Situation at the barn-- aggressive horse and owner doesn't understand severity of the situation

[Old_Mac_Donald]

I don’t know where OP lives, but I grew up in a mining town 800km from the nearest supermarket. We had a town-issued “horse paddock”. It was a mining town, so only 1/4ac freehold house blocks were available. There was no - and I do mean NO - alternatives. Unless you wanted to send your horse to a cattle station 2hrs away (my friend did this and her horse was killed in a horrific fence accident, no thanks)

There are people who live extremely remote, and literally have no other options outside of parking said horse in their houseyard. Trying to explain to folks at the closest large town why we bought 3+ months worth of food at once, why we had three freezers, why if your horse got sick you had the police around to shoot it because the vet flew to town three days a month… it’s a different world.

[Old_Mac_Donald]

I should add there lived a crocodile in the northern dam that ate one of our horses. Good times.

[ShenanAnna]

to the crocodile-eaten horse! OP, however, is in northern US, apparently, so not quite so bad.

[endlessclimb]

I’ve dealt with horses like this.

They will either back down, or DOUBLE DOWN when smacked.

Not a CHANCE would I take the risk of finding out the hard way he’s the latter and not the former.

[trubandloki]

@Cowboy_Girl

Put up some t-posts and 2 lines of wire and a stock tank and you and your friend can get out of this situation in a day.

This does sound crazy easy… until you think about the logistics of keeping that stock tank full with no available water source on that land.
And yes, it is doable, but certainly not easy.
If they live somewhere with real winter, keeping water in front of them during the winter will be another hurdle.

(Better than getting killed, for sure. Just pointing out a hurdle.)

@Sparrowette

If this horse is indeed a cryptorchid stallion, you (and other mare owners) might want to have your mare checked to make sure she’s not in foal. You never know.

@ShenanAnna

Could you use the stallion probability to demand that your mare not be turned out with him?

The OP said this horse has been gelded.

@signmypapyrus

Yes, the gelding (he was gelded when he was two)

[BrownDerby]

The concern is, as a crypt, was a complete job done? This surgery usually needs to be done on the table, and is expensive. In such a horse-sparse area it is possible that it was not done in large animal veterinary clinic and he may still be partially intact…

[signmypapyrus]

Another response:

1. I don’t mind telling people where I live via PM, but I live near the Canadian border. We often see the Northern Lights, which is really cool, but can probably signal that we’re remote. I can post photos of the Northern Lights if anyone is interested.

2. Supposedly, the owner took the horse roughly 150 miles away to the only surgical option for crypt surgeries (in the state) minus taking the horse to next state where they have a university with top equine care. I have expressed concerns about the horse not having the right surgery, but I have been informed he is a gelding. He has not tried to cover any mares.

3. Yes, I am able to flap the flag and he goes away. We had a few moments initially where he tried me, but I just stood firm. I know there are a lot of different interpretations to “pressure/release,” but this has NO idea what pressure of any kind is.

4. Have been informed that he doesn’t like his stomach rubbed (ulcers?) and another barn acquaintance said she just turns a blind eye to what is going on because it isn’t her business. I should note that is really people’s thought process up here.

[signmypapyrus]

HOLY CRAP! We just have coyotes, but omg!

[Angela_Freda]

@Sparrowette

The insurance company can easily use the BO’s knowledge of the situation AND the lack of any action taken to mitigate any potential damages, to deny or at least reduce a claim. BO isn’t as covered as she thinks.

A crypt should be in its own paddock.
A dangerous horse should be in his own paddock.
That BO hasn’t done this common practice is a big problem.

If BO doesn’t do this with this horse, you need to move.

[Angela_Freda]

@signmypapyrus

With the recent vet situation, for example, we ALL had to help out and I think that was really when the light bulb clicked on that I need to do something (like move, figure out liability, stall my mare, etc.) because he could have hurt any one of us.

No, boarders never have to help out, and should not

[OverandOnward]

@endlessclimb

I’ve dealt with horses like this.

They will either back down, or DOUBLE DOWN when smacked.

Not a CHANCE would I take the risk of finding out the hard way he’s the latter and not the former.

This. 100%.

And it is NOT OP’s horse. She has zero obligation to interact with this horse at all. The answer is to get her own horse, and herself, out of this situation. NOT to confront it in any way.

The horse’s experience with people is wildly inconsistent. And horse owner is going the wrong direction with her horse, increasing the aggression and escalation.

There is a huge difference between a flighty untaught horse, and one that is aggressive. This horse is forward, is approaching people who are in the pasture. A horse that is developing habits in the barn of rearing at people. Of behaving aggressively with people. With zero pushback at the time!

Most flighty/spooky/untaught horses don’t want to be touched. This one seems to want to do the touching. Huge red flag to danger.

And the problem seems to be escalating. If he challenges a flag in his face … running people down, rearing up … this is not a fight to mess with. There is no knowing which day is the day not to go into the pasture at all.

Once they get to a certain level pro trainers won’t touch these projects. For good reason.

The horse owner is creating a monster. Unfortunately, in life it can be easy to break something that there is no fixing. Easy to go down a road even if there is no going back.

OP is doing the right thing to listen to her own instincts. IMO.

[Pep_n_Ann]

@signmypapyrus

The most recent two events had me ready to put my mare in my backyard even though I’m legally not allowed to.

Some times it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.

[Cowboy_Girl]

It is easy. I’ve done it - you fill up cooler’s in your car and haul water every day. One cooler is what 1 horse drinks in a day. The extra will slowly fill up a tank. A 200 gal tank will last a week

[trubandloki]

@Cowboy_Girl

It is easy. I’ve done it - you fill up cooler’s in your car and haul water every day. One cooler is what 1 horse drinks in a day. The extra will slowly fill up a tank. A 200 gal tank will last a week

I am glad you find it easy. Most people find carrying a cooler full of water to be less than easy.

I was just pointing out that water is a hurdle. Not trying to say it was impossible, just a hurdle that the OP needs to keep in mind.

[Bluey]

Anyone that needs to carry water somewhere should check those larger plastic bottles, as large as they think they can handle, water is heavy!
Then get as many as it takes for what they want to do, water stock, mix concrete to build fences, etc.
One light option is cat litter plastic containers.
That is what we use, friends with cats give them to us.
What we want is containers that can be easily filled and poured and have a tight lid so they don’t leak until you get where you need the water.
It may take many such, but is handier to use those then bigger containers that are hard to handle or leak easily.

[ShenanAnna]

I’ve carried water for my self-care Morgan when the well pump went out, using a plastic jug I bought at the hardware store.

Water is heavy. The container will probably tell you how many gallons it holds; a gallon is 8 pounds.

[fordtraktor]

On the topic of carrying water…TSC has 5 gallon buckets with a screw on lid that works great for that. I also have some “Kerosene” blue 5 gallon fuel dispensers I use (I don’t actually use any Kerosene for anything).

I have a well pump and once or twice a year the power goes out and I need to water 14 horses for a day or two…sigh. I think I know every store with a hose nearby. They always look at me like I have 2 heads when I explain, ask if I can use their water and offer to pay, but never had anyone actually say no or charge me.

[2DogsFarm]

@signmypapyrus

Supposedly, the owner took the horse roughly 150 miles away to the only surgical option for crypt surgeries (in the state) minus taking the horse to next state where they have a university with top equine care. I have expressed concerns about the horse not having the right surgery, but I have been informed he is a gelding. He has not tried to cover any mares.

If I were BO, If be asking wingnut owner for proof that the correct surgery was done.
Not at all hard to get, vet hospital will have records on file & share to owner.
If all you’ve got is her word… Well, consider the source.

As for mounting mares, unless someone has eyes on the herd 24/7, no proof he hasn’t.
And that behavior is immaterial since he’s otherwise dangerous.
Maybe not to other horses. Yet?
But he’s certainly endangering humans & that is 1000% unacceptable.

How many boarders are there in total?
Good chance soon one of them will get hurt.
No matter how knowledgeable a handler, this horse is an unknown quantity with a proven intent to harm.
Do those odds - 1 in X - seem good to you @signmypapyrus ?

[RMJacobs]

@signmypapyrus

My girl is really easy going and doesn’t mind being stalled.

Maybe that’s a short term solution, but do you really want to put your horse in a less healthy living situation for any length of time because of someone else’s stupidity? My horses always lived outside with a couple of sheds for shelter, and I think that’s partly why they all lived to be quite old.

I found my last boarding situation by phoning vets to ask for recommendations. The place I boarded never advertised, and I was very happy with it after I no longer had enough land to keep my last horse at home. I had my choice of stall, pasture or a combination of both. I chose the pasture board except during hurricanes.

Good luck. It absolutely sucks that you are having to scramble because of a totally incompetent horse owner and BO.

Rebecca

[RMJacobs]

@signmypapyrus

I can post photos of the Northern Lights if anyone is interested.

Yes, please! They have been visible off and on here in Colorado, and I’ve missed it every time. I saw them once in Maine and was enchanted by the sight.

Rebecca