naughty baby

[dodib]

Ok question. I have a 4 1/2 month old colt. My first baby. He is doing well. He is leading good, doing well with his feet(has had two farrier visits) started being weaned 3 weeks ago had no issues no pacing the fence etc....He can be a brat at times--I am assuming all of them can at times?? He is starting to show some food aggression?? Or it could just be a baby tempertantrum--I WANT MY FOOD NOW!! Not sure but he kicked me yesterday. he has been kinda pushy at feed time and I would move him away and make him stay back before I would put his feed dish down. well yesterday he was especially pushy and I moved his away and he moved all the way around and kicked me!! I want to put an end to this now. any ideas. Starting this am I am locking him in his stall before even beginning feeding. which helped --but I want to make real sure to teach him he cannot act like that at all. I made him back away from the door of his stall before I put his dish in but he also put his ears back slightly ---
Any ideas for me

[beckyp]

I don't know if I would do this to him,but my daughter's 3 year old paint gelding started pawing the gate whenever we went to feed him,he even pawed her 9 year old daughter in back when she was trying to go between rails of gate,so I took a crop and tapped him on legs and said "NO!". He learned real quick no pawing. Someone else may have better idea with your baby.

[gbarmranch]

Put a halter on him prior to feed time - and don't let him go to his grain pan until YOU allow him to... This may involve some rearing, spinning, etc, so make sure you have a longer lead if possible, and let him be stupid...He doesn't get to eat until he is quiet and calm! Let him eat only on the lead line for several days until he is quiet and stays that way; then give small amounts of grain maybe a couple times a day, still using a halter and lead, and groom him or pet him at the same time (don't do this at first until he has learned some respcet - I have been bitten and kicked by not wainting long enough and trying to rush the training - wait until he stops showing agression when he is at the grain pan) - it may take a few days for his little brain to get the concept, so be prepared to stick it out!

A lot of horses act dumb at this age - just like a puppy, you must teach them to be respectful or the issue can become dangerous. Good Luck!!!

[ToveroMom]

That is a good idea Gbar.
I do hope you whcked the tar out of him when he kicked you.

[dodib]

I got a little smack in but I am sure he knew he was being bad cause he quickly ran out of the barn after he had done it. All I have to say is god has been really looking out for me. I had brain surgery in March--I had a lemon sized brain tumor removed(luckily benign) and that kick would have landed right on the spot where surgery had been but luckily I threw my arm up and got the blow in my forarm instead----I was really shaken thats why he only got a little smack. By the time I stopped it was too late for him to learn from it although I really wanted to beat him
About a week ago--completely my error -- i was putting our stud in a front pasture that is right next to where the colts mare is right now and got all twisted around trying to get the handle on the electric gate and ended up directly between him(the stud) and the mare--who were both right up at the fence on their sides!! He let out a little snort (talking to the mare) and I thought OMG what are you doing.................. thank god he is a very nice gentle stud but I could have been killed and literally got out of the fence and had to sit down my knees were shaking so bad!!!! DUMB DUMB DUMB

[ToveroMom]

Heck-be careful!
i was halfway kidding about the colt. BUT you betcha' I whack a horse for kicking. Usually at feed time i have a bucket so I will bounce that sucker off their behind.
I give one whap-that is all they need.
I am sure he is just feeling a bit froggy-but those younguns learn fast. They learn when they are corrected-and sadly they learn when you do not correct them.
sounds like you are doing just fine

[UnderSun&Moon]

I want to say how happy I am that you are ok after the baby and stallion incident. Glad you are doing so well after your surgery too.


I have a 2 1/2 month old filly that sounds a lot like yours. She managed to kick me once and only once at a month old. I just pretended I was head mare and took both my arms streched out toward her and shoved her as hard as I could. she is a huge filly and landed about 5 ft away but managed to stay upright. She was furious! she ran off and had herself a hissy fit while her momma watched but did not interfere. Since then she has not ever offered to kick me. When ever she turns her butt toward me in an agressive stance I quickly and but firmly give her a smack on the hip. when she turns facing me she gets pets and cuddles.

she's going to be a awesome horse someday. but she is def goiing to be a handful.

Sheila

[Craftylady]

My Icey filly Gytha is a brat, brat, brat!!! My second filly was born about a month after Gytha was born and the farm owner was ready to send Gytha home with me then! She paws, she rears up, she charges, she cowkicks . . . . the farm owner tried disciplining her by grabbing her mane and screaming like a stallion. He said Gytha just gave him this look like: you're not my daddy (stallion runs with the mares and foals), 40+ pissed off Icelandic mares were suddenly wanting to discuss why he was threatening a baby (Icey mares will fight to defend a baby, *any* baby), and the herd stallion came charging up wanting to know who was challenging him.

I have to say, when I've been with her, I just waller her to death and when she gets chargy or kicky, she gets hip-checked in the shoulder. So now she doesn't get chargy or kicky with me.