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Post by LMSmith on Nov 28, 2012 18:30:40 GMT
I need some ideas of how to discipline my mare. I am fast running out of ideas and it is starting to drive me crazy. She does not like people in her space and tries to bite me as soon as I go in the stable and when I am putting haynets up. This is not just average biting, she is diving at me with he mouth wide open and her ears flat back. You can hear her teeth snapping as well when she does this  This is not totally out of character behaviour as like I have said she does not like people in her space but it is getting a little out of hand now and nothing I am doing seems to make any difference to her behaviour. Any ideas (and I mean ANYTHING) will be a great help as I am willing to consider trying anything if it may help her. Thanks Leanne |
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Post by smiggs on Nov 30, 2012 9:44:46 GMT
Do you know the background of your mare?
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Post by LMSmith on Nov 30, 2012 10:37:19 GMT
I have had my mare since she was 4 years old, she is now 12. (she went out on loan as a broodmare for two years and came back last November) She has never been easy but these last few weeks have been a nightmare. I do have some ideas about why her behaviour has always been difficult but I will pm you with details  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2012 11:12:33 GMT
hormones maybe? only ever had one mare
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Post by LMSmith on Nov 30, 2012 11:55:11 GMT
No don't think its hormones lol the only time she is really nice is when she is in season haha! Complete oposite to most mares!!
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Tywood
Full Member
"Great ponies are never forgotten, just locked away in our hearts"
Posts: 482
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Post by Tywood on Nov 30, 2012 12:22:50 GMT
This may be a long shot, but I had a pony who was like this in the stable especially around food, we think it was because he lacked confidence (maybe due to being hit/bullied in the past) and by being 'nasty' ( "Don't come near me") was his way of keeping himself feeling safe! The only way we could deal with him was to take him out of the stable and tie him outside while mucking out, tying nets etc and feeding him by putting his bucket over the door. I think being in the stable made him feel trapped and made the anxiety worse!
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Post by LMSmith on Nov 30, 2012 12:41:27 GMT
Thanks for the reply Tywood. It could be the food issue but I truly don't believe it is. I can muck out around her if I take my time and quiet, same with putting nets up etc.
Can't tie her up outside unfortunately as she just breaks off :/ I tie her up in the stable more often than not but even tied up she still tries to go for me.
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Post by Kaseyleigh on Nov 30, 2012 13:51:25 GMT
i know this may sound harsh but try a grazing muzzle
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Post by dtw17nicola on Nov 30, 2012 14:25:00 GMT
try giving this guy a ring 07974214990,hes called mickey gavin hes brilliant bit like a monty roberts guy but he talks you through everything over the phone for free.i have a sec d that has ppl issues and he talked me through loads of exercises building the ground work up.his aim is to educate ppl in how horses work he would rather never meet his clients and not charge them then he has hit his goal of educating ppl.like i said hes free give him a ring you have nothing to loose by the sounds of things if he doesnt answer leave a voice mail he will get back to you.good luck and never give up!
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Post by lulah on Dec 3, 2012 14:59:09 GMT
i would go back to basic groundwork and in hand excersises outside in an arena and inside her stable . it sounds like she is just being very rude. i think it needs to be actually sorted rather than just masked (literally!) with muzzles or being tied up.
good luck =]
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Post by LMSmith on Dec 3, 2012 15:06:58 GMT
Thanks lulah I will route my groundwork book out and see what things she may be able to cope with |
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Post by equineunity on Dec 3, 2012 18:46:14 GMT
Hi, yes i agree back to groundwork basics. Lots of backing out of your space exercises. You need to become the dominant mare of your relationship. I am an NH trainer and can dicuss in more detail if you wish pm me. Where abouts are you? Dani
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Post by beauty on Dec 27, 2012 8:50:21 GMT
My pony use to be just like this, and it might sound a little harsh and it also depends on whether you feel you can trust your mare not to kick out but I use to tie my pony up in the stable on a short rope and would groom her and and spend time around her and gradually lengthen her lead rope and it really worked for me all horses are different so it could be hopeless but as I said it worked for my pony just be careful she become worse and obviously hurt herself or you trying to become free. But I'm sure you no whether it would anger her more being tied up.
Hope it's of some use
Good luck
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TheBooMan
Junior Member
Brave owner of an angry red head!
Posts: 102
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Post by TheBooMan on Jan 13, 2013 19:45:20 GMT
My boy can be like this partly due to a beaten past, but a lot of the time its due to frustration and boredom now. I can pretty much know what mood he's in from the moment i see him and with that i know how to be in the stable. If he's in a super bad mood i need to just do my thing and leave him to it. If he's in a good mood we have a little bond and play. I'm pretty sure i said this in another post but your body language is an instant give away of your mood and trust in your horse. Go in thinking happy thoughts and like she's the most cuddly nice pony in the world not thinking she's going to have a munch on you Hope this helps. |
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Post by LMSmith on Jan 13, 2013 20:16:44 GMT
I normally have a cuddle with her over the stable door before I go in as she is really lovely when you are on the other side of the door but as soon as I go in I am invading her space! She would hang a KEEP OUT sign on her stable door if she could lol. She is very much like a teenager who wants her own space :/ this would be fine if she could feed herself and muck her own mess out but unfortunately she isn't that well trained  |
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Post by wisher86 on Jan 14, 2013 19:25:54 GMT
my horse is nasty in the stable, i cant keep my eye off her or i get a chuck out of me. but im used to her now. i just ignore now, it was hard at the beginning tho.
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Post by LMSmith on Jan 14, 2013 20:26:18 GMT
my horse is nasty in the stable, i cant keep my eye off her or i get a chuck out of me. but im used to her now. i just ignore now, it was hard at the beginning tho. Don't get me wrong I am used to it however it is not acceptable behaviour and once again she tried kicking me again while I mucked out around her tonight  It would be nice if she would just behave though as she would have such an easy life! |
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Post by mountainsandhorses on Jan 14, 2013 20:35:20 GMT
To me it sounds like she is in some kind of pain- is she standing without food as the weather has drawn in? Horses with gastric problems can often turn "nasty" in their discomfort (can't we all) Mine are all turned out but have become more boisterous as there is more urgency in getting to their feed or haylage. It could be back pain or tooth pain or many other things but, as a rule and forgetting hormones I think they only change like this as a result of something else bothering them. Please understand I am not suggesting you are causing her to be in pain but it might be the only way she can make it known something is not right.
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Post by LMSmith on Jan 14, 2013 20:51:01 GMT
She is not without food, had her teeth done a couple of months ago, been checked over by vet when she had her injections. She is being ridden fine so dosnt seem to be anything wrong with her back. She is seriously flexible when itching as well (even my physio mentioned how far she can flex lol) so really don't think its pain. I think its in her head  as she has never been easy in the stable even when she was younger! |
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Post by gillwales on Jan 14, 2013 21:49:50 GMT
has she hit her poll? I have had experience where a horse had hit his and it developed into brain damage due to a bleed in the brain. The unstable temper developed several years later. I know someone else who also had a pony with this, his behavior became erratic and dangerous f course this may not be the case with your mare but is a possibility.
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Post by LMSmith on Jan 15, 2013 0:23:28 GMT
I can lead her around the yard, in and out of stable fine. Riding is fine as long as I sit quietly but this has been the case since I bought her 8 years ago. She is lovely over the stable door and if she is out in the indoor school. It is only when you are in "her" space that she becomes a problem....
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Post by bow1607 on Jan 22, 2013 23:05:51 GMT
I would also go down the nh route, plenty of join up work and back to basics.
Has anything changed in her routine when she started this?
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Post by LMSmith on Jan 23, 2013 15:45:23 GMT
I have PM'd you bow1607 |
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Post by bow1607 on Jan 23, 2013 17:19:44 GMT
messaged you back |
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as she has never been easy in the stable even when she was younger!
