02 September 2008 11:29
My six-year-old cob has become really possessive. I can’t go into the field without him glued to my hip and, if another horse tries to come up to me, he chases them off. It’s even got to the stage where he won’t let people come near me. Why is he like this and how can I stop it?
Answer
By Your Horse
H.E Tutor Ellie Hoyes advises:
You need to establish more respect from your horse – in his mind he has become dominant. You need to put him back in his place in a clear but firm way. Do some work in-hand with him to get him to move away from you on command. When leading him in, don’t let him walk into your space, try not to over fuss him, and generally keep some distance from him until he settles down.
It might also be worth thinking about the types of horses he’s turned out with – changing the herd around can sometimes help.