Advice wanted on a mare - what could it be??

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Mooey

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A mare at my yard was fine when we first turned her out with 1 girl and 1 boy. Then they moved into the summer fields and there was another mare who she formed an extremely strong bond with. If anyone tried to get a horse out of the field she would go for them and then turn on her "best friend". It became dangerous and she is now turned out on her own. She was very lonely so we tried once more and put a pony in with her her and they were absolutely fine. As soon as we went in the field to stroke the pony, she again came at us teeth bared and then began attacking the pony - which we have now taken out.

She used to be stabled 24/7 and was unhappy so used to misbehave and was sold on. She now lives out 24/7 and is much much happier, she is fine on the yard with other horses and will hack out happily with them - its just in the field when try and take a horse out. We found out that she has had a cesarian in the past and someone sugguested that this can "turn them funny"....

Any advice or suggestions? Was thinking of speaking to owners about her seeing a behavioural specialist or something??

Thanks
 
It sounds to me like she is trying to prevent you taking her new friend away, by driving her away. It's likely to be like an aggressive form a separation anxiety, but how you cure it is another matter!
 
Agree with the above. Can you do something like put cows in with her so she's not as lonely? This might become dangerous if she continues to be agressive, however...
 
The trick may be to put her in with a horse who is more dominant than her.

My TB used to be very dominant towards my old pony (they had their own field together) to the point where you had to take the TB out first rather than the pony who would otherwise get attacked.

Several years on and the tables have now turned (RIP Bambi). My TB now shares a field with my other horse who is more dominant than him. You have to take the other horse out first, otherwise the TB gets attacked.
 
Unfortunately we don't have any other livestock on the farm and no one is willing to put their horse in with her again (understandably!)...

I just can't work out why she attacks the other horse as well as humans?

Does anyone have any experience of a behavioural specialist and the success rate?
 
'Attacking' the other horse would make a lot of sense to her as it stops you from taking it away. She is basically trying to stop you getting near it. Her other option would be to attack you! I feel a bit sorry for her as she is obviously desperate to keep her mate. I would always make sure there are 2 people and to catch her first before attempting to go near the other horse.
 
I don't know why she is doing it, but plonk her in the field with an electric fence between her and the other horses. She can see her friends without causing problems when it comes to taking her in and out. My Mare gets silly towards her companion shetland sometimes. He has to know his place, which is basically behind her. They are friends, but sometimes she is really horrible to him.
 
I think she attacks the other pony through jealousy or fear that you are going to take the other pony away.

My two geldings are absolutely fine together in the field when left to their own devices, but as soon as I turn up to get them in the more dominant one turns on the other one, teeth gnashing, legs flying through the air etc. Not nice.
 
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I think she attacks the other pony through jealousy or fear that you are going to take the other pony away.

I would agree with this. My horse is like this in the winter, but not the summer and does not like me talking to other horses.

He is like this in the winter and with Jake, I think it has to do with food. He doesnt bother in the summer. In the winter Jake is always brought in from the field first and the other horses know what he is like and stay well away from him when he is at the gate.

I think an animal behaviourist would be able to help.
 
We did put a section fence devide but she was lashing out with her front legs and pulled the whole thing down so we decided it would be safer for her to be in a completely separate field. She can see the horses in the field next door but there is post and rail between them. We have had to put a 1m wide gap in between though as she just kept striking out. Its an awful situation as she loves humans and she is generally a lovely horse - i just don't think she has been well socialised which is why she is so insecure. Its not doing her any good being on her own as when it comes to intergrating her into a herd in the future if ever she was sold on it would be so overwhelming for her. I think i will research a behavourist and see if they can help!

Thanks for all your posts.
 
What if you were to turn her out with more than 1 horse, and change the group daily, so that she doen't form a strong bond with any of them!!
 
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