If you have a food aggressive horse this can cause problems and issues when training or even being around your horse as his or her focus is ONLY on food. This can be damaging to your relationship, detrimental to building a bond, and possibly dangerous.

So, how do you know your horse is food aggressive?

Does your horse….

Get overly excited and run around when you bring in food?
Check all your pockets and mug you if you have a treat on you?
Pays no attention to you and focuses only on the food in your hands?
Pulls on the lead when he sees food?
Practically runs you over to get to the feed bowl?
Grabs food or hay from your hands before you are ready to feed?

If any of these apply you know you have a food aggressive horse.

Now that you know that your horse is food aggressive, the first thing you want to do is stop carrying treats or food on you! You want your horse to realize that “you” does not equal “food”.

Do this just a few times in each session until your horse realizes that he has to focus and listen to you on when it is ok to eat. This will change his focus from “food, food, food, food” to “mom, can I have some food?”.

Just like a mare teaches her foal when it’s ok to nurse and not ok to nurse, you are teaching your horse what is sociably acceptable behavior around food and you. Be patient and work in baby steps to allow your horse to do well at this exercise.

Have fun and adjust where and when needed to help your horse learn in a fun, simple way that you are just showing him how you would like him to act when there is food involved.

How to Work with a Food Aggressive Horse

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Teddie's Fundamentals

Training Lessons (TF)

Bonus Lessons (TF)

Foundation Of Trust

Introduction to a Foundation Of Trust

The Concept Stage

The Introduction Stage

The Proximity Stage

The Nourishment Stage

Bonuses (FOT)

Beginning The Connection

Introduction to Mark’s Journey

The Stallion Series

Kit’s Training Lessons

Danny Boy’s Training Lessons