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Post by princessstacie22 on Jul 24, 2009 22:45:17 GMT
Hiya My young WB mare seems to be absolutley vile when she has got/ is expecting her feed. She has never really had anything traumatic happen to her with food and never been bullied for it etc so i am puzzled to why she is like it. She threatens to kick out and pulls the most horrible faces. I am keen to nip this in the bud now as i wouldn't want anyone to get hurt. Any ideas or suggestions on why she is like it and how i can tackle it? Thanks in advance x
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Post by eskvalleystud on Jul 25, 2009 8:17:53 GMT
usually there IS a reason for this, we have a 3 year old who is a big woose in the field, is bullied by all the others and at the bottom of the pecking order, he was fine with food until he was weaned - I have tried all sorts of things to stop him doing it, the best thing I have found is to quiety put his food in his stable, or hay out in the field avoiding confrontation and just let him be, doesn't solve the problem but doesn't make it worse by telling him off and making the situation even more stressful for him (tried that too and it did not work) hopefully in time if he doesn't see it as being stressful he will get better!
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Post by princessstacie22 on Jul 25, 2009 15:12:50 GMT
yes she has done it since being weaned also but i used to be able to go and sit with her whilst she ate but not got a chance now!!! She is only out with my sec a mare so i know she is'nt getting bullied. I just dont know what to do with her to make her better. I have friends looking after her at the mo while my foot is broken and i really dont want one of them getting hurt. I dont think she would actually kick but she threatens to and i cant risk someone getting hurt. x
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Post by gadabout on Jul 25, 2009 18:59:14 GMT
I have owned 54 mares in my lifetime and bred 15 foals, mostly t.b. I have had one filly at weaning who would have you, no matter what. I tried to reckon with her but she never changed. She was totally territorial about her stable, outside a doll. To ride a doll. To feed she would have you. I loved the bones of her, she broke my heart when she died at six with a hamorrage. I used to put feed in before her and leave her till she had finished and then go in and tie her up to groom her. For her shortgivings she made up for it in many other ways. She was loved by everyone on the yard. I also knew her dam and sire and they were not like her. I never got the chance to breed off her, but I feel she would have been sharp with you over her foal for the first week or two. Amazingly you get to know how to handle them and then everything settles down.
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Post by eskvalleystud on Jul 26, 2009 21:52:26 GMT
at the end of the day, you cannot expect each one to be as good as the other in the same respects, my one who is a pain at feed times is the most willing to please young chap to work with, he is also the one who loves to come for a chat in the field to say hi, loves humans and is such great company when the others are too busy grazing to say hi, feed times he is not the same, I just say leave it, work out a way you can get food out without anyone being hurt, most of the time though, you will find its empty threats as is with my guy, in the 3 years I have not had anything happen - you too may find that you may need to accept that this may be the one thing you will have to work around when all other aspects are very good
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Post by sageandonion on Jul 28, 2009 16:44:52 GMT
I have never had this problem but I don't think I would worry about it too much. I leave mine alone to enjoy their food as I am rather greedy and possessive about my own dinner (and the chocolate afterwards). I just think this is their time.
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Post by sarah00000 on Jul 28, 2009 17:34:17 GMT
I have never had this problem but I don't think I would worry about it too much. I leave mine alone to enjoy their food as I am rather greedy and possessive about my own dinner (and the chocolate afterwards). I just think this is their time. PMSL ....... ;D ;D
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Post by princessstacie22 on Jul 28, 2009 17:53:39 GMT
Well all seems to be fine now she is a changed person!!! We have been adding Mag calm to her feeds and it seemes to have worked a treat! I can seem to do anything with her now. although she does wonder why i am hobbling!{she broke my foot}. Sageandonion you really crack me up at times!!!!
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Post by Ziggy on Aug 4, 2009 18:19:37 GMT
Sageandonion i totally agree I've ahd two ponies now who were and are little minx's with thier food. Our two year old loves her food so much. she is the sweetest little pony most of the time but when she is eating, well she is not impressed if you go near her to say the least. Just leave her to it, reckon like you it is thier time. Princesstacie I am glad magnesium calmer helped it certianly helped one pony I had but di not touch another so, well they are all different just like children!
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Post by cassie30 on Aug 4, 2009 19:10:41 GMT
I would just leave well alone while eating one of my mares are this way and she has never been bullied she is the sweetest mare except with feed. I wouldn't spend money on calmers for that reason. I like others would have anyone who dared go near my dinner! If she is good in all other ways just let her get on with it.
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