Horse changed..i hate him?

Question

Ok. So i have been at this barn for longer than a year with my horse willie. well the people who owned it decided to close after 20 years of service. so my horse was perfectly settled and happy as could be (he had an abusive previous owner).

But we all were given a month to go somewhere else. we found a place and have been there for 6 days.

--- Willie has bitten me before and trust me, i dont put up with it. I am the boss, not him. But he has learned that i dont take that c**p, but as soon as we moved him he began bitting me, my dad, and everyone he can get his mouth on. Hes always been cranky but NEVER that aggressive. I'm not scared of him at all because i have been through a lot with him and other horses. But i am however afraid that he has lost hisrespect for me and other people. I hate his attitude toward me.

---heres my question: Do you think the attitude is jsut because we had to move him or is there something i have done to make him this way???

---thank you for answers

Answer 1

6 days and you hate him after all you've been through?

I'm glad you weren't my mother...

Geez, how about a bit of patience for this formerly abused horse with whom you've been through a lot?

I'm not saying let him get away with it, but try to look at the big picture.  

Abused horse gets new owner.  Is treated well and correctly and is taught respect.  

Suddenly he's dropped into a new environment, a new herd.  He doesn't see you as the constant in all this, he sees you as part of the herd.  It sounds like he's just doing normal herd behavior, trying to establish himself in the new herd's pecking order.  And testing you is part of it.  

You may have to go back to your initial solution you used successfully when you got him, whatever that was.  I think he'll settle and revert to the better behaved horse he was.

But I do hope the term "hate him" is just the result of your being pissed at him.  It's a pretty strong term usually reserved for wicked, evil things or tantrums.  (And we're all allowed a tantrum or two every now and then.)

Answer 2

Sounds like a pecking order issue, and you have to show him your dominance as he tests his new status.  I'm guessing that maybe he is out with a "herd" including unfamiliar horses?  If I am right, then he may need some time to adjust and find his place in the "herd".  I used to board at a place where 40 horses ran in a herd...every newcomer was put through the test, and many acted just like Willie while the pecking order was being established.  The good news, if this is the case, is that it all settles down within a few weeks and usually your old familiar buddy reappears.  Just keep letting him know that if he's looking for someone to dominate while the bullies are pushing him around in the herd, you're not the one to pick!!!!

Answer 3

I think he just needs time to settle in. If I may offer some advice on the aggressive behavior: try lunging and working him to help him reconnect to you and maybe if he starts to see that your still there, the boss, and in control he may start to relax. If may also help with the bitting.

Answer 4

Have you ever noticed that when you move a group of horse somewhere they have to re-sort their pecking order? He may be doing that or he may be scared and since he can't flee, he's fighting. He's 20 years old and he's definitely going to test you. Try taking him out to lunge him whenever he starts that behavior and make him move! Let him figure out that when he goes to bite you, you're going to move his feet around and be the boss of him! Just like lead horses do in a herd...Hope that helps!

Answer 5

he sounds super cranky

he's going to need extra time

and extra handling

also i know your experienced with horses but make sure he's healthy and fit cuz thats always a factor!

maybe he doesn't like the smell, feed, or some small thing like that lol horses can be picky

i'm really sorry this happend! maybe it's like when people or children move houses, and go to new school, we freak out at first, but once we are used to it, it's all good =)

Answer 6

You've just turned his entire life upside down - of course he's going to be cranky. He's upset and disoriented, he's lost his safe place where he knew all the sounds and smells and he's lost all his friends. He's on guard and defensive. Wouldn't you be ?

Give him time - keep your handling of him consistent and just let him settle in.

Answer 7

some horses take a while to adjust is he isn't acting like his old self in a month of two it might be the people who work there that are aggravating him, that was the case with my horse. after a few weeks he should be getting better not worse, if he is worse after a month  i would consider moving him.

Answer 8

Is he in a pasture with a lot of other horses? That may effect his attitide. New places can really freak some horses out. When we relocated my horse he galloped around the pasture non-stop for 2 days. I do understand where you are coming from, though. Disrespectful horses are no fun at all! my advice is try round-pinning him or any other basic training. Just reassure him that you are the boss no matter where he lives.

Answer 9

Give him a chance to settle in.  Six days is no time at all to a horse that doesn't understand why he has left his companions and the safety of his old home.  He is just feeling a little insecure at the moment and like most of us taking it out on the people closest to him.  Just keep as much to his normal routine as possible and be patient with him.  Despite his crankiness give him extra attention so that he sees that you still love him and make his new home as attractive to him as you can by putting treats and his usual stuff round his stable to make it more like home for him.  Please don't say you hate him, that really isn't fair to him as he is just confused and probably a bit scared.  He needs your love more than ever now.

Answer 10

Horses, like people, sometimes get nervous with change.  If Willie is used to being around the horses at the other barn, and just used to that atmosphere alltogether, this is a big change for him, and he could be stressed out from the move.  I wouldn't pick on him, but turn him out, do lots of longeing to get him used to the area, and give him some time.  He will settle in after awhile, and mellow out again.  I've had some horses who are the same no matter where I take them, and others that would be a wreck for a few weeks if I hauled them somewhere.  Be patient, your horse is still there.

Answer 11

I think sometimes stress will bring out previous bad habits in horses, especially one that has been previously abused.  I think that most of the time abused horses are more sensitive to change and become stressed with it, which manifests into a habit.  Some horses chew wood, some pace, some paw.  I knew one that would grab the bars of the stall and scrape his teeth up and down..awful noise!

I doubt it's anything you've done.  Just let him settle in and don't expect too much from him for the first month, or more if necessary.  A prior abuse case might need more time than a normal horse to settle in.  Be careful and don't let him get away with stuff, but don't go looking for ways for him to make the wrong move either.

Answer 12

It sounds like he is just lashing out because his routine and surroundings have changed.  The only thing I can think of would be to put him in a stall next to a horse from his old barn, if you can.

Well, here's something else I thought of, maybe you can exercise him more (either for a longer period or more frequently) so he can explore his new surroundings and familiarize himself with everything.

I little tender loving care won't hurt either.  A special treat of an extra handful of grain might ease his discomfort.

Answer 13

he may be getting bullied by the other horses? if so, he could feel like the whole world is out to get him like his abusive owner was before...

give him a while to settle in, he may change.

Answer 14

mabey he's not usto the surroundings and is confused and angry... donno... just a guess

Answer 15

He probably just needs some time to settle in. But dont hit him when he bits you. If you put your elbow on the rail by him and he goes for it and your talking to someone, DO NOT LOOK AT HIM and as soon as he gets close enough punch out your elbow hard to make him think that he hit it but just keep talking to the other person or keep whistling or singing or whatever your doing but just dont raise your hand and hit them becasue that will make them headshy!

Answer 16

I think he's just scared. Maybe his past trauma had something to do with moving barns. Give him some time, and don't give up on him. Get him a toy (like a Jolly Ball, available at most feed stores) to play with and bite. Just correct him everytime he tries to bite somebody. He should learn not to do it. You can also redirect him to his ball.

Also, you might want to put a plate on his stall, just so nobody gets hurt =]

Good luck!