Agressive horse please help!!!?

Question

I own a 6 y/o Quarter Horse gelding. He is a sweetheart almost all the time. He is great when he is being ridden even by little kids. He leads well and has nice ground manners when his halter is on. I love Zippy to pieces but there is just one problem.

Zippy attacks people when they go into his stall. He used to do this to me but when he did I would stand in his stall and give him a smack on the muzzel everytime he came at me until he finally realized I wasnt leaving and let me halter him. Well after 6 monthes and many trust building experiences he doesnt attack me anymore.

But he still attacks other people. He sent one of the trainers to the hopital she had to get a few stiches on her elbow. and he atacks 90% of the time when he has food. He is sooo into his food. He eats his grain like a monster. I am only with him 3 days a week. But the lesson kids use him when I'm not there. Please help any suggestions are welcome I'm desprate!!!

Answer 1

Horses are a flight or fight animal. He can't flee so he's fighting. If KIDS are dealing with him I would seriously reconsider that and I would also turn him out. Get him out of a stall.

If turning him out isn't an option, have you tried lungeing him? I would get someone to try to halter him in his stall so he gets aggresive and as soon as he does I would bring him out of the stall and lunge him for quite some time and get him sweaty. Make him switch directions a lot and make him move! Then, let him rest in the stall with the stranger. He'll start associating his stall with a happy, resting place hopefully and stop fighting. Good luck!

Answer 2

try tying him up in his stall when he does this

Answer 3

To begin with, I would make sure that no one attempts to enter his stall just before or during his feeding time...secondly, I would put some large rocks in his feed trough (too large for him to get into his mouth) and make sure that whoever feeds him pours the grain right on top of those rocks...it will sift down between the rocks and he have to slow down to eat, plus he will feel like he is getting more as well, it will keep him busier and satisfied for a longer time.  Does he do this to anyone while he is in a turn out pen, without food?  If not, after he eats, it might be a good thing to try and keep him turned out as much as possible.

Answer 4

Probably the only reason he acts up in the stall is food aggression. Since you are boarding there isn't alot you can do about it. The person that is feeding is going to have to work him through this problem.

Horses in nature have to compete for food so its instinctual. We go through this at one time or another with every horse we have, especially after running with the herd.  Usually we make them back up in the stall before they are given anything to eat. Eventually they get the idea that in order to be fed they have to give the person in the stall plenty of room. This is contrary to what their instinct says.... Good Luck

Answer 5

A horse does not attack or show aggression to the one (or ones) that they deem the alpha over them. He no longer bothers you because you've shown that you were in charge and in effect the "alpha mare" -- ie. you stood your ground, refused to back away and actually challenged him back.

All that aside, this behavior is very dangerous. It might have started out as food agression only but now seems to have escalated until he thinks he's in charge.

A horse that will continually challenge humans needs to have its outlook changed and changed fast. You might want to consider sending him outside to another trainer. One that knows how to deal with agressive horses. If not stopped now it will continue to worsen until he actually injures someone severely, at that point there's really only one option left and it's final.

Answer 6

Tips:

-Spend More Time with him and Move his feet(Keep lunging him)

-Everytime he lunges at someone, grab his halter and turn him in tiny tight circles

And give him love.

Hope it helps!

Answer 7

my only answer would be are yo feeding corn? i hear corn can make some horses mean. if so try finding a dif feed for him. that a new one on me. consult a pro trainer