Aggressive mare on box rest any ideas?

[AngelaP]

Our 16 year old usually wonderful natured mare is currently on box rest due to a short bout of laminitis, I say short as we spotted it and took her straight and vet attended etc. She is well and truly on the mend now as it has been three weeks. But she is becoming more and more aggressive by the day. She goes for us ears pinned back showing her teeth but the biggest problem is my mare who is stabled next to her, we cannot move her as we only have two stables and she is making the poor girls life a misery. She is covered in bites (some of which have drew blood). Between the stables we have a lower wall towards the back. We have put wood up which she smashes down to get at her. They are usually the best of friends as there is only the two them. I have spoken to my vet who still wants her to remain in for the time being, this morning was just terrible I was rugging up my mare when without warning she flew at her over the wall and took the rug clean off her back with such force in ended up in her own stable! I am beginning to be quite fearful now, I keep thinking what if she goes for her and i end being crushed by my mare trying to get away. I have tried everything, rugging up on the yard, all she did then was try to get over the stable door to get at her. I don’t want to have to raise my voice or smack her as I don’t ever do that with my girls. I’ve even muzzled her while i see to my other one which only made her more angry. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading x

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My mare has been box rested 3 months - laminitis she has more to come . She has been sweet natured and loving.

Try look here there are some ideas

http://equinecare-and-control.weebly.com/relieving-boardom-on-box-rest.html

 

[maresRus]

hi
I had a mare who was just like yours on box rest. Started ok but then got very upset, kicking the stable to bits.
I found it was all jealousy. She was bored and hated not being given lots of attention which would also happen when you ride. She got even more upset when she saw me groom / ride other horse as that just seemed to add insult her more.
While the stables have solid railing between them, I hung up rugs between the stables to give the mare on box rest some privacy. I've found mare don't always like to be looked at by others (if you watch any Monty Roberts then staring /eye contact is control - or at least that is my interpretation!)

Spending as much time as possible with the box rested horse is important, doing grooming , give polos, just make her feel special. I even found clipping the box rested mare chilled her out as she likes it and just wanted me to herself.

As soon as I was allowed to get on the box rested mare and walk her down the road she stopped the bad behaviour as she was getting my attention.

There are lots of products on the market to keep them occupied like balls with treat in them. Mirrors can work well.....but I think she just wants you.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

please view thiis website for tips.

http://equinecare-and-control.weebly.com/relieving-boardom-on-box-rest.html
Also remember with a laminitic don't give m normal polos use the sugar free ones and only a few a day

 

[AngelaP]

Thank you so much for the ideas folks, well last night full of excitement I arrived at the yard like super Mum with a football – she seemed impressed until she popped it within 30 seconds hahaha, I think that it is really down to jealousy. This morning she went mental when I went into our other mare. My daughter went in with and within seconds she was calm and loving again so the mornings will need to be a two man job from now on. The vet is ringing me today so hopefully she may be able to go out for short periods with a muzzle on. I let her out for ten minutes last night while I mucked out and she was charging up and down bucking and snorting with her tail in her air so it’s certainly looking as if she is all better!
Thanks again xx