Aggressive Horse Charges Fence Line?

Question

I moved my mare a few weeks ago to a new barn. I have ridden her countless times in the outdoor arena, but only when the other horses are back from the pasture. Yesterday all the horses were still out in their paddlocks when I rode my horse. Sharing the fenceline of the outdoor arena is a black gaited gelding who is aggressive towards other horses so is separated. I rode past him at a walk and he did nothing just lifted his head and watched. Then when I began to jog he would pin his ears back, but nothing else (he was also about 7 yards away). Then out of nowhere I jog pass him again and he comes charging at the fence line with his ears back and teeth baring. Of course my horse wasn't going to stand there.

She bolted off towards the other directions, reared losted her balence a bit, I fell off, and she bolted to the other side of the arena. I calmed her down she stopped, and was literally shivering, she was terrified of this horse.

Answer 1

Work on your horse accepting he is there.  Lunge her down there, do ground work near him, and when riding by, give a few feet clearance by the rail.  Much better you teach your horse to accept things like that then to feed her fears.  My dobermans run the fenceline and bark when we ride.  By training right next to that, my horses have no fear of dogs running toward them on trail rides.  In fact, I can turn and chase them back depending on the aggression of the dog.  Carrying a whip and flicking it at the offending horse might help too.

Answer 2

soo wats ur question

Answer 3

There's another solution to this problem that hasn't been suggested.  How about stringing a hot wire around the agressive horse's stall.  This will keep him away from the fence and allow others to work their horses or turn them out in the arena without having to worry.

Of course the segregation will work, but the simple strip of electric fence tape and a car battery could work wonders...Then ride your mare past him!  HeHeHe

Answer 4

Talk to the BO...it could take a lifetime to get your horse to ignore this aggression...and might not be in your horse's best interest to be ignoring these instincts.  You want your horse to be smart when it comes to aggression from other horses, and your horse is smart enough to know that a fence isn't a guaranteed barrier to a charging, crazed and aggressive horse.  that horse doesn't belong next to a riding arena.  DUH!!!!! I've also seen horses run through electric wire dozens of times...it isn't a steel wall!

Answer 5

My Avatar is Hot But I'm Not already gave the most sensible answer.  This horse's aggression needs to be controlled before he hurts another horse or rider.  Otherwise, if someone gets hurt, I can smell a lawsuit.

Answer 6

Yes, tell the BO he needs to be locked up while people are using the arena if he's going to charge the fence, it's her responsibilty that no one gets hurt on her property.

Aggressive geldings can be really bad, she already knows that, so make her take care of it.

Answer 7

I suggest speaking with the barn owner.  Such a horse is dangerous to have on a fence line near other horses or where he can do what he did to you.  A responsible person needs to figure out why he's doing this and get him to stop it - or keep him confined away from others.

It's difficult to say why this horse acts this way.  It's possible that he was left a stallion long enough that his dominance instinct in very high.  Perhaps he's had bad experiences and thinks he's defending himself.  Or maybe he is just a nervous horse that doesn't like activity near him.

But definitely speak to the barn owner before someone gets hurt.