just can't trust him. Thanks for all your comments.

 

[Molly's Run Minis]

Well, for the rest of the afternoon he has pinned his ears back at me and when I reached for him he attempted to bite me. When my husband came home he was able to grasp his halter and pet him several time but as soon as he let go of the halter, the pony pinned his ears back and lunged at him. I called the woman I got him from and told her I just couldn't keep him. I have small grandchildren and I would just die if they were to get hurt. My husband didn't even trust him for me to get in the stall to feed and water him so he took him out on a lead rope. She is going to come get him in the morning. Apparently she tried to give him away before and for some reason they didn't keep him. I admit I am somewhat timid but I have a 16 1/2 hand mare that is the love of my life but she is 26 and I am not very flexible mounting her anymore. I also have a 20 year old thoughrobred mare that i used to ride but she is recovering from a hoof wound. I have had several other full size horses and have ridden for years and none have ever lunged at me like that. I have minis also and a stud that does not bite so Im afraid I just can't trust him. Thanks for all your comments.

very good choice in my opinion. and i bet i can guess why the other people gave him back

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

I feel bad for the pony but I think you made the right decision for you.

I love all animals, but I do not tolerate that type of severe aggression from a horse. It's just too dangerous. You couldn't risk that type of behavior around children.

I know this has been distressing. Hugs for you and prayers for the pony.