stallion attacking child

[Eagle]

As some of you now my little guy Eagle is a little angel, Hubby has even said that he thinks he is a bit stupid as he is just so good. He adores my youngest son and there is a photo of them on my site with Alberto cleaning his feet when he was only 2 years old. Well last year he got sick and lost loads of weight and since then he has been bad with the dog, I have to keep them apart as Eagle will attack her.

Today we were in the barn and Alberto ( now 3 years old) walked up to Eagle to give him a kiss and he shot from the back of the stall with his ears flat back and lunged with his teeth and grabbed Alby, luckily I was in the stall next door so I threw the shavings fork at the wall and he let go, I jumped the wall and Eagle lunged again getting him on the back.

What the Hel. is wrong with him????

We recently got a new stallion and I understand that his quiet life has been disrupted but to attack my son is just out of the question. He will not go for my eldest son who is 12 and very tall bc we tried and he is as good as gold with me. Alberto adores him (well he did) and he comes to the barn with me daily.

Can I do anything to stop this behaviour or make Eagle more relaxed? Would it be enough to get rid of the new stallion?

Please help if you can

Thanks in advance

Renee and Alby

 

[cassie]

Oh Renee you poor thing!! Is Alby ok? How odd of eagle!! I am hoping that eagle settles down so that Alby can love him again!!!

 

[Eagle]

He cried so much that he has now fallen asleep. He was so upset that Eagle doesn't love him any more. This is what he did:

 

[mrsj]

I have no idea but I don't let any kids (especially mine) near my stallion without a sturdy fence between them. You just never know with them, sometimes a smell will upset them, or just something different - I just posted about my recently gelded coat refusing to lead when I wore white trousers! So it is possible a new stallion around may make him feel threatened as herd leader and may make him want to assert himself.

This is not a criticism of you, I know you were there and obviously your boy until now has been a safe and reliable stallion. It is just what I do, had to explain this to the 3 girls next door, they do not even speak to me now after I explained he's a breeding animal, so not like the riding school ponies they are used to but they still try to feed my boys through the fence, I have had to tape off a bit of electric fence there so that there can be no contact as I don't want to be responsible for any nipping of fingers etc.

Without meaning to upset sometimes tumours in the brain can cause behaviour to change too (in other animals and people as well as horses).

I am sure someone more knowledgeable will help soon!

All the best,

maria

 

[cassie]

Maw the poor little kid!! You must have been so scared Renee!!! He must have been so scared! I will be very interested to hear what advice people give you on him... Hope Alby feels better soon!!

 

[mrsj]

Sorry, I meant to add I hope your little boy is ok, mine is 3 too and I totally sympathise. XXXX

 

[kaykay]

The predictable thing about stallions is they are un predictable. I never ever turn my back on any stallion no matter how sweet I think they are.

I think that we unfairly give human qualities to our horses because we love them so much. But we have to remember they are animals and stallions especially are mostly driven by two needs. Sex and food.

I never ever allow anyone to kiss horses on the nose (even a mare) because its a good way to lose a lip. It still shocks me how many people will come here and bend down to kiss a horse they have never met on the nose. I always stop them.

I hope you rocked his world pretty good as soon as it happened. But ultimately your son should never be in a stall alone with any horse. They are just to unpredictable.

I really dont think getting rid of one will make a difference.

For sure he did not want your son in HIS space. Make sure hes not food aggressive etc as that alone can lead to issues when people enter a horses stall that is food aggressive. They should always be trained to stand and face you when feeding.

Ultimately he is not going to respect such a small child as his herd leader so best to be sure hes not with him without you right there.

Im so sorry this happened to you!

 

[Eagle]

I understand about not leaving a stallion or any other horse alone with a child and I don't. Alby was outside his stall and Eagle wasn't eating. I was cleaning the stall next door and yes I did "have a little chat" with him after. They have been great friends since Alby was born and Alby can do things with him that I can't. for example, if I spray him he flinches and moves away when Alby does it he doesn't move a muscle, If he doesn't want to be caught and starts running around Alby can catch him. this is why it is so strange. The only thing I can think of is that Alby today didn't have a T shirt on and this might be the first time he has seen him like that! I got my older son to try and he didn't have a t shirt either but Eagle didn't do anything.

I am frightened of what my hubby will say when he gets home

 

[Jill]

I'm so sorry for what happened!

Stallions are my favorite and I adore my boys so much. However, stallions really can be unpredictable and we don't always understand why they do what they do. I do not allow children to interact with our stallions. I do not expect them to do anything wrong, but, I know that things can happen and very few of my horses are accustomed to small children in the first place.

Years ago, we had an experienced and knowledgable forum member have her lip bit off by a stallion. And I do not mean bit, I mean bit OFF. It was her stallion. You just need to use care especially with stallions and of course, be more strict with them in terms of manners. However, no matter how much you work with any horse, they are still first and foremost horses and all horses are unpredictable when they want to be.

 

[Sue_C.]

Sorry this happened to your son, and I hope it doesn't make him afraid of horses. I am another who will not allow "kisses" and hand feeding, I have seen what can happen in the worst case scenarios of both. Thank goodness the stallion got him in the back, and not the face. It could of been something as simple as your son had stepped into some manure left by a mare, or even worse, the other stallion. He might of patted another horse...who knows, they are very scent-related animals.

So many people do not take into consideration that a mini stallion, is still...ultimately...just that...a stallion. Not a toy, nor a cute little pet...but an animal controlled as already stated...by sex and food. I personally feel that kids and stallions do not mix well...a lot of folks get away with it, until, as in this case...it doesn't. That is why geldings are so great.

IMO, there is not need to be angry at the stallion...really, his punishment is a done-thing. I just hope your husband doesn't get angry at the stallion for acting out...the horse needs training, and proper handling, not anger.

 

[Songcatcher]

Very good advise given already. I hope your boy will be fine.

It is our tendency to treat our animals as the sweet, gentle toys they appear to be. A variety of factors can contribute to unexpected behavior. The new stallion MAY be a factor, and removing him MIGHT ease the problem, but after such an event, I would NEVER trust Eagle again to the extent you did before.

I am a bit old fashioned. I was raised on a farm (cattle) and was taught to NEVER trust a bull. We knew people who treated their bulls like pets, and also knew people who were seriously injured by their pet bulls.

I love my stallions. I have selected them in large part for their kind gentle nature. I have NEVER had a serious issue with any of my stallions, but I never FULLY trust them. They are stallions.

 

[Songcatcher]

I would like to say also, thanks for posting this as it serves as a reminder and MAY prevent someone else from being hurt.

 

[Eagle]

I hope you are NOT worried that I or my husband would "hurt" my stallion?? I have been around horses all my life and worked with them full time before I was married so I am quite aware of the dangers of horses. I have children and that I can't change, I also can't change that they come with me daily to the barn whilst they are on holiday. My son doesn't "play with a toy" he is very attached to Eagle but he already knows the rules. I am not stupid nor are my children. My son walked into the barn and Eagle attacked him. Eagle has seen him since he was born and until today has looked for him. If my son is outside the field Eagle will stand by the gate and wait for him to come with the head collar to take him for a grooming. I am always with my son and I am very protective of my horses, no other children are aloud and I never invite my kids friends. These are breeding horses and not kids ponies.

What I was asking is why has he changed? I wasn't expecting people to attack or criticize me as a mother or a horse owner.

I shouldn't have posted it publicly I am just too upset today for this.

Getting off now.

 

[Eagle]

Very good advise given already. I hope your boy will be fine.

It is our tendency to treat our animals as the sweet, gentle toys they appear to be. A variety of factors can contribute to unexpected behavior. The new stallion MAY be a factor, and removing him MIGHT ease the problem, but after such an event, I would NEVER trust Eagle again to the extent you did before.

I am a bit old fashioned. I was raised on a farm (cattle) and was taught to NEVER trust a bull. We knew people who treated their bulls like pets, and also knew people who were seriously injured by their pet bulls.

I love my stallions. I have selected them in large part for their kind gentle nature. I have NEVER had a serious issue with any of my stallions, but I never FULLY trust them. They are stallions.

I totally agree. Thank you

 

[mrsj]

Hi

Sorry I did not mean to upset you as you are upset anyway. I just meant reasons are many - could be your son looked different and that was it.

I hope he is ok and can still enjoy horses.

I hope you don't feel too bad.

XXX

 

[kaykay]

Eagle I did not in anyway mean to upset you and I do not think anyone else did either. This is probably just so fresh for you that any kind of advise comes off hurtful.

No one can answer why he changed as none of us where there or saw it. It could be so many different things. Sometimes we just never know why they do what they do.

And I do think its a good post to remind all of us to always use caution around animals but especially stallions.

 

[Eagle]

Kay, I have the kids on holiday until the 12th of September

This is going to be so hard!

I don't want Eagle upset and I was really hoping that someone could give me the magic answer to make him happy again.

I think I know myself what I need to do. Until this year he lived in the herd with the girls so he was happy and relaxed, then I read on hear that he shouldn't be with them with their babies all the time so I took him out, I put him in the field with my yearling colt which was fine until the mares came in heat then it got dangerous as they started to fight so now he is alone. If that wasn't enough I got a new stallion so they go out half a day each and I guess he can hear the new guy "at it" with the mares as he is very vocal.

I stopped using Eagle as he nearly always always reproduces sorrel pinto's which is the only colour that I don't like, but because he is 12 years old and always so good with my son I would never sell him on.

I think I will just get rid of the new stallion and put him back with the girls.

 

[Chelley]

I appreciate so much that you posted this. I hope your little one is doing well and not too traumatized...I am sure it was very scary for him. I have the sweetest little stallion that I love-he is my favorite of my horses. I also have a 6-year-old little girl. I always tell her to not go in with them (any of our horses) ever alone. However, sometimes she is out there with my 14-year-old daughter "helping" with chores. Although I tell them to never turn their backs on any of them, and especially on our little stud, and to never fully "trust" them, I would never have pictured this kind of possible behavior from him. Scary thought and just emphasized to me again the need for caution. I too would never expect my stallion to act in this way, but this proves that no matter how sweet we think they are, unpredictable things can and do happen. So again, thanks so much for the warning, especially for us newbies who can always use good advice and reminders in handling our horses, and very sorry that your little man was hurt-sounds like his little heart as much as his back.

 

[happy appy]

My only advice would be to geld him if you aren't using him for Stud anymore. That way you can keep him and your son can still play with him. Sorry that it happened.

 

[valshingle]

I have no idea what happened to cause Eagle to attack your son. I imagine it has to do with his breeding drive. So, it's hard to say how to prevent it in the future, except to physically keep your son from interacting with Eagle in a way in which he might get hurt.

You said that you aren't breeding Eagle anymore - have you considered gelding him? You may have already discussed this on another thread, and if so I apologize for bringing it up again.

I think the other posters were just using this as a cautionary tale of what can happen whenever people and animals interact.

As long as the skin isn't broken, I have found that Traumeel (aka Traumed) works very well on this sort of injury. It can be found in most organic/health stores. It really eases the pain.

Good luck!