Who Took My Carrot? Handling the Once Starved Horse at Feeding Time

Have you got a horse who is impatient for hisan hour either way (at least at the beginning), it is
feed? One who will attack others if they comeacceptable to your horse. It is also useful to note
close to his feed bin? Even sometimes his owner?that braking their habits bring up stress in horses,
In my experience, such aggressive horse haswhich may cause physical ailments, in particular
turned like this because he has been starved in hisEquine Gastric Ulcer. Once starved horses are
life. So you might reply, but he has all the feed hevery likely to have some form of ulcers so
needs now! The word "now" does not meanreducing any risk is wise.
much to the horse. He remembers that in theTry to use the same feeding spot if you can.
past, he did not receive enough food, and this isYour horse will know when and where and will
enough for him to remember it, even years later.wait for you there. It makes him feel safe.
During an intuitive communication session, it isThese emotionally damaged horses usually need
possible to find out more about it and to reassureto be separated from the others at feeding time.
the horse that he is now fine and he can trust hisIt is best to find a spot where he cannot see the
feed will come everyday. Now, please, make sureothers and they cannot come near him.
it does!To avoid any more impatient comportment and
However, there are things the owner can do toto show your horse that he will be fed, one
help the healing process. I have to warn you thatshould give him his food first, before any other
it is a very slow process though. The horse needshorses.
to understand and remember that he will get hisNow, a very important thing to do is to talk to
feed everyday, no matter what, and no one willyour horse like you were talking to a person. Tell
ever steal it from him. Seems simple, but for ahim everything is all right now. Tell him you love
horse, it is not.him and you will take good care of him. Tell him
The once starved horse will wait for his feedno one sill steal his food and he will always get
maybe hours before it is time. He will pace up andplenty. If your horse does not mind being touched
down, neigh, stomp, charge others away, kick etc.while eating, gently and lovingly stroke his neck
As humans, one might think that to show thewhilst talking to him. Let your true love for him
horse not to be impatient, one will make him waitflow from your heart, through your fingers and
even longer. This worsens the horse's attitude andinto him. And if you listen carefully, you might
it is not teaching him anything good. On the"hear" him talking back to you!
contrary, it is reinforcing his knowledge that hisYou can use Flower Essences remedies to help
feed is not coming, and maybe will not come at allhim regain the trust that he will be fed.
and he will go hungry. Bad memories come backOver time, your horse will start changing his
and get imprinted even more in his mind.thoughts and will not be as aggressive and
So what can you do?demanding as he realises that yes, he can now
First of all, it is a good thing to remind ourselvestrust his feed will be provided for him. He might
that horses are creatures of habit. So once younever entirely forget his ordeal and will always
have set a time to feed your pony, the first thinghave it in the back of his mind, but it will surely
is to stick to the timetable. Of course, we alsoimprove his attitude.
need a bit of slack for ourselves, so within an half