Anyone know how to deal with a TRICKY mare?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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Millie has always been a tricky pony but this last month or so she seems worst!

Her latest is She has stated squealing and turning her arse to me when I bend down to undo the front of her rugs. I could understand if I was near her back end but I am stood at her neck
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!!


And here are her other issues


She tries to bite me (or the door frame if she can't reach me) when I stroke her in the stable.

She won't let me brush her legs.

She keeps chasing the dog (and kicked him the other day!
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)

She has always been a nightmare with the farrier and needs twitching to let the vet or Chiro near her.

She is very fidgety to tack up.

She will charge at people who dare to go near the fence of her filed
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Most problems seem to stem from being touched, any one else had these problem? Do you think she is just very sensitive?

She comes into season Monthly, Is this normal?

Any ideas or suggestions would be VERY much appreciated as I am at my wits end!
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It sounds as though her hormone levels are possibly the cause of her behavior, I would be inclined to have her examined and blood tested by a specialist Stud Vet. There maybe something like an ovarian cyst causing the problem. In very rare ocassions I have known Vets to carry out a hysterectomy on Mares that have had serious hormonal problems that put, both the horse & handler/rider in danger. It is something that is not done routinely as there is a bigger surgical risk than that of spaying a dog or a cat. I would certainly look into this sooner rather than later as you are putting yourself & others at risk while she is feeling agressive! Good luck.
 
Have her looked at re. above advice.
However is it possible she is takng on the role of lead mare. I knew one who cam e to my yard with severe attitude problem. she would kick in stable, bite, etc. and I only intervened when she became unsafe by jumping out over me when removing water bucket from stable through very small gap in open door!
I put halter on her and walked her in and out, with schooling whip across chest ( not to hit her, but so she felt resistance on chest when barging). THis worked in about 5 mins. We were then just rather strict about other behaviour, again being firm. Sometimes they just need a reminder of what is accepable!
 
She sounds like she has very bad PMS! I agree with the other answers ask the vet. If she is getting to a stage where she is unmanagable there are some options such as implants which may help. You could have a go with some of the supplements too, we have used nuprafeed and had some good results, but not on such extreme cases.
 
I agree with the others about getting her checked out medically but it sounds to me like a dominant mare thing - especially as she is threatening people who come near the field?
We had the same with a 2 year old gelding who thought (and still does) that he is a stallion! He got very dominant in the field to the point where I would not like to poo pick as he would come at me, he would also chase the dogs, cats and anything else he could chase. He would threaten me and attempt to bite over the stable door.
It came to the point where I wanted him sold as he was getting out of control. I read about all the join up stuff and thought I would give it a go and put him in his place!
It worked like you would not believe. You have to be very strict with all your body movements and the way you deal with the horse and keep it up but it was well worth it. He was the perfect "Join up" horse. He respected me instead of seeing me as an underdog.
I would try this with your mare or if you are unsure, get somebody to help you like a horse behaviourist.
I know some people (me included previously) think that this is all a load of rubbish but IMO it isnt. I am definately not talking the P word
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, I am talking Monty Roberts.
Hope this makes sense.
 
Thanks for all your thoughts.

I do think Part of it is her being Dominating but I'm not sure that is causing all the problems so I will get the Vet out soon to her give her the once over as Charlie needs his back checking as well.

She's only little but she is just such a Cow at the moment that I really am not wanting to spend time with her as it is never very enjoyable!
 
Is this all new or has it gradually got worse, is she young or old? i'd be concerned if this is something that has been getting worse over time, I found out recently that my filly has had a couple of bats over the stable door (being too eager for breakfast) I would think this was a factor as to why we seem to go one step forward and 2 back with her! And will be not leaving feeds out in a morning for others to feed her or my other and i'll do it myself when i get there in future.
 
Here is Millies Story (might have been more helpful at the start)

I have had her since she was a foal (was only 4 months old when we got her even though we were told she was older), she was brought from an auction, probably dragged from her mum and weaned instantly. She was fab at first, would follow us around like a dog and took everything in her stride. We started having problems when her when her very close companion was Put to sleep. As the body was taken away Millie turned and Charged Full pelt with ears back at my Mum This was the first sign of trouble we had.

That's when I would say the dominating problems started. She would not let anyone (including me) into the field, she would kick wheelbarrows and was just generally very domineering over everything. She was probably about 2years old at this time, I was only 12 so I really struggled with her. We didn't get another companion for her as we had just brought a derelict house and Mum didn't have the time or money to get another pony (which probably didn't help matters).

We did finally start keeping her with a friends horse and she did settle down a lot then but still had little issues.

During the time I was backing her I worked at a local yard which was owned by someone I really respected. Millie stayed there for a night as I wanted to work her in their school the next day, over night they were very rough with her, not sure of the details exactly but it involved a broom handle! They also lunged her for me and manged to pull the bridle of on two occasions, needless to say I never took her back there again.
This has definitely contributed to her attitude with people she doesn't know!

She is now 10. She spent a couple of months during the summer up at the farm where I work. She was ridden and Handled by a 9 and 11 year old who are both confident around ponies. During this time she was not to bad, would be a bit marish with other horses and the usual nightmare with the farrier but apart from that I would say she really enjoyed herself and seemed quite pleasant to be around.

She is now back home, kept in at night and out in the day. Unfortunately I don't have anyone to ride her so this may be contributing towards her attitude as she loves to work.

She did have this same attitude problem last winter so wonder if it's weather related?!

I love her to bits and would never sell her but I feel absolutely awful as I have had her for 10 years but seem to have more of a bond with my cat who I have had for 3 months!!
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She is just being so difficult to enjoy at the moment and I really want to get it sorted!
 
I feel so sorry for you, I doubt this is anything physical (but then i'm no vet) she seems to be taking on the behavior/attitude of a ferral cat (no insult intended). She does sound like she needs a lot more interaction and that she is possibly bored, could you find someone to part loan her so she gets the attention she appears to be craving. If she does enjoy work it might just calm her down a little!
 
I am desperate to loan her out but am a bit worried it's the wrong thing to do with her behavior as it is. I do think she would be a lot better if she had some work. She loves jumping and did Gymkhana with the two girls for the first time and won every race. I think she would be fab out hunting to. Just need to find that perfect family to take her on and have lots of fun with her!

Will definitely get the vet to check her out soon though so at least I know one way or the other if it's a physical problem!
 
I was more thinking on the lines of part so that you can keep your eye on whats happening, I too would feel uncomfortable letting her go to someone else knowing shes not 100% behavior wise in fear of not knowing what they did to her therefore having possibility they could make her worse, loads of brave kids want something to ride!
 
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