Anyone know much about horse body language?

J

JoJo15

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Hello,

I've had my mare for years now who lives out year round and recently she has been letting me catch her but then when I try to lead her in she throws her head slightly away, with some encouragement she comes in a little further but then yesterday she put her chin to her chest/neck with her ears slightly back though not flat then turned her head to look back at the field..

I left her out in the end as she was fine and I didn't think it would do either of us much good to bring her in,

But I don't really know what to do, go up with a bridal instead to break the cycle? What does she want? If she didn't want to come in why would she let me catch her in the first place...

Any tips/explanations would be great,

Thanks In advance, Jo
 
She is dictating the rules if you want to catch her and take her in just do so don't let her choose if she comes in or out she is looking for boundaries and she is making them. Get some expert help an RA from the IH site will teach you how to put in place firm but fair boundaries without abuse or force. It will be well worth the money and well worth the resulting happiness for your horse. Some will even help you decide whether she needs any of the usual checks
 
It sounds like your girl would prefer to be in her field. That's what this suggests.

If I want to get mine in, I go and get her and she comes in and that's the end of the discussion! If you want to sweeten the deal, give her a treat when you catch her (if she's not mouthy) and let her have a feed when you've got her (away from any other horses of course). Mine doesn't have hay in the field so she's usually pretty keen to come in, but given the choice between field and work, she'd choose field every time!

You may find holding the headcollar and getting her to walk nicely next to you at your shoulder helps as well.
 
1)
windand rain said:
She is dictating the rules if you want to catch her and take her in just do so don't let her choose if she comes in or out she is looking for boundaries and she is making them.
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2) Bit hard to say without seeing what happened, but it sounds like she's just doing what she likes at the moment.
 
Like above poster, hard to say without seeing it...

...head tossing or throwing itself is often associated with frustration or annoyance.

She maybe doesn't mind being caught, is happy to come for a chat and then is showing her annoyance at being brought in when she perhaps doesn't want to?

Has anything else changed in her world? Strange for behaviour to change with no real external influence causing same.
 
She is registering a protest about being taken out of the field. Mine sometimes used to get hold of my wrist with her teeth (only gently), usually in the winter when the mud in the gateway was halfway up her cannon bones and her poor old arthritic knees were going to find clambering through it hard. I listened to what she had to say then gently encouraged her again and she always came along. If an animal has a good reason for something then you should always take it into account.
 
fatpiggy said:
She is registering a protest about being taken out of the field. Mine sometimes used to get hold of my wrist with her teeth (only gently), usually in the winter when the mud in the gateway was halfway up her cannon bones and her poor old arthritic knees were going to find clambering through it hard. I listened to what she had to say then gently encouraged her again and she always came along. If an animal has a good reason for something then you should always take it into account.
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If I get reincarnated as a horse, I hope I find an owner like you!

I can't see any problem with an animal registering a protest so long as it does what is asked. They are not machines. Of course, where the choice is important, I'd like to think the owner is the more intelligent being and should then insist.
 
Dry Rot said:
If I get reincarnated as a horse, I hope I find an owner like you!

I can't see any problem with an animal registering a protest so long as it does what is asked. They are not machines. Of course, where the choice is important, I'd like to think the owner is the more intelligent being and should then insist.
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We clearly don't know the same horse owners! ;)
 
If I want a horse to do something, it does it, without resorting to violence, just persistence, mine all know basic commands, walk on, back up, move over and NO, they are not perfect and will try their luck, but always lose the battle, if there's a reason, my TB was going BF and refused to come in from the field, knowing the track was stony, I went and got his nappies to ease his feet and he came in quite happily, know your horses and listen to them
 
She doesn't want to come in and is testing you to see if she has to.

If you're worried about riding her when she has been like this (it sounds as though you are),then just bring her in, give her a quick brush and a small something in a bucket, and sling her out again. That will help with making the bringing in more attractive and won't damage your confidence. DON'T let her dictate whether or not she comes in, or she'll start testing you in other ways. If you do think she's doing it because there's something wrong, you'd still want to bring her in so you can work out what it is.

Do you have help on hand?
 
My girlie lives out 24/7 in the warmer months. During this time she becomes very 'herdy'. She will always let me catch her and wants to spend time with me. To her I am part of the herd. However she doesn't particularly want to leave the others as she is leaving the safety of the herd. One or two members would not just walk off away from the rest in the wild. Being out 24/7 the revert to more of their natural instincts and won't want to leave. I just keep encouraging my mare to follow me. Sometimes I show her a treat and walk with it in front of her nose to keep moving, but if I want her in, she comes in. Check there is nothing wrong, but head tossing is a sign of dominance and shows she is just wanting to stay with her friends rather than come away from them with you. When she is in give her a reward - treat, hay, feed etc. to encourage the behaviour. Always make sure you reward her for coming out of the field, not just to be caught. Hope that helps :)
 
Thank you for all the replies! Much appreciated,

I was asking as I've had her 9 years and overnight boom! No longer wants to come in, no obvious trigger, there's always a slight change in the other horses, but she's pretty high in the pecking order..

Hummm...I'll go tomorrow when I have lots of time. Then maybe feed her once she's in, thank you for all the helpful replies :)
 
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