[Busterzkool]

I was grazing my horse Taz (hand grazing) b/c he is in a dry paddock where he doesn't get grass. I've done this plenty of times and every time when I go to take him back in he gives me an attitude but today it was WAAAAAAAAAAY worse. I started to lead him back in and he put his ears flat back and bit my hand (but i was wearing gloves so it didn't hurt that bad). I didn't want him to get away with that so I gave it another shot. But then he turned head on at me and put his ears back and lifted his front feet and came at me. Then he did it again but he really came at me and i just ran over to a tree. Then my Dad came out and helped me when he heard me calling "stop" to the horse. My Dad took Taz and tried to lead him in but he did the same thing but this time he swung his butt around like he was going to kick. We wanted to lure him in with some carrots but he didn't want them. So then I just put a little feed in his bucket and put it in the pasture and he walked right in. But i do NOT want him to do that ever again b/c i got so scared when he came at me. I don't know what to do. My Dad thought of two things it could be 1) he doesn't want to leave the grass which is obvious 2) he needs a companion to take his "frustrations" out on. For the second one, has anybody heard of a horse becoming agressive because they are alone? Or any other things that it can do to a horse. But it is strange because when I ride him he is perfect and does EVERYthing that i ask of him under saddle. Also, a local farm told us to just give him some chickens in his paddock and it'll keep him occupied. They have some horses who are kept alone and they love the chickens. Does anybody have any opinions on this?

[gingersnaps2002]

Well, I think he could have done it because he doesn't have another horse to buddy up with,OR very likely he was being pushy and bossy and he definitely does not need to get away with that. Some horses do very well with a goat as a companion.

[Cowgirl2135]

Get the WHIP out!
DO not lure him in or brag him with carrots ever!
When he EVEN pin his ear down, make him WORK! Back him up, lunge him, the whip will help you when he is not doing something. Or you can wack him on the neck. NEVER let him get away with that, it is COMPETELY unacceptable!

[AmyS2429]

I agree. Make him work. However, I know how you feel because we were having the same problems with Dawn and it scared me to death. Is there anyone that might work with him that isn't afraid of him? Is your dad also afraid of him? When you guys back off after he shows a sign of agression then he has won, and he'll keep doing it until someone gets more aggressive with him and shows him that the consequences will be that he has to work. I would get a trainer or someone that will not be afraid to stand up to this behavior to work with him for a little bit.

[crazy4horses205]

YOu need to show him who is boss! You have a lead rope, USE IT!! If he trys to bite, smack him in the head, if he trys to rear up, pull him down and jiggle the lead rope around, and if he swings his butt awound, use the lead rope and give it a good SMACK! Be firm with him, he is probably just testing you because he thinks he can be the boss, but YOU are the boss! But if you feel like he is too much, have someone else lead him out until you get more confident with him. We don't want you hurt. Good luck

[Paint_luver]

I agree as well. My old 4 year old gelding was very much like this at time. He became a big kicker and would either take a bite at me with ears pinned, or swing his butt around very quickly and take a kick at me!! It got so bad that I had to carry a whip with me too. Everytime he took a kick at me, I whapped him hard (very important to get the right timing) and then made him do tight circles around me switching directions and backing frequently.

[MissBandit]

Busterzkool,
You've asked these questions in more than one thread:

Originally Posted by Busterzkool

...has anybody heard of a horse becoming agressive because they are alone? Or any other things that it can do to a horse.

YES it can. Being kept in exile from others of their own kind can do all sorts of things to a horse's mind. Here is a list of KNOWN conditions that can be brought on by mental stress due to separation.

Laminitis and Founder
Colic
Stall weaving/pawing
Rubbing
Self-mutiliation
Cribbing
Wind sucking
Stall walking
Uneven appetite
Dehydration
Aggression

Originally Posted by Busterzkool

Also, a local farm told us to just give him some chickens in his paddock and it'll keep him occupied. They have some horses who are kept alone and they love the chickens. Does anybody have any opinions on this?

Chickens will not provide your horse with the companionship he needs. Think about it.

[Percher1]

I might be wrong but this is what I think. Horses are social animals-they like to live with other horses. So there are two types: dominant and submissive. My horse is hugely dominant around females-he chased some females for about 30 min today when he broke into their pasture and when the mini came into the pasture he lowered his head pinned his ears and chased the mini out. Last week he was eating grass with the mini in the same pasture.
But anyways back to my point. Without being able to interact with his own species, the said behavior may be passed onto. That being, if he didn't want to leave the grass, the only way he knows how to fight back is to bite, kick, rear and charge. Assuming that you are part of his heard-you get all those things because you did something he didn't approve of. So basically, like everyone else was saying you need to get after him. You or someone else needs to show dominance. You need to be the lead mare or whatever. By making him work, it would almost be like you chasing him. Basically, what I look for in submission is licking and chewing and the dropping of the head. Those are all good signs of submission and "okay, I understand what I'm supposed to do now".
I hope this helps and explains things-if it doesn't then just ignore me.

[ladida]

He will constantly push to you be boss, horses want only the best, and if no one steps up they will. You need to show him that you are the leader by doing the above things that others have suggested, which are all good. Never reward him by giving in to him or even worse giving him carrots. You force him to do what you want in a situation like that, YOU make the decisions, not him!

[Cowgirl2135]

Even if it a problem, stud, alone, anything he still should respect you at all times