Posted 2009-10-24 10:36 AM (#112320) Subject: pony that is a little stinker
Member
Posts: 38 Location: Teutopolis, IL
We got a pony (mare) several months ago from my son. And she is a pistol!! We love her to death but she can really be a bully to our geldings. She will squeal around and rare up around them, showing them whos boss! Mind you they are 15 hands high and she barely comes up to my hip!! It's funny to watch her "seperate the boys" in the pasture and just being sassy but it's becoming a problem becuase they are tired of putting up with her "attitude" Plus when we ride, my son gets scared when she acts up and I can't help him much since my horse doesn't like her.
Now my gelding is turn his butt and laying back his ears, when she comes up to him and is being pesty. Of course she is worse when she is in heat.
Other then seperating them...any suggestions? She is five and never had a foal, anyone think if she would have a baby that she may mellow out? 'Cause we are thinking about breeding her.
Thoughts please...
Thanks!
Posted 2009-10-24 2:07 PM (#112330 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
I don't think breeding her would do a darn thing plus there's a ton of horses/pony's out there already.Separate her. Could try a shock collar with a hand held remote.Got to catch the unacceptable behaviour and discourge it.Think seperating her isyour best bet.
Posted 2009-10-24 4:24 PM (#112337 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447 Location: cedar rapids iowa
That's alpha mare behavior. Repalce her with a gelding and that will solve your problems. Breeding might make it worse because she will be stressed by the other horses near her baby. Not sure how many you have together but if you have several horses typically you should keep the same sex together. If you have just a few then that isn't as important.
If you are on the gelding you shouldn't allow him to turn his butt towards her, keep your mount under control and spin him away.
Posted 2009-10-24 7:19 PM (#112341 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
Get rid of the dang fool thing before someone gets hurt, or your son stops wanting to ride at all, and get your son a well trained small horse gelding.
Posted 2009-10-24 10:35 PM (#112347 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
The only reason you see this in ponies is because of their size so many of them never get properly schooled by an experienced rider (like this never happens with big horses too,LOL!). But what happens is, they're often turned over to the kids without the basics being taught and they get away with too much and overpower the kids. Typical "Merrylegs" behavior. A better choice might be a small horse that's older and well schooled. We've been on a trail ride where a child was badly kicked because the 10hh pony he was riding kept overpowering his rider and running up on other horses. And MAKE SURE your kid wears a helmet at all times!
Posted 2009-10-25 12:31 AM (#112348 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Elite Veteran
Posts: 644 Location: Odenville, Alabama
Are you sure this isn't MY pony mare you're talking about?? I have one that sounds just like yours. She get's herself all in a tizz around new or different horses. When we introduce a new horse to the herd, I have to separate her from all the others. She'll make herself crazy trying to dominate or kick ass out of the new one. Now . . . with that being said, what I've done is to RIDE THE CRAP OUT OF HER !! She's barely big enough for me, but I still will ride her with a bunch of other riders who will put up with her shenanigans for a while. We alternate who's in front and who's behind. After an hour or so of wet saddle blankets, she'll start to settle down once she realizes that under saddle, I"M THE BOSS MARE. If you have a friend who has a quiet trail horse, I would suggest you have them pony this "witch" on several good long trail rides without your child riding her. You might find a wiry, young bold teenage rider who can ride her for you . In the case of my pony, she has several large scars on her leg and face that were there when I bought her. I think that maybe she was picked on by big horses and injured. I have several ponies that I use for my pony ride business, and one Arabian who delights in terrorizing the poor little things when they first come to our farm. I've seen this SEVERAL times when "small" ones are introduced to a herd of "big" ones. She may have gotten her "ass kicked" before and in her mind "fight first, ask questions later". DO NOT BREED HER!! Why would you risk passing on this "trait" to another pony???
Posted 2009-10-26 8:52 AM (#112406 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
while ponies do have a bad reputation ( and they do deserve it) this is a training/handling issue. No animal, let alone a pony your young son rides,should be allowed to behave badly. Some horses need a stronger hand and others are willing to get along. I don't care how horses interact amongst themselves, they can sort it out ( with extreme cases being the exception) when it comes to bad behavior with people, I don't abide by it at all. Breeding a mare will do nothing but add to your problems. get rid of the thing...
Posted 2009-11-01 12:54 PM (#112675 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
I agree with the other posters. either teach her decent manners or get rid of this little beast before your son is seriously hurt. there are LOTS of honest and safe horses/ponies out there who need good homes. DO NOT BREED HER!!! about 75% of the foals disposition is from the dam so you'd most likely end up with another problem horse.
it sounds as if you're already attached to her which is fine- but maybe she'll just have to be kept as a pet, seperated from the other horses and not used as a riding pony.
Posted 2009-11-16 5:02 PM (#113246 - in reply to #112320) Subject: RE: pony that is a little stinker
Member
Posts: 38 Location: Teutopolis, IL
Thanks for all your posts. And it sounds like the opinions are the same. We kinda regret getting her for our son to ride but he has become attached to her, (as a pet) that he can lead around jump on her bareback (when the other horses are not present, etc). And we will be looking for a good broke gelding in the next couple of years for him.
As for now, Misty will enjoy her freedom and ruling the roost and Jack (my son) will ride behind his Daddy in a buddy seat. Probably no more trail rides for Misty!
Thanks all!
pony that is a little stinker
