Dealing with a hog-headed horse

Do you know what happens to a dog at the pound that has food agression issues? Very rarely are these dogs given a second chance at life. Who wants to take the chance that a dog will turn on them, a child, or another pet over food? Most times, dogs like this are put down. They aren't taught because there are shelters full of non-food-agressive dogs just waiting for homes.



Now let's talk about horses. Who wants to take the chance that a horse, 1000lbs of teeth and hooves and muscle, will turn on someone because of food? I can't tell you how many times I have gotten horses in here for training that have had agression when it comes to their grain. Not just towards other horses, because to be honest, that is to be expected. No, these horses are agressive with people.



I recently got in a very large, very stubborn, and very spirited black gelding. He came with a warning. "Don't try to go into his pen with grain unless he is tied up. He will hurt you when it comes to food."



Honestly, every time I hear something like this, it just blows me away. Why in the world would you have an animal that you would allow to behave this way? Not to mention that if something were to happen to you he would more than likely be sold. What would happen when these new people, completely unaware of the problem, try to feed him and wind up in the hospital or worse?



We, as people, have a responsibility to the animals that we keep. It is our responsibility to teach them to be cooperative and functioning partners. I'm not talking about riding ( not yet anyways, lol) but simply saying that it is our duty to teach, to educate, animals on manners, basic ways of functioning in a safe and respectful manner.



I took the gelding home and put him in the round pen. The next day I went out, haltered him, and began to lead him. He was pushy and defiant on the lead, wanting to alternately drag me around or sulk behind me. I worked for awhile on keeping him at my shoulder. If you lead a horse while walking in front of him you could get trampled if that horse spooks. I was taught, and I believe, that the correct way to lead a horse is with his head at your shoulder, your hand under his chin on the lead, with your other hand holding the slack of the rope.



When he would try to push past me I would use my elbow of the arm that held the lead under his chin to push backwards on his chest. When he didn't get it and continued to push, I pulled him to a halt and then backed him several feet. Then we started again. Soon he was not trying to push past me, but instead, pouting and dragging his feet, wanting to walk behind me. I used the hand that was holding the slack to swing the end of the lead behind my, towards his hindquarters. I didn't do this hard, in a way to hit or scare him, but in an encouraging way, clicking my tongue and telling him to walk.



Soon he was leading at my shoulder. We spent a minute grooming and petting and then it was time for his grain. I went in the barn to get it and when I came out he was pacing in front of the gate, having heard the patter of grain dropping into his bucket. I set the bucket down and unlocked the gate. He immediately tried to push through. I backed him up and turned for the gate to reach through and get the bucket. He charged forward. I whirled and threw up my hand. "Back! Back!" I said, in a loud, firm voice.



He was startled. He backed to get away from the crazy yelling lady. But he still wanted that grain....so after a few steps back he charged forward with his ears laid back and his head cranked at a cocky level. This time I went forward to him and grabbed his halter beneath his chin. I backed him up, both very loudly and very quickly. I returned to the gate. He approached again, a little more cautious but with the same intent. He wanted that grain and he was willing to push me around to get it.

Remember that the grain was still outside of the gate at this point. I would not get the grain until he was standing, quietly, outside of my space. So, when he approached again I backed him again. And again. And, yet again.

I backed this horse a total of 11 times before I could bring the bucket into the round pen. As soon as I did, he charged forward. Out went the bucket and he backed up again. We did this 3 times. Finally I was able to bring the bucket in and set it down and take a step back, calling him forward as I am stepping backwards, giving him the "okay" to come and get it.

The next night I backed him 4 times. The following evening I backed him once. We haven't had a problem since. He finally understood that no matter how big of a fit he threw, he was not getting that grain until he was out of my space.

Once I taught him the Stand command, I parked him in the pen and brought the grain in and set the bucket down and turned and walked out of the pen before I released him from that command. He waited, somewhat impatiently :) for me to release him from the Stand.

Folks, this is only an example of how to correct the problem. Every horse is different. What works on one may not work with another. Ignoring the issue and allowing your horse to become or continue to be food aggressive is begging for an accident. Take the time to figure out what is going to work for you and your horse and then make it happen!

None of my horses are angels, they all have their quirks. However, none - and I mean NONE- of them display agressive behaviors around people. We have carefully taught each one what is expected from them when they are with us. You can't blame a horse that hasn't been taught the right way to behave.

Now, if only I could teach them to clean their own stalls....