eating habits

Question
21/2 yr. old gelding Appaloosa/Tennessee walker that seems to fight or be aggressive to humans to get his food. Wants to kick owner for food and while eating kicks food container to dump on ground. Horse is in pasture with usually 1-2 other horses, and one is always mother. Is also fed twice daily.

Answer
Hi Stephanie!

This is not really a training question...more of a personality quirk.  Horses have strong habits and idiosyncrasies just as humans or anything with a brain as a matter of fact.

Horses are herd animals and like dogs in packs.... they fight for food. Boss mares/dominant horses do everything first in a herd from breeding to drinking water at the creek.  They control the others through intimidation, force of personality and outright psychical violence.  Yes, your horses have been bred and kept by humans in human conditions.  But, their brains are hardwired to instinct...can't breed that out...and we should not want to.

Your guy is exhibiting a very forceful attitude.  Leave him alone while he eats.  Do not stand near him, talk to him or look at him.  You can control his ground manners on the way to feeding and after feeding...but, while actually eating?  No.  That's just who he is.

As he is exhibiting several dominant traits towards you, it is important to get him under control now about every "little" thing and the "big" things will take care of themselves.

Control his environment leading up to feeding time, he must be polite and well-mannered and such...as well as after feeding.

Do research on how horses talk to each other and use it to your advantage.  I like Monty Roberts.  You can look him up on the Internet and check out his Join-Up method.  You could benefit from that greatly.  

Don't worry about this gelding kicking during feeding....worry about this gelding kicking during breaking to saddle!  If you feel you still need help, ask your vet, farrier or tack shop to recommend a local trainer who breaks babies to come out and evaluate your young guy and you.  This would put his hooves on the right road!!

Taking the time and money to correctly train him (and yourself!) now will give you 20 more years of a wonderful riding partnership!

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange