Tell me this behaviour is normal.....please!

[bicky]

I kind of know the answer to how I'm feeling but need to ask all you peeps as I'm having a slight flat spin! :rolleyes:

Teddy is nearly 11 months and I've noticed how ultra confident and cocky he's becoming. Nothing too bad, although all 4 feet are leaving the ground quite a bit at the minute. :scared: His routine remains the same and my handling is consistent....he's now used to his dually headcollar and we've been trotting him up in preparation for his first show next Sun (5th June).

I had a friend visit recently who immediately said she thought he had a sly look about him and would potentially always have an 'unpredictable' streak. He can show the whites of his eyes and he doesn't always act the way I would like but......he's 10 mth old! :rolleyes: It has, in the past, been difficult to pick his feet up and he doesn't like being alone.....but he hasn't kicked out for ages and I can now graze them seperate....albeit he can still see kinzzy. When he's in his stable, he's got his mirror and loves it! :) He has started chewing things which he never did but it could be his teeth. Leading him to his field, he's started to rear, buck and basically prat about.....I stay very calm, wait for him to stop and walk on as normal....rightly of wrongly. On the plus side, you can groom him all over, spray him, do his feet, weigh tape him, rub plastic bag all over him and I generally feel safe to do all that!

I've owned young horses before (kinzzy for one) but never had a foal from birth.......is he behaving normally? Does my friend have a point....I was rather shocked that he gave that vibe off straight away! :( Anyone with youngsters please let me know what you think? He always comes up to me in the field for a scratch although I'm not sure he's totally bonded with me yet! :(:confused:

[bimba]

I think it's normal, TJ and I still go through phases of falling out over everything I ask him and then all of a sudden it just stops. I think by remaining calm and following routine you're doing the right thing in that you're just reinforcing in his head that behaving like this doesn't actually achieve anything and is therefore pointless. I know he's still quite young but maybe he's starting to produce testonsterone which can have a massive impact on their behaviour, TJ became the devil pony until he had his knick knacks off and was rearing, biting, squaring up to Mac, lashing out, the full works but he's never been that badly behaved since - I reckon when they're young it's just a bit much for their little brains to handle!

[CityLights]

all normal dont worry and just casue he is giddy now doesnt mean he will be a pain in the future or being calm now doesnt mean he will be in the future either, he is probably chewing casue of his teeth but check he is getting everything he needs in his diet, vitamins and minerals etc, he is possibly giddy casue he is trying to play with you casue he doesnt have another baby horse to play with does he? and kinzzy im guessing isnt the most playful with him, but your doing the right thing just ignore the behaviour and he will soon realise its boring and your not a play thing, foals take a long time to bond though anyway i think so dont worry if your not totally clicked yet and babies can alck a bit of personality,

[Zeitgeist Mom]

I had a friend visit recently who immediately said she thought he had a sly look about him and would potentially always have an 'unpredictable' streak.

What a beastly thing to say! :rant: Some friend. Touch of the green eyed monster perhaps?

I would say that is perfectly normal behaviour for his age. Generally any horse that is unpredictable or 'sly' would have been made that way by humans. I've yet to meet a horse that was just downright nasty, despite a good, kind upbringing. Horses are not naturally nasty or vindictive. they only become that way do to bad experiences. The nice thing about having a horse from a foal is that you know he doesn't have this type of hang up.

Youngsters can be very difficult to handle, but it is not due to any lingering genetic 'bad' trait. It is just about being a baby, and learning their boundaries. I think your friend is just trying to appear like she knows something about horses and is showing off. Personally I think she sounds downright ignorant.

[Bek B]

Sounds typical of a young male horse.

As long as you remain consistent and determined he'll soon begin to learn that the antics are a waste of energy.

[fairyfeet]

Its typical of any young horse male or female, and might get worse before it gets better I'm afraid. You still have the 'terrible twos' to come.
All they are doing is exactly what kids do, pushing the boundaries to see what they can get away with.
In a herd situation they'd be put back in their place by the older mares, taught herd manners etc.
Firm consistent handling, not letting them 'win', but kindness not force is the way to go.
Ignoring bad behaviour and rewarding the good, works fine as long as its not dangerous behaviour, that needs to be stopped immediately.
You sound as though you are doing fine so don't worry to much, its all natural.

[bicky]

Thanks folks, it makes me feel much better than you lot also think its normal boy stuff. He was gelded very early, 5 months old so he behaviour isn't related to that. He is fed suregrow, good grass, rockies 5 star lick and is out 24/7. Some part of the day they graze apart and for the rest they are together to groom each other, play (if Kinzzy lets him) and eat! :)

[Jill]

What would we do without our friends, eh? They always know the right thing to say to make us feel better, never give advice unless it's asked for, and if they can't find something nice to say then they don't say anything at all!

Ditto the above, and perhaps she could explain exactly what she means by a 'sly' look? Does she always attribute human feelings and behaviours to animals?

[fell lover]

I don't think you have anything to worry about hun - he will just be trying it on with you xx

[My Crazy Clan]

Yes hes normal!

Some horses do have a nasty streak/sly etc but you don't really know what they have until they are older, he might just be a horse thats into everything, a horse that has charter.

Merlin kicked out, with all feed from day one, you could see the whites of his eyes and to this day he can when hes not sure of something! but I got him over kicking fear at 5yrs! a long time but I was determined.

[fairyfeet]

Freya was a right little B***** to start with, kick out and bite anyone and anything, and meal times she was really nasty.
With patience and time she's now no problem at all with food, and you can hug her, groom her and remove her headcollar all with no problems at all now while she's eating.
She went through a short spate of not being caught but I'd call Max who always comes and feed him polos and she realised she was missing out so now she's always first to get to me when I call.
She use to push me all over the place and try and bite when being led but that's all gone now too.
I got her at 18 months old and up until she was 3 you really had to watch her but now she's grown up, learnt what she can and cannot do and she's almost perfect, lol.
Not ever expecting her to be the same as Max as she's not the type to go all out to please, lol but she's Freya and i love her naughty or not and I don't have to watch her heels and teeth all the time now.

[nic]

Looks can be deceiving! Saw someone I hadn't seen for ages and she commented about the photos of magic on facebook about how good and sweet she is..... I think sasca will vouch for me when i saw she isn't sweet.....she's most definitely a mare. Lol

Teddys behaviour is normal, magic did the same where she settled down then had a mad bit now shes 2 she wants to play, tried it on me the other day in the field, came over nice as pie, I gave her a stoke and said hello and walked away to get Oscar, she walked with me then changed and stuck her ears back and bounced around.me. I squared up to net and sent her on her merry way :pmsl: shes so nosey and very bold.

[Rolo2010]

Fudge is 12 month middle of june and she is big and bold when i first started with her she was wild. First time i took her out she almost dragged me into a beck ( thank god for telegraph pole planted however deep ) she slowly got better and i could do lots with her then out of nowhere she attempted to double barrel me granted she got a right good smack i don't agree with them kicking out and they need to no who is boss for a long time she was perfect did not put a foot wrong in recent weeks she's turned into a pain again if in her stable she will rear up the walls kick at them and almost sit on top of the door. I think he is just been a typical youngster as all do its like kids they have there moments you say he aswell is he still a colt ?

[Elliebellie]

Yep, Thats normal behaviour for a youngster.... and I hate to say it but there will be more to come.

I'd say the way you are handling him sounds fine... it might be an idea to use the dually a bit when he larks around though so that he gets the idea that if he's naughty, its more uncomfortable than if he's good. It's up to you though. Do make sure you wear a hat, gloves and decent boots when leading him though... It sounds silly but the number of times I've been gratefull for mine... or wish I had worn them is amazing. :cheekywink:

[bicky]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated. I realise we will have some fun and games before we finish....I keep trying to remember how Kinzzy was when I first got her. I can remember a few hair raising moments! :cheekywink:

I really hope he turns out to be all I want and more....don't want to have to part with him and start the whole 'getting to know you' with another youngster. I put a lot of value on these early day for relationship building and I don't fancy investing my time all over again! :rolleyes: We'll see I suppose! I'll report back on Sunday after his first show! :scared::cheekywink:

[Elliebellie]

Ahhh you'll be fine... rememeber the challenging times make all the good times even better! ;)

Good luck at the show but remember to just enjoy it :) I'm sure youll be fine.