Training Tips

QUESTION: Hi, I am working with a coming two-year-old filly and she is aggressive at dinner time. I read your response to the other person there that had problems at feeding time. This horse that I've got is very nice when you go to give her feed: ears forward, not crowding. But after you leave the food and she begins eating, if you come back, she'll lay her ears back and either bite at you, turn her rear to you, or even rear at you. I am not sure if the same method applies here. I have been doing it for the past four nights and haven't seen much of an improvement. Is there something else or do I just keep at it? Thank you.

REPLY: Your youngster probably was accustomed to competing for food some time in her past or was starved down at some point in her life. That and/or she sounds (possibly/possibly not) ravenously hungry by "feeding time." Make sure (especially during colder winter months) that she has free access to hay at all times, not just periodic structured feeding times, not leaving her without roughage at any time.

Your horse should perceive you as "lead mare" in your little "herd of two," respectfully. You might also try round penning her, the way I teach it here to better establish that leadership:

You may need to do that/round pen her the natural horsemanship way I teach there to get the pecking order straight in her head. And you should be able to send a horse away from the food at any time you wish and not receive that kind of "climbing the pecking order rude, dominant behavior." I would practice doing that same exercise you mentioned reading, but work on letting her eat for a couple of minutes (if she comes in respectfully) and go ahead & set her up to act aggressively (approach her again), and at any signs of body language aggression, make the "Shhhh" sound very loudly, shake the wand with plastic (or spin a rope smacking the ground with it) and send her away. Pause. Let her think about it off at a distance, then let her come back in (if she's respectful when she comes in!). And repeat. As often as needed, until she gets it. And yes, she's probably going to be frustrated at first, "throw a tantrum" even perhaps, because you're suddenly changing the pecking order rules, but remain consistent there and she'll get it. If you have to connect the spinning rope on her rump to send her away when she's overly aggressive like that, do so (remain safely out of kicking range!). Show the black & white zone. No gray areas allowed (meaning: don't cut her slack there). Make it real clear to her that aggressive behavior is not acceptable at any time.

But do make sure she's not "starving" by the time you feed her. Horses, as prey animals, are designed to "graze" around the clock, not have specified "feeding times" like dogs (which are predators), for example. Nature designed horses to graze/munch on roughage off and on, but pretty continually, at will, and this is extremely important to do especially in winter because it keeps them warmer. And that's just what their digestive systems/physiology is designed for them to do. Make sure she's also getting plenty of exercise/turn out time every day so she's not "bottling up" energy.

You should be able to groom your horse, her remaining perfectly calm & respectful while she's eating. But again, if she's starving too much by "feeding time" it's going to be hard for her to remain rational there as starvation instincts are going to take over and she's probably going to be more aggressive than necessary, so tackle it from both directions there, to make sure that's not part of what's going on. No horse should be overly hungry at supplement feeding times; if they are, something's wrong with the feeding program/how she's being fed, so examine that as well, and if all is well there, discipline her like a lead mare does if/when she gets aggressive like that, and that is exactly how a higher pecking order lead mare will discipline the youngsters for such behavior at feeding time: she will chase them away and expect them to act more respectful, contrite (groveling!) before she lets them back in. Don't feel sorry for her there, though, as you send her away for such rude and dangerous behavior. On the other side of this, once she gets it down right, she'll be in a far, far more relaxed and happier life spot; therefore, you're doing her a favor setting these boundaries now. Don't get upset, don't let your own emotions get in there...just do it rotely, repetitively, consistently, and she'll find the boundaries there finally and settle down.