Isy is so awesome - one of those rare people who try to understand me despite my accent and grammar abuse.We went to the "Horse and Hound" convention together, and she gave me a tour of her city, Hueckeswagen, and the castle where she works.
So I hate to speak ill of her son. But I must, cuz he really scared me today.
Her horse is a bastage, excuse my French. He put someone in the hospital last month, cuz she was serving carrots and he didn't get enough - or something. He just turned on her - took her by the neck and threw her to the ground.
This big (17 hands) chestnut warmblood is not young. He's in his 20s. I knew he was food aggressive but I had no idea he was territorial too.
Today as we approached the farm, we greeted Merlin, the Tinker (Vanner).
Baasha and Merlin kissed each other and nibbled.Merlin is so photogenic, I love taking photos of him!
Merlin showed us his beard as he nibbled along Baasha's neck. Can you see it? (that is not his forelock!) Merlin is the alpha in this herd.
Sweet little Gulliver tried to get Baasha to notice him, "Me, me!" he seemed to say under Merlin. It's hard being small.Then here comes Bonito.
He approached and I briefly let Baasha say hello to him. Note how animated that gelding is in this photo. Also, you can see how I am pulling on the rein to get Baasha out of there at that point.As soon as I'd snapped the photo, I tried to pull Baasha away from the fence, just in case.
I say tried cuz the snow was so deep, and Baasha was so trusting, he didn't react swiftly. I yanked on him. He finally moved back. Just as he moved back, Bonito struck.
How could Baasha misinterpret the body language of a territorial horse? Why did he wait to get bit? Curious.
He bit Baasha in his neck, punching him. Baasha was shocked.
I was so mad, after I got Baasha back behind me, I stepped forward. Bonito tried to attack ME! He lunged at the fence, pressing his chest into it, and baring his teeth, bit the air in front of my face.
I raised my hands and shouted at him, "HEY!" but he did not respond the way 99% of horses would, he attacked again. I jumped back. Agh, what to do? I think he may go right thru that fence, to teach me a lesson!
I pondered for a moment (that moment I wished I had a whip on hand) and then I grabbed my water bottle out of my saddle bag. I approached the fence, Bonito attacked again, and I squirted sparkling apple juice all over his face.
Uh oh, why did I choose apple juice today!?? That did not work. He didn't even shake his head, like a normal horse would. He just stood there glaring at me, daring me. Probably enjoying the scent of apple.
He started ripping into the fence with his teeth in frustration. At this point all the other horses were standing in audience, wondering what would happen. I would not let Baasha look at him.
I stood there in the deep snow, trying not to slip, and I made Baasha keep his head behind me. Over and over Baasha tried to crane his neck around me and see his friends. I harshly pulled him back, NO!
Bonito would not step down. He was a sentry, protecting his field. I refused to go away. I thought, No way am I letting this horse bully us away.But in my mind I checked out which tree I could climb to escape him if he came through the fence. Poor Baasha would be on his own, but he'd be able to flee.
That horse would not leave us. The others came closer, asking permission, and he just stood there looking, well, normal. Innocent, really. He just would not let his eyes leave us. If he looked away for a moment, nosing at the ground, and Baasha shifted his weight, Bonito would fling his head up and watch us with both eyes.
I glared back. I am not leaving until you do. I have all day.And I prayed that he would not challenge the fence.
Finally he finally got bored and walked a few paces away. The sweet Paso mare moved into his place, pleading with us to come nuzzle her. We stood still.
Finally we went down to the round pen.
The whole time we were in the round pen, all the other horses watched us from the far back corner of their field.
So when we left, we had the opportunity to say hello to a sweet old arthritic pony mare, who nuzzled Baasha. Bonito never made his way back up. I got on Baasha and directed him to the least icy part of the path, to carry me home.Bonito had been isolated from all the others the last few months. That is why Isy had bought him a companion Shetland. (This Shetland never left his side, the entire time.)
Why they are running Bonito with the pony party herd is a mystery to me. I will have to ask.
If it's dangerous for us to visit our horse friends, then we will have to find other friends.
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11 comments:
Fear is not my normal reaction when a horse acts that way. I get mad. When I Heather first met Poco, he tried to get all puffed up on her and she jumped right up and chest-butted him. I just stood there with my mouth open! Hope the nip to Baasha's face is okay.
That is very scary - that fence doesn't look all that sturdy. Dangerously aggressive horses can really hurt people or other horses - hope Baasha's neck is OK.
Oh mylanta!
I can't stand horses that are aggressive. I have to agree with Leah- I get MAD. Sounds like he wouldn't even respond to you getting a bit aggressive back! Hope Baasha is ok! I used to event at a barn that had an older event horse that had been abused during his days on the track and he was similar. They tried a companion pony and he went after the pony as well. Ended up he had to be stalled in the shavings storage barn and his only companion was a goat. Was turned out in the indoor arena at night when no one was around becaue they were afraid he would hurt someone. Eventually they had to put him down because he started attacking the stable hands and put 2 of them in the hospital. Bummer that you have to even deal with him when the other ponies in the pasture seem so sweet!
Wow what a mean horse, I'm glad you made it out of there unharmed. I hope Baasha neck is okay! Great pictures! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
I've said it before, usually about vicious dogs but really about anything vicious:
"The world isn't big enough."
The world is full of perfectly healthy, young, NON-vicious animals being slaughtered or euthanized because there aren't enough good homes.
I have yet to hear a strong-enough arguement for keeping a vicious animal alive. Yes, it's sad when a beloved pet turns into a biter. Yes, some biters can be turned around with proper training. But if, after a year or two of training, the animal is still untrustworthy, it's time to make the decision for "the good of the many."
Stay safe, Lytha and Baasha!
WV: svege
"a fierce animal which will be soon be used for food."
Be really careful, Lytha! I knew one crazy aggressive horse in Memphis who sounds a lot like Bonito. He didn't show any of the normal horse body language, he'd just attack. I got bit once and kicked once, and after that I never got within 20' of him again. AareneX's right, life is too short to put up with that.
Oou-sumthin' is not right with that animal girl! Be extra careful with that one!\
Hope the bite is alright on Baasha too.
Kac
I think you have more than a bully - that horse sounds disconnected.
We had a horse like this - she became this way when she wasn't ridden. She was very smart, but left to pasture she became almost psychotically mean.
Then someone came to ride her and after a few weeks, she was much better.
Then the rider left and she turned mean again, kicked one horse lame.
Please be careful.
We knew a woman who was killed by a horse like that. He grabbed her by the neck and would not let go. It was horrible. Why would anyone want a horse so dangerous is beyond me. I love my horses but would never risk a persons life for the sake of a horse.
Leah, I admit my anger was mixed with fear. I will call it "Fanger": )
Kate, stupid fences, but almost no fence would hold that horse if he wanted through. He's a monster!
PDP, I can only hope that my friends separate him again. Usually he is separated and only the owner deals with him.
Frau, thank you! I sometimes wonder if I take too many pictures.
Aarene, I agree. He is a ticking bomb, as in, it's only a matter of time before he hits his next victim. And this is the Pony Party business, with kids around a lot. Way way too big a risk. Kerstin, the owner, is being charitable, but I'm afraid she should insist he be permanently separated.
Funder, you noticed that too? He didn't show any signs, and in each picture, he looks innocent. Curious almost. But I still feel Baasha should have sensed it.
All horse stuff, I felt Baasha's neck the next day and it was just a slight disruption in his fur coat, not a lump. Whew. The other side of his neck has a permanent lump from that witchy pony mare last year.
Breathe, thank you - I am not going to approach the fence if that horse is in there. I am honestly waiting for my mom to read this post and yell at me for approaching, but mom, I didn't know he was territorial!! This is a good reason why I don't ever want a job working with horses. I don't want to sacrifice my health/limbs.
Marla, you knew a woman killed by a vicious horse? Tragic. I wonder if the horse was put down.
***
ALL - I wanted to give the little background I know.
Isy bred this horse's mother and Bonito has been her baby his entire 20 years. He's a Warmblood/Arab mix, and Isy is always talking about how that cross went wrong, and how he has a very small heart. I scolded her for saying that, but she said "Oh he's scared of that donkey - STILL! And so jumpy, afraid of his own shadow!" She also mentioned the size of his brain being smaller than average. (I had to laugh, I had no idea at that time.)
By the grace of Kerstin the horse is allowed to stay. Just, usually separate, with Isy being his only caretaker. Hm. We'll see what happens.
Lytha ~ The husband shot and killed the horse. It was truly tragic all the way around
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