Advice for dominant mare please

[bobbydazzler]

I have recently aquired a 3 year old filly who likes to be in charge. She can be very friendly on her terms, but if you try to push her out of 'your space' then she will put her ears back at you, and if you really insist she will turn her bum on you and throw out a leg or two. This issue is even worse with food, another lady on the yard went to fetch her horse in and always takes carrots with her, when she refused to give my mare one she promptly turned her bum on her and chased her across the field with her back legs, needless to say she is not in with other peoples horses anymore!

Any advice on exercises i can do with her, she has not been backed yet and need to build up a good relationship with her on the ground before i even think about it.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Let her know that YOU are in charge. Never mind exercises, smack her if she threatens you, that is what her mum did when she was a foal and what another horse would do. I would also put her back into a herd as she NEEDS to learn good manners and her place in the herd.

 

[Dolcé]

If I took a carrot into my field and only it to one then I would likely get trampled - silly thing to do!

Groundwork, every single time you handle her has to be a lesson, lots of moving her out of your space with a head collar and praise for doing it well, lots of stopping and standing when you are leading her, just don't allow any bad behaviour, control it by using voice and body language (I also use treats but wouldn't recommend that to anyone else) and don't allow yourself to be put in a situation where she can threaten you. I think you will be surprised at how quickly she learns the boundaries as long as you are consistent.

 

[Enfys]

I have recently aquired a 3 year old filly who likes to be in charge. She can be very friendly on her terms, but if you try to push her out of 'your space' then she will put her ears back at you, and if you really insist she will turn her bum on you and throw out a leg or two. I would put a halter on her before you do anything with her, don't give her the opportunity to threaten you, she can't turn her back end to you if you have her head This issue is even worse with food, another lady on the yard went to fetch her horse in and always takes carrots with her as said, asking for trouble , when she refused to give my mare one she promptly turned her bum on her and chased her across the field with her back legs, needless to say she is not in with other peoples horses anymore!

Any advice on exercises i can do with her, she has not been backed yet and need to build up a good relationship with her on the ground before i even think about it.

How much groundwork has she done? Is she lunging? Long-reining? Does she know how to back up, move over, all the basic basics?

 

[bobbydazzler]

Thanks guys, think i just needed some reassurance that i was on the right track with her. I've dealt quite a lot with babies who like to test their bounderies and generally you only have to tell them a few times for them to get the picture, but this little madam is extremely strong willed!

Was doing some inhand work with her tonight and we have progress I was getting her to move over and just had to click my fingers at her side for her to move we still had the swishing tail and facepulling whilst moving but when she stood still i was standing nearly a leadropes length away so if she had really wanted to threaten me she could, but she just stood there looking at me as if to say, 'come on mum, i've moved over, where's my fuss'

I think i must have had a more positive attitude due to your comments and it shows that persistance does pay off. I have been doing this with her twice a day for 2 and a half weeks, and was really starting to get disheartened.
Hopefully it wont be too long before i'm lunging her, but want to be a little more established as boss first before i allow her to be in a position where she can let those back legs loose

Thanks again guys, will try and post a pic of her so you can see her devil horn ears

 

[Aperchristmas]

I have a 16hh cob so I have a big thing for my own "space". When I first got him, he was very bolshy (sp) so I have done a lot of ground work with him. Most of it involves just moving him around, which is still quite hard to do but he is getting better with time. The thing I have really been insistent on is that he stays out of my space, especially at feed time. I use my growly voice in the field and put my arm out straight with my hand in a "stop" sign. He very quickly learned that he could come no closer than my arm and that he wasn't allowed to snack from the wheelbarrow as I push it round the field.

Basically, be very firm and if necessary, carry a stick to get her out of your space. The rest of his groundwork is coming on much better now he respects my space.