Working with a Horse that is a Bully

by Dianne Lehmann
Artisan Jewelry from SyZyGy

Before I get too far into this, let me say two things:

I am not an expert in the field of horses (boy is that an understatement). I am writing this from my minimal experience with horses.
In reality, I do not believe that there are any bullying horses. They are a prey animal, not a predator, and their psyches are completely molded by this. But sometimes their behavior can be perceived this way by the humans who work with them.

I've been really fortunate to work with a lot of very well trained and excellently mannered horses. Many of them are older (one mare in particular is an incredible 37 years old), but on occasion I have worked with geldings that were less than six years old. One was barely two and a half years old, the other just five (I'll call him the Fiver). It's the Fiver that most concerns me right now. The younger fellow has found a good home and is flourishing there.

Actually, the Fiver has a good home, but he came back for a time while his person was house/horse sitting and he is still there. He is a big, Bay fellow, with a really huge head. I suspect his brains are bigger than normal too and that is why he is such a problem for me … way too smart.

I think that any time you work with and within a herd of horses, at some point they are going to insert you into the framework of their herd. Horses seem to be all about relationships and they form hierarchies in order to keep peace within the herd … pecking orders. As a human, you have to be very observant to find what your place is in that order. Ideally, you should have a dominant position, above even the alpha horse, but that may not always be the case. Especially for me since my demeanor is somewhat gentler than might be good for me.

There are currently six horses (counting the " bully " ) in the herd with which I am working. There are also two stallions on the property in proximity to the herd, but they are kept apart from the herd and each other for obvious reasons. The herd consists of two geldings (an older Paint who is the alpha horse and the Fiver), two Paint mares, a Bay mare, and a Sorrel mare. I get along really well with all of them except for the Fiver.

Lately, I dread going out into the pasture to bring in one of the horses for grooming. The Fiver, who is really just desperate for attention and distraction, usually comes over to me immediately and accosts me in some way. He's young and he gets bored easily. He's bitten me pretty hard at least once (left a really good bruise and red marks from his teeth scraping my skin) and tries to bite me whenever he can. He will walk behind me and nudge me in the small of my back with his nose; pushing me along (I'm only 5'2 " tall and about 100 pounds). He makes me nervous and that is my problem. Horses have an excellent sense of your state of mind. Their survival in the wild depends on this talent. If one horse of the herd senses even the slightest inkling of danger, that horse's state of mind changes and the others pick up on it immediately. The whole herd then takes on a heightened state of alertness.

So, I've taken to distracting him with food before entering the pasture. As I said, he is a smart boy and horses generally learn anything associated with food very quickly. Heck, they actually learn everything quickly. It really only takes two repetitions of something for them to get it. That's why horse trainers will tell you that each and every time you work with a horse, you are training it. Doesn't matter if you are grooming it or mucking its stall; you are teaching it about how to relate to you. And that is the other part of my problem. The Fiver has learned that he can push me around and if he is bullyish with me, I will give him food. I've really messed up here. Eating is what horses most love to do. So he watches me and when he sees that I've finished grooming and am about to turn the horse out, he walks over to where I usually put a bit a hay to distract him during the turning out process. To any of you reading this, do not repeat my mistakes, please.

On two separate occasions, two other horses in the herd (the alpha Paint and the Bay mare) have rushed over to " save " me when the Fiver was getting in my face and wouldn't quit no matter what I did. Each time they ran him off and then stayed by me to keep him off. While it gives me a somewhat warm and fuzzy feeling to be protected by these other horses, I realize that if I am to ever to be able to work safely with all horses, I shall have to figure out how to handle myself and the Fiver at those times. I can't rely on the kindness of other horses for my well being.

I've read much on this topic of handling difficult horses and received some good advice from friends, but it all hinges on me and my attitude. Before I can take control of the Fiver, I shall have to take control of myself.

On each occasion when the Fiver was run off, I gained a small sense of confidence from the presence of the Paint and the Bay. Enough so that I calmed down and the Fiver sensing this allowed me to approach him and stood quietly while I gave him some of the attention that he craved. I was able to walk away when finished and he let me leave unmolested. If I can find that confidence on my own, I can be safe in his presence. Horses are huge compared to me, but they can be worked with safely. In my opinion, they really just all want to get along and have peaceful relationships with all members of their herd whether they are four-legged or two-legged.

The Fiver came back to the woman who owns the horses I work with. She had sold him when he was one year old and the people who took him had him for four years. They said he had become dangerous and they would have him put down if she did not take him back. I suspect they were just having confidence or other emotional issues of their own that they needed to work through … like me. There is a saying that there are no bad horses, only bad riders. I believe this is true.

So my work for this next week is to not be afraid. To have confidence that I can handle the Fiver. To take charge of myself and him. To take my place is this herd (whatever that might be) and make my way in it. Much like life in general, don't you think?

Article submitted Tuesday, August 18, 2009 & read 822 times.

Leave your comments through My Pet Tale:

» left by Lorrie Davids⁽⁶⁶³⁾ (2 years 173 days ago.)

Good article, Dianne. I never thought about horses having an 'alpha' or even the possibility of prey or prey driven. I learned from you. You can handle the Fiver. I have confidence in you!
Respond to this comment

» left by Dianne Lehmann from Dewey, AZ (2 years 173 days ago.)

Hi Lorrie.

They are very gentle creatures for the most part and their primary defense is their speed. They run away whenever they can. Just Monday as I was walking the big Paint gelding back to the barn after riding him (I was walking beside him), he spooked at something (I have no idea what) and tried to take off. It took some doing, but I got him calmed down and back in his stall. I wish the Fiver were as well mannered and trusting of me as he is.

Thanks for the vote of confidence and thanks for reading and commenting.

Best regards, Dianne

Respond to this comment

13-1-0-0-3-ADSO

Most Recent