Dangerous Filly!

by Mereyehia Taylor
(Ontario, Canada.)

My 1 1/2 filly has no manners!

I've been riding since I was 2 years old, and have faced horses like this, she pins her ears at me, attempts to bite my mother and kick everyone who tries to go near her. I was working her in our round pen and and deliberately went in front of me and gave me two boots to the ribs.

I've had this filly since she was 6 months. I don't have the heart to sell her, because she has her moments of being a baby doll, she usually is decent to me, but anyone else that goes near her she is a complete different mare, she despises my mother.

It's obvious she does not respect anyone other then herself. She needs to cut the attitude or my mom said she's gone.

Please help me save my filly!


Hi Mereyehia,

First let's remember that horses are not born with manners, this is something we are responsible for teaching them and not something we should assume they have.

Bonding and Boundaries are your tools. This filly is demonstrating very natural behaviors. They constantly test their boundaries, are very playful and require social interaction with other horses. You haven’t described her living environment so there could be many other factors affecting her aggressiveness.

What were your intentions when you say you were working her in the round pen? She is too young to be chased around and it’s never effective for creating good manners or a bonding relationship regardless of age. Whatever it was you were attempting created a tremendous defensiveness on her part, thus kicking you. Ouch! You mention she doesn’t respect anyone other than herself. This translates into self preservation on her part. Then you need to ask why. Why would she feel this way with you? What have her experiences with humans taught her so far? What can you do with her successfully? i.e. groom, pick up feet, lead etc.


If you try to force a young horse like this into submitting you will only end up with a more fierce horse believing they have reason to defend themselves against humans. Positive reinforcement methods are your best tools plus finding a good mentor in your area to help. Please take some time to read through our site particularly training for young horses so you can become more familiar with Clicker training and positive reinforcement ideas.

P.S. There can be positive and negative energy that we transmit through the names we give our horses. Please change her name to something more positive, this will help how she feels about your intent. She could be living up to the title of Chaos! :0)


Elaine Polny
Horses by Nature