We are first-time horse owners and had a surprise 2-for-one deal on Mother's Day. Now we are learning how to raise a baby fast! We have seen lots of good videos on imprinting and gentle approaches, and so far this filly is tying, walking on a lead/halter, being groomed, and learning to pick up hooves. We are always rubbing her all over and praising her, while making sure she doesn't get away with anything. We don't yell, fight her, or scare her, but we are firm and consistent. But we started taking her over to the arena and she likes to chew on the huge oak tree in the center. When I push her away or tap her nose (lightly) or even now when I come over and she KNOWS I am going to make her stop, she starts kicking and bucking at me. Today she rushed me several times and made me back off. Then she went back to chewing so I ran her around 'til she was tired and then took her out (bad idea?). I don't want to be afraid of her...in all other ways she does not act aggressive. Why is this happening and how can I avoid conflict yet teach her to listen and not to chew?

-- Margaret (tmbroberg@hotmail.com), May 30, 2001

Answers

Well I raise horses and they WILL chew tree's. We cover our tree trunks with chicken wire or paint them with stop chew.

The aggression you're going to have to deal with. I suggest taking a lead rope or whip in with you and if she charges you again yell and smack the ground with it and make her run yelling QUIT (no sounds to much like whoa). The kicking at you deserves a light smack with the rope/whip on the back legs, then making her run. You must be consistent, doing the same thing every time she gets aggressive. At some point she'll probably start what I call the PacMan mode, wanting to bite you also. A sharp tap on the nose and saying quit everytime she opens her mouth at you gets them over that one fast.

Make sure you have the time to deal with the problem when it comes up, so that at the end of the training session your filly is calm and accepting of what you want to do. The fact of the tree chewing is not the issue in my view but the aggression is. Expect to take maybe 45 mins or more from the kicking at you to you being able to shoo her away from the tree with no agression. She needs to know who is higher on the pecking order, and thats people. It just takes time and patience.

-- Stacia in OK (oneclassycowgirl@aol.com), May 30, 2001.

I agree that chewing trees in just something that horses will do. If you need to protect the tree place wire mesh around it or build a fence around it. It sounds like you have a pretty good start on things, but I think the filly may be seeing you as more of a playmate than the "boss". That is why she will kick at you when you try to push her away from her food source (tree). If she made you back away then she won that fight and you need to enforce your status as herd boss ASAP to ensure that sort of behavior does not continue. Sometimes a firm spank on the rear will work wonders for a kicking baby. I like to use the handle end of the buggy whip rather than the lash. It delivers a "thump" rather than a stinging slap...more like a firm kick from another horse. Of course, you are not out knock the tar out of her just deliver a solid thump. On another note I see that you are teaching your filly to tie. You are probably aware of this already, but foals should not be tied fast. If they spook that can seriously injure their necks. I teach mine to tie by wrapping the lead around a solid post above whither level and I hold the other end. Then if baby gets into trouble I can pull them in tighter or let rope out (or let go!) to correct the problem and prevent injury. I've not had any that really fought this method and all have learned to stand tied very well for me.

-- elle (eagle-quest@juno.com), June 01, 2001.

Thank you both...that was my take on the whole thing too. I did not have a whip so I was using a lead rope but I still felt scared. I do think she sees us as playmates, and am trying to reverse that. I got a short 3' crop and today I was just teaching her to respond to it. She is so used to being touched that she hardly moves or flinches unless I tap real hard! I will try the arena again soon. If she is disciplined (made to stop something) she usually runs away and then bucks and leaps and kicks. Is that a sign of aggression, anger, frustration, is it something I should deal with, or just let her "feel" and then continue the lesson? She is pretty good when she is on a lead, but does this when she is "free." As to the tying, that is exactly what I did...just looped the rope over the rail and let her pull back gently until she stopped, then brought her in again and repeated. After a week I started making a quick release knot so she could slide along the rail but not pull back. I never leave her tied, but I did groom her twice while she stood and ate. Thanks again, it really helps getting confirmation!

-- Margaret (tmbroberg@hotmail.com), June 01, 2001.