Advice for pushy horse!

[GreatOcean]

So, I'm not experienced with horses at all.

I walk through a public footpath which has a very beautiful horse grazing, for a while he just followed me through the field as I walked through but now he nudges me, sniffs/nibbles my pockets, he's HUGE and I stay calm and just continue walking but yesterday he had me pinned to the hedge and I felt so uncomfortable!

I think he's wanting treats (I don't have any) but I don't know how to get him to back off?

I spoke with his owner who said to gently push his head away and wave my arms but when I tried this, he pushed me back (hardly blame him) and nearly had me off my feet. Then he followed and had his head at my ankles nudging my legs, trying to unfoot me maybe.

Any advice??

Treat him like a big cat you don't want near you. He sounds nosy not mean. Just hiss at him and shoo him away!

Thank you so much! I'll try that.

He's very big and intimidating for someone like me with no experience! I didn't feel there was any malice from him (I'm sure if he wanted to hurt me, he would have!)

It's just treats he's after...I've seen other walkers feeding him, idiots. There's even a sign saying don't feed the horses!

It’s because people feed him that he’s being pushy but if he’s that intimidating then the owner really should move him or fence off a safe passage for walkers .

It would be tricky for the owner to do that to be fair, and the horse has every right to be there!

It's just annoying others have fed it so now he 'expects'. He's very insistent.

And he's very familiar with me as I walk through the field often so maybe he reads my vibes and knows I'm a push over!

Ideally I'd like to be able to know what I can do that is horse-speak for 'go away!'

The horse only has a right to be there if he is not dangerous , as soon as he knocks someone over / bites someone and the owner gets told he has done so she is obliged to move him or make the footpath safe for walkers .

I agree with the others, it isn't ideal at all for him to be in the footpath field if he's going to be this bargey and rude, it's really annoying having footpaths through your grazing as so many passers-by feed the horses but it's your role as owner to teach them manners and to stay out of people's personal space. Pinning people up against the hedge sounds like an accident waiting to happen!

As to what you can do, horses operate largely off body language and vibes, so keep a good eye on him as you approach, and well before he's within pushing/barging range of you try and make yourself look taller and bigger, keep your shoulders square onto him and look him square in the eye and act cold and frowny until he stops moving towards you and turns away or at least stands still. I know you like him really, but you need to be sending very clear unfriendly, 'keep away' messages for the time being (don't worry, this won't make him turn aggressive or anything). Do not hunch your shoulders and look downwards or slightly away from him as this is horse language for 'I'm friendly, come and say hello'. Also 100% do not ever put your hands in your pockets when he can see you as that's where treats come from, or carry a rustly bag as again he'll def think he's getting fed.

Hopefully he'll stop coming towards you when you've made it clear you are not friendly today, in which case you can then slowly advance across the field but keep maintaining the eye contact and square on to him shoulders until you are past him or he turns away to graze. If just body language doesn't work or he creeps towards you again, you can wave your arms as the owner suggested and use your voice too - a loud sharp 'oi' or 'no!' might stop him in his tracks (but you must do this before he's already in your space, if he's close enough to touch that's already too close). TBH I'd carry something with you, ideally something like a dog lead or horse lead rope, and if he gets a bit close I'd start swinging it in circles, not to hit him with but just a warning to stay out of your space.

Good luck!

That's very helpful thank you.

Ah I had my shoulders hunched and eyes down walking away trying to be non threatening so I was saying 'pop on over!?'

I'll be more assertive before he's too close. I definitely move away so another mistake, the control is all his! He only starts to back off as I get to the gate.

It's really tricky as the owner is a neighbour and it's very important I keep on good terms with him - rural area, he does a few favours here and there, he adores his horses and if I bring it up again I think he'll get pissed off.

He was dismissive when I asked advice - 'ah just push him away!'

Erm he's MASSIVE and wants to eat me.

Ah yes, by hunching down and looking at your feet as you moved away you were probably sending 'this is fun, let's play' and/or 'you're the boss mate, I'll move wherever you want me to' type messages to him. The following you and nipping at your ankles sounds a bit dominance behaviour-y to me, the leader horse in the herd (usually a mare, horses are matriarchal although in a batchelor group of males one boy will be the leader) will often chase the others around 'herding' them and play-biting them -sometimes it's all just good larks although it can end in someone getting kicked so not a good game to encourage them to play with people!

It def sounds as though he hasn't really been taught proper boundaries with people which is your neighbour's fault really but given what you've said you probably don't want to complain any more. So just try and stop him getting into this 'game' with you in the first place, if need be by scaring him off a bit. Once he knows you neither feed him or play with him he'll probably know not to bother with you at all...

Firstly, love how understanding of horsey folk you sound!

It sounds like you know your neighbour pretty well? Could you ask her to give you practical session / lesson in body language that works with horses?

‘Stand big’ etc is pretty much correct, but if he is very curious, playful & bolshy, your actions could inadvertently lead to more playful behaviour, which might not be safe.

I would also make sure your neighbour understands exactly how friendly the horse is being with people. As others have said, she does not want to become liable for someone getting injured. You said you’ve spoken to her, but (us) horsey folk have unfortunate habit of thinking non horsey people tend to over react around the beasties.

As people have said, square body language and eye contact are good. Shoving his shoulder if he manages to get that close. Also stomp your foot. A head of herd will threaten with a hoof stomp warning other horses. All mine (4!) know if I stomp my foot then they're to back off as they're in trouble!

This is exactly how I feel - that the owner will be rolling his eyes at me as a non-horsey person being daft and frightened for no reason! I'm sure if he meant harm then I'd know. (What are the signs a horse is being aggressive??)

So I feel the onus is on me to just learn more so I feel more confident.

I've only been in the area 18 months and neighbour has been SO welcoming, I don't want to be that townie that's moved to the country complaining about horses.

The horse is just being a horse...wanting food and probably finds me entertaining as he pushes me around! And from the replies I've been doing everything wrong.

I'll put the advice into practice and let you know how I get on!

Thank you so much everyone.

@GreatOcean please don’t feel you’ve been doing things wrong. It is so lovely you are interested in learning more, and hey, maybe you’ll end up picking yourself new hobby!

If you have not spent time around horses (or even if you had, in riding school environment for example) being approached by loose horse in its home field will be intimidating experience!

What I meant is speak to the owner, and describe to detail what horse is doing, as this really is not desirable behaviour for a horse in a field with footpath running through. Maybe she really does not realise to what extend the horse is making their self’s known. If it was mine, I’d want to know. Is it the only horse in that field?

Being confident around horses is a key, everything else is detail. Only real way to gain confidence is by getting close contact in safe environment. But if the horse is bored / bolshy / young, you might put yourself in harms way by accidentally provoking more playful behaviour. Half ton puppy trying to get you to play with him is not safe.

Few signs of aggression would be pinning ears back, turning hind quarters at you etc. This is not what it sounds like from your description, but under some circumstances overly playful behaviour can also lead to accidents. Equally if he is a greedy bugger, he might drive point home about wanting treats by nipping you.

Yeah he doesn't sound aggressive, just nosy and hoping to beg a treat or two.

If he was turning his bum to you or pinning back his ears then that would be aggressive behaviour, he's just chancing.

Let him have a good sniff of you and realise you don't have any food then just put your hand on his shoulder, pat him then give him a push and tell him off you go.

He might follow you, just let him but if he keeps nudging you, push him away.

Don't let him get you against the hedge, walk towards/into him a bit to make him move over. Pushing his shoulder if necessary. Click your tongue at him to encourage him to move off. Most horses recognise it as a cue to move.

Use your body language move towards them signalling with your arms and clap them away firmly saying 'go on, get back'. not easy when its a horse you dont know, not used to being around horses they can often sniff out treats.. Just be firm and keep your distance and dont give them any attention or food.

The fact it is this close says its pretty friendly, the ones that are unsure will look anxious and hover at a distance , Biting and lunging at you would be an obvious sign, head pinned up right / pinning ears, though my horse does this anyway but wouldn't hurt a human lol. most horses are pretty placid just the lone stallions you want to watch for..

I think it's possible the horse might be well trained with its owners but has been taught that walkers have treats. I am not sure how you would train a horse that some people have treats and others don't and to treat all inexperienced people correctly, sounds like the path needs to be fenced off which is where I think a lot will be shortly. If you aren't comfortable in the meantime I would consider avoiding it as that is safer. I realise this isn't ideal advice but I think realistic.

How to shoo a horse away

That is good but the horse already respects the human who is already confident with horses. Also the push and yell could get the horse to rush away kicking out...

unlikely given the information provided

@LostRider let's hope so

Thanks so much again for the advice!

So he followed me again yesterday, but was less bossy it seemed; I turned and faced him and took a step towards him and he sort of stopped, then started eating grass - clearly the grass I was stood on was the bit he then wanted though so he shoved me out the way with his head and then kept eating 😂

I'll keep practicing with him - hopefully I'll improve my confidence. The horse is twice the size as the one in the vid, great vid though!

I can only add what others have said but I wanted to say I totally get how intimidating it must be for you. You could be describing my horse, she is very food motivated and would follow you around and nudge you. She’s quite big also and even sometimes as a horsey person she can get in my face a bit.

He sounds quite sweet, hope you become more comfortable soon.. alot are honestly big dogs and don't understand their size

One at my school is retiring so I made him a gigantic oat cake which he was NOT allowed to eat all of in one go. He practically tackled me to stop me leaving the pen with it, herding me away from the gate while trying to grab another mouthful or lick it from my hands.

He is the sweetest most gentle giant and would never have hurt me but it made me think of you because a couple of newish parents were watching and looked quite alarmed.

Even though I was laughing and ducking him and clearly not afraid, it must have looked scary to a non horsey person, this massive animal trotting after me, pushing between me and the gate and trying to grab the cake out of my hands.

But I was in no danger, he was just excited and wanted more of this special treat. He loves me and wouldn't hurt anyone ever. I eventually got out by pushing him with my bum to move back so I could open the gate.

Do the same. Be friendly to him but push him back and carry on your way. 'Sorry bud, no treats, budge up out the way' scratch under the chin and keep on walking.

I hope all the people advocating for giving him a little push never meet a horse like my late mare who was very large and very opinionated and very much in the camp of if you push me I will push you back and harder . Needless to say she was kept well away from the general public .

@Floralnomad this is what I tried to say. We know nothing about this horse, it could be a youngster. I knew a yard owner who had her ribs broken pushing a horse away on turnout and it kicked out. The most unpleasant to people horse I ever met pulled off part of someone's ear for going past his stable. I know this sounds horrible but if I do a video with any of my 3 horses asking them to get out of my space it looks effective but ignores that I have had all of them since youngsters and have won their trust and respect over years and have been around horses half my life and livestock my whole life. Realise I sound like the bossy horse lady but I have got out of fields with foals even because it is dangerous. I think it's irresponsible without knowing the horse and knowing that the OP is nervous to coach her to move the horse along. Most are fine, not all and learning how to interact with horses is not something that can be done online.