Aggressive pony, what next

little_critter

little_critter

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Over the last 6 weeks my pony has been getting more aggressive in the stable. Especially when I try to groom her sides.
For 4 weeks we had no turnout so I thought it might be due to that so I've moved yards. After a week if good turnout she is still aggressive in the stable (turns to bite but rarely gets me, like she's just warning me off, if I don't get the message she threatens to kick)
She used to be very trustworthy and never aggressive.
I'm wondering whether its a medical issue ( but seems fit and well, eating well, coat looks good)
After a month of no turnout does she still think of me as the nasty person who shut her in?
Is it behavioural?
So what next, vet? behavioural person? Give her more time?
 
Is she the same if you groom her outside?
4 weeks of no turnout could have made her anxious, I dont blame her, ulcers can start if stressed and stabled, is she in work has her behaviour then changed at all?
She may just need time to chill, I would try and leave her alone in the stable, do everything you need to before putting her away with her food.
 
She is a bit better tied up outside. During the month of no turnout she was also off work but I walked her out in hand each night as a leg stretch/ change of scenery. We've been back in work for 2 weeks now. Her ridden behaviour is the same as before. She's not a stressy girl but I can imagine she was fed up.
I'm guilty of spending too much time fussing over her trying to work out why she's grumpy. Maybe she wants me to bugger off!
 
I would try removing as much sugar as you can from her diet and any alfalfa and get her on a good dose of yea-sacc.
 
Firstly don't put yourself in danger so i would remove your horse from the stable when grooming and rugging up etc.

She could be a bit mareish, my last horse was horrible to be around when she was loose but fine tied up.

If she turns to bite you let her bump into your elbow, you basically want any negative behaviour to end with the horse receiving discomfort, I'm not suggesting you beat her up!

Eventually your horse will learn it's much better to just not be horrible and will hopefully not feel the need to bite at you.
 
My guess is that it is to do with anxiety due to her experiences with no turnout. I would work around it and groom her outside if it makes her happier. Give her more time for now.
 
She's already on a pretty basic diet: Spillers lite balancer and hifi lite. I've been dealing with the biting by basically ignoring it and continuing to fo what im doing do she doesnt achieve anything by being nasty. If I punish/ retaliate it just escalates. If she gets too bad I can push her head away, or make sure she bites the grooming brush instead of me. As I said, I don't think she actually wants to hurt me, she could have taken lumps out of me many times over if she'd wanted too. It feels like she's saying 'don't touch me'
This is new begaviour, she is not a mareish mare. And it's not all the time, most if the time she is lovely but has a time most days when she has her 'I hate you' head on.
Ill give it another week then call the vet if no change.
 
Hifi Lite makes my mare grumpy. And she behaves in a similar way if she has a sore belly (which yea-sacc will help)
 
I'd opt for a comprehensive blood test, just in case there is anything underlying her behaviour.

You know your pony best, and whether she is more aggressive than she's been previously under the same management regime, so if you believe her behaviour is not normal, then it's definitely worth checking out.

Aggression could be caused by pain. It can also be one of the signs of liver disease. Not suggesting that this is the cause for your pony, but a blood test might help to rule out some things.

Sarah
 
It could be hormonal.Mares can get very sore sides when having a season...might be worth trying a supplement. Also is she like it when you sddle her ??
 
In addition to all the above, ensure her rugs, (which I assume you are now using) fit her comfortably. i see a suprising amount of horses and ponies with ill fitting rugs, causing soreness and worse.
 
little_critter said:
Over the last 6 weeks my pony has been getting more aggressive in the stable. Especially when I try to groom her sides.
For 4 weeks we had no turnout so I thought it might be due to that so I've moved yards. After a week if good turnout she is still aggressive in the stable (turns to bite but rarely gets me, like she's just warning me off, if I don't get the message she threatens to kick)
She used to be very trustworthy and never aggressive.
I'm wondering whether its a medical issue ( but seems fit and well, eating well, coat looks good)
After a month of no turnout does she still think of me as the nasty person who shut her in?
Is it behavioural?
So what next, vet? behavioural person? Give her more time?
Click to expand...

That would be my guess.

How you redeem yourself in her eyes is another matter. Try and change your normal routine to another that includes turn out? You are her keeper and gaoler and as such all things (in her eyes) come from you, whether they do or not, pleasant or unpleasant.
 
The first thing that jumped into my mind when I read this was ulcers. Stabling horses for prolonged periods puts them at a very high risk of ulcers, and the signs you describe are very typical ulcer signs. I would get her scoped & checked.

The other possibility in a mare would be some sort of hormonal, but it's not my first thought, not at this time of year as the weather gets colder.
 
If in doubt get the vet to have a look. In the meantime I would avoid doing the activities that are agravating her, it is not worth stressing her more. If she grooms better outside do it outside, if she is rugged I would question regular grooming anyway, is it necessary other than to tack up?
My lad took some time to come right having been stabled for laminitis. It took him a while to be 'comfortable' in his stable again even when turned out in the day...maybe that is happening with your horse?
 
Not sure why you had no turnout for four weeks. If its not because she had to stay in for four weeks for a medical condition I would move yards. Its silly keeping a horse in for weeks if you are not allowed to turn out due to the weather. They are horses and they are not designed to live in stables. Turnout is the best thing for them. It is unfair and cruel not to turn out. After four weeks in a 12 x 12 stable you would be aggressive too!
 
varkie said:
The first thing that jumped into my mind when I read this was ulcers. Stabling horses for prolonged periods puts them at a very high risk of ulcers, and the signs you describe are very typical ulcer signs. I would get her scoped & checked.
Click to expand...

This! If she was without turnout for such a long time at her previous yard it's more than likely the stress may have caused ulcers.
 
Well i think i've got the sister to your grumpy pony. Exactly the same , you could have been talking about her in fact . Millie has always been fiesty, we bought her as a companion to my mare . Millie didn't like Zo very much and was defo the boss. After a year of working out what made millie tick ( gentle handling, better to groom outside than in etc dodge the teeth & feet ) We lost Zo , millie pined for a week, calling for her buddy ( so she did like her after all ) then she settled and she became a nice pony very little aggression at all, it was quite a turnaround. Then i ruined it by bringing home a rescue horse, thinking millie would be glad of a mate ( after all we keep being advised not to keep horses on their own ) Back to the old ways but 100 times worse it, now takes two of us to safely groom her, and thats only getting the mud off and picking out feet . She's out all day in at night ,no rugs as she's 13 and never had one ( apart from the week she stood next to Zo's grave 24/7 is the only time she let me put a rug on her as it was wet & windy ) is a pure new forest so pretty tough. thats where were at, my daughter is losing interest , who would want to look after such a pony. I feel desperately sorry for millie she must be so unhappy we try and love her but she throws it back at you. Not ready to give up yet, does anyone have any suggestions. She's only on grass , hay & a handful of high fibre nuts to come in to at night. sorry to steal your post ,sound like we have similar problems though ! x
 
For those still saying I should move yards please read my previous posts ... I already have!
I moved a week ago and she's had great turn out for a week now and is still grumpy (though not as bad).
There was no turnout at last yard due to waterlogged fields.
Vet is coming to see her on Wednesday.
I am trying to minimise grooming so as not to upset her but even a quick and gentle flick over to tack up sets her off. Also yesterday she tried to get me when I was picking out feet- she just doesn't want me near her.
 
It'll be interesting to see what the vet thinks, do share ! Although I think it's a dominance issue, she has moved recently so got new horses to contend with same as my millie has lost her companion and got a new one to share with. I think if millie were kept alone as an 'only pony' somewhere she would be happy to be honest.
 
Ill let you know what vet says. I don't think it's a dominance thing as the aggression was at its worst at the old yard where nothing had changed (other than a lack of turnout for a month). Also she can be nice as pie one moment bit if you try to touch her she gets aggressive.
 
Well vet has been and she is happy to refer pony for a gastroscope. While we are not a 'classic' case she has had other horses that are not 'classic cases' that turned out to have ulcers.
Management -wise we are already doing the right things (good turnout, low sugar diet, low stress, access to hay)
 
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