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  Discussion on Horse Attacked and Killed Goat
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Member:
Aannk

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 11:57 am:

We have a horse at our barn who exhibits what I beleive are stallion like behaviors. He apparently tries to mount ladies at that time (human ladies) and is in general not very well behaved. Anyway, Saturday, he attacked and killed a minature goat. I will not go into details of how it happened, but he was in an enclosed area with two goats (they could come and go, but he couldn't). He took one by the neck and threw it around and around, then threw it to the ground and stomped on it. They had a hard time getting him away from it. When they did get him off it, they turned him out and he ran around like a crazy horse for a long time.
I was wondering if maybe he could have a retained testicle? Or, has anyone else seen a horse do something like this? The owner wants to put him down, that is not my buisness, but I wanted to see if anyone else had experienced something like that.
Alicia
Member:
Dtranch

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 12:21 pm:

I have a 20yo AQHA who killed one of our goats a few years back. He is the protector of the herd, but never mean or overly aggressive. He is a great trail rider and very, very gentle to handle. But, on this occasion, he went after that goat and there was no stopping him. We had 3 goats, but the only one that he ever went after was the white one. Don't know if that is a factor or not. The only other time he was aggressive was when my nephews white pony got a little too playful with our foals, and he ran him off. He looked pretty serious about that. He has never so much as nipped at a human, and he is a great baby sitter. When we wean foals, he is their paddock pal.
DT
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 12:48 pm:

Dennis,
That is interesting to hear. This horse is turned out alone most of the time, so I don't know if he considers himself the boss or not. I heard today that they put him down, though, so I guess the question of whether he had an undescended testicle is a mute point. I'm glad you are able to keep your horse, and are aware of his "issue".
Thanks for the response, this is interesting to me.
Alicia
Member:
Christos

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 1:04 pm:

Hi, Alicia,
I have seen a horse shaking a goat much like a rag, many years ago. But I wouldn't think this is common, as in the area I live now, horses and goats frequently share the pastures and I have not heard of a single incident.
I also remember a very nasty horse being tamed by a little half wild goat. After chasing it around the stall for a couple of hours, snorting, squealing, biting, kicking and bucking like crazy, he decided there's no way he can get his teeth on this little critter that was jumping literally all over him, so they made best friends.
To the owner's amusement, in the beginning, and frustration, later, this notorious killer would not go anywhere anymore without his goat pal...
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 1:15 pm:

Christos,
Wow, another example of that! Interesting how many folks have seen this happen. I won't be telling the owner, as she had him put down, and I don't think she would appreciate me telling her it isn't as uncommon as she might think, but I am going to store this away as information for myself.
Alicia
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 6:17 pm:

It really angers me that before buying a car people have to have lessons and to pass a test; when they by an appliance they read the instruction book, and yet when it comes to horses the mere fact of handing the money over makes people experts. The one that should have been shot is the owner of the horse!

One of my horses nearly had the same faith, he was a stallion that lived 10 years by himself all alone, the more frustrated he became the more aggressive he became so people would always approach him whip in hand, which of course made the problem worse.

He has been gelded now, lives with five other horses, and he’s as happy as Larry, people cannot believe it is the same horse, the a/h that had him before heard about this and came to my yard demanding that I gave the horse to him! Claiming that he loved the horse, cheeky sod!

If I were you I would tell your friend so that if she ever decides to get another horse it will not have the same faith!

Ignorance is a deadly weapon,

Member:
Aannk

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 8:47 am:

Liliana,
I agree with you, but I can't say anything to her. The barn owner and her friend (the one who owned the goat) were also involved in this. If I did say anything, I would get thrown out of the barn, and I don't want that to happen to my horse. I have to be a good owner for mine, and I intend on doing that. It is bad enough I am saying anything here!!!
My vet said it was a valid reason to put him down. He wasn't happy about it, but he did do it.
Alicia
Member:
Bonita

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 10:50 am:

While I certainly don't condone euthanizing a horse for just any reason under the sun, I can see/rationalize the owner's decision here. Just think what havoc this horse could wreak if just "sold on down the pike" like so many dangerous horses are - not to mention what his own life would be like.

However, with reference to the goat incident, it is definitely not uncommon. Friends of mine owned a wonderful, sweet (in fact, so sweet he was donated to a therapeutic riding facility) gelding. When his pasture mate passed on, they thought they were doing him a favor by borrowing a goat from a neighbor to keep him company. His favorite "game" was to pick the goat up by the neck & throw it around. Thankfully, they were able to stop the game in time to save the goat & return it - a bit shaken - to the neighbor.

Some horses just don't like or understand goats, or small creatures in general methinks. . . .
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 11:08 am:

She was keeping him for life. He was around 20 years old. I think, seeing other comments on other boards, he may have had either an undescended testicle, or some kind of brain problem.
Interesting about the goat again. I just hope our goat owner learned her lesson. She has at least one more. She also has mini horses, chickens, stray cats, dogs, etc. She likes to bring them to our barn for some reason.
Alicia
Member:
Christos

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 3:39 pm:

As far as I understand from Alicia's first post, the goat is not the issue here.
The horse was ill mannered to the point that he was mounting people. Whether it was his fault or not is besides the point.
I think that they had a problem in their hands, they knew it and neither the owner nor the barn manager took care of it, until something was lying dead.
A tragedy? No! There could have been a child in the goat's position...
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 9:14 pm:

Indeed Christos, I feel that so many people forget just how powerful a horse can be, they are very gentle intelligent animals when treated and trained properly.

Perhaps it was the “kindest” way to make sure that this horse didn’t hurt anyone or got hurt himself, but, why is it that we the intelligent humans do not get it! So many accidents could have been prevented if only the people involved had understood the psychology of the horse
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 7, 2004 - 12:31 pm:

Liliana,
Exactly what I was thinking. Christos is right too.
Alicia
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