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Attack horses!
Topic Started: Jan 28 2008, 09:02 AM (389 Views)
Trialbyfire
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So I posted a while back that my dogs approached some kid riders who were on the road in front of my house....they were still on our property but the riders were nervous. I've had mixed feelings about the incident...feeling guilty that my dogs barked at riders but then feeling as though it's not really their fault, and they never left the property.... <_<

Then yesterday two kids went by on their horses and were walking them on the road in front of our house/farm (maybe they knew my dogs might be out?) I was glad the dogs were inside, so I didn't have to feel guilty again.

Until.....my three horses charged the fence and caused quite a frenzy! The gelding was in the lead so maybe he was just trying to protect his herd....of course the mares followed. The poor kids (teenagers) had their hands full because naturally their horses were concerned. Of course my guys were all enclosed, but still, a 30 year old gelding bucking and kafarting around does cause some attention.

Now....we get maybe 10-15 riders a year going by, so not many at all. I guess not enough that it's still an exciting event. I've never seen them act this way (usually they are interested but the bucking was really unusual!) but maybe because it's winter and we haven't seen any other horses in months?

Anyway....feeling a little guilty again. <_< Not sure there's anything I can really do about it though... :huh:
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Renn/aissance
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Don't feel guilty. You are helping the kids to bombproof their horses! If they are going to hack out, then they are going to meet spooky things, and their horses have to learn to deal with it some way or another.

I've been out on enough greenies that have spooked and shied when rushed by dogs, when horses gallop past, when branches fall, when we meet a controlled garbage fire, to know that in the end it's good for them. :yes:
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Witchy
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I live out in the country and I meet plenty of charging/barking dogs and horses who run up and down their fencelines when I pass. It's just part of riding on the roads. My horses are used to it and don't bat an eyelash. Although when the donkey lived down the road from us, I avoided that route. I made the mistake of riding past there once and he charged us braying like a maniac and proceeded to follow us for the entire length of his field braying the whole time. My poor OTTB nearly lost her mind and almost lost me with his initial charge.
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OTF
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Witchy, forgive my chuckle here.

Donkeys are very curious; if that donkey's all by himself, he's probably lonely, and this is a big event in his day (yeah, I know, like you care! :lol: ) Look at it from the donkey's point of view. Here's a BIG distant relative walking along MY fenceline and I'd better sound the alarm because it MIGHT come into MY pasture. Donkeys can upset horses. They take some getting used to, probably because they smell different and they make a "strange" noise and they're moving at speed (well, sort of... :P ) in your horse's direction.

If you try this route again, stop before you get to the edge of that pasture. The donkey will, of course, charge over to that spot, braying all the way. Then he will probably stop and stare. Let your mare stop, stare back and get an eyeful for as long as she wants. Move forward a few feet, then stop until she settles down again. The donkey will probably follow along with you as well, just to keep track of where you are. May or may not keep braying (I think he'll stop). Keep moving along a bit and stopping, letting your horse settle down each time. If you approach this from a training standpoint, I think you'll desensitize your mare to something new.

I face the same thing when I walk a donkey down the road to where the EVIL GOAT lives. I stop and let them stare at each other for a few moments, as long as it takes. I praise the donkey when he walks a bit closer (even with a little scurry to get by the evil goat quickly). Then we do the same thing on the way back. Each time we go by, they're allowed to stand and look as long as they want until it's no longer frightening.
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Trialbyfire
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Well, I definitely feel better....my horses weren't as bad as a rogue donkey! Although makes me even want one MORE....to scare away any other weirdos or otherwise unsavory folks walking on the road!

Which does remind me that horses make excellent watchdogs. If I hear strange noises I always look at the horses first. If they are unconcerned, I ususally don't keep checking. They don't miss a trick!
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Witchy
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OTF, It was pretty funny, afterward. Fortunately for me the donkey is no longer in residence, so I don't have to deal with him. I was expecting him to come running to see me, but I wasn't expecting the sound effects that went along with him. He was a stallion who used to live with his two half pony daughters, who I suppose were sterile, and a huge herd of Black Angus cows, so he had plenty of company. He was acting pretty agressive, so perhaps he was protecting his herd, which I hear donkeys are very good at.
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