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Definition:
Definition:
Merriam-Webster:
Merriam-Webster:
Charging
to rush against, or attack
Barging
to thrust oneself needlessly or unceremoniously
Trampling
to tread heavily so as to bruise, crush, or injure
Creator, Credit, Copyright: Simon de Trey-White
Why does this happen?
Why does this happen?
A horse charging or barging at a person or others is showing a form of aggression. As discussed in the Aggression section, a horse will only show as much aggression as a situation calls for, so if the smaller signs of discomfort are ignored or go unnoticed, the horse may escalate their response to maintain its boundaries (1, 2). In all fairness, a horse coming at you can be incredibly scary and dangerous. Trampling, which may occur if a horse reaches its target or does not see someone in the path, makes up a significant portion of horse-related injuries (3). In order to prevent this dangerous situation, we must understand the circumstances that lead to the horse reacting in that way.
Where was the horse? Tied up? Escape routes? Surrounded by people?
What was happening? What were you doing? Where were you?
What behaviors did the horse show prior to charging? Did the horse "freeze"?
The charge/barge/trample reaction is born out of fear of being trapped with no other escape and is meant to move others out of a certain space (4). When possible, a horse will opt to minimize physical aggression to conserve energy and protect itself from injury (1, 2). This means that a horse will only charge/barge/trample if it feels it has no other options, or it could be a trauma response from a similar time in which the horse had no escape. Horses can hold long-term memories and create negative associations with humans (5).
How can we help?
How can we help?
While a horse at you full speed, ears pinned, and mouth first is incredibly scary, we must respond to de-escalate the aggression. As discussed, horses will only show as much aggression as the situation allows, so if we decrease the stress of the situation, we lower the amount of aggression the horse will feel it needs to show.
Step 1: Do Not Ignore Warning Signs
The behaviors exhibited by the horse prior to the charge/barge/trample were its warning signs that it felt stressed. Take note of these behaviors and watch for them during stressful procedures or situations, so you can adapt the situation to minimize stress and lower the chances of an explosive reaction.
Step 2: Give Space and Ensure Access to "Escape Routes"
Barging/Charging is a reaction to feeling trapped, and the goal is to displace another individual. "Standing your ground" only reinforces the confinement and increases the stress of the situation, and it puts you at risk of being trampled. Let the horse run and get yourself to safety behind a fence or some kind of barrier until it calms down. Additionally, ensure there are "escape routes" for the horse. The daily tasks we do with horses may not be stressful for us, but it can be an entirely different experience for the horse. Ensuring the horse has at least one unobstructed escape route can help to ease anxiety while confined for procedures, grooming, and more.
Step 3: Train for Cooperative Care
By training the horse to voluntarily stand and even participate in some cases, we can decrease the stress a horse may experience during necessary care tasks like hoof trims and ulcer treatment. Click the link above to learn more!
Sources:
Sources:
Heitor, F., do Mar Oom, M., & Vicente, L. (2006, May 19). Social relationships in a herd of sorraia horses: Part I. correlates of social dominance and contexts of aggression. Behavioural Processes. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037663570600146X
Heitor, F., Vicente, L. Dominance relationships and patterns of aggression in a bachelor group of Sorraia horses (Equus caballus). J Ethol 28, 35–44 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-009-0152-1
Hawson, L. A., McLean, A. N., & McGreevy, P. D. (2010, December 1). The roles of Equine Ethology and applied learning theory in horse-related human injuries. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787810000808
Sankey, C., Richard-Yris, M.-A., Henry, S., Fureix, C., Nassur, F., & Hausberger, M. (2010, May 21). Reinforcement as a mediator of the perception of humans by Horses (Equus caballus) - animal cognition. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-010-0326-9
McGreevy, P. (2013). Problems with the ridden horse. In Equine behavior: A guide for veterinarians and equine scientists (pp. 329–331). essay, Elsevier.
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