At my wits end with my horse. What next? Help please

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showjump2003

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I have owned Bean for almost 8 years now. Up until last august she lived at home on my parents farm. Then I got a job away from home and took her with me and put her on DIY livery. I wouldn't say she particularly settled at this yard but she wasn't desperatly unhappy. However just before xmas she bolted on the way in from the field then repeated this again 3 weeks later resulting in lameness. This was so out of character for her. Straight after this happened the second time I couldn't risk her doing it again so the next day I took her back to my parents where she has had 2 months off to chill and come sound. So she's supposedly sound now. Last week end I tacked her up and walked her around the field and although spooky (expected after so long off) she was happy to be ridden. So today I organized to take her for school hire locally. Get her in and ready then find my stupid ifor williams trailers wheel had locked (seperate rant lol). So instead I decide to give her a walk around the field. But she goes stupid like before, when she bolted trying to lead her from the stables to the field to be ridden to the point I'm actually quite scared leading her and she was way to stupid to get on!

I just don't know what to do now.
I did have her checked out by a physio before and she was ok. I have tried to get a chiro out but my parents live so far from anywhere she won't come out to just me. Ideally I need to take her back with me as I could get her fully checked out there but can't find a livery yard where I'd feel safe handling her. After using this horse for every riding club activity I am now ashamed to admit I'm quite nervous about the thought of riding her!

I just don't know what to do next.
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I don't meant to alarm you, but do you think she has something wrong in her head? It's just the sudden turn of erratic behaviour seems bizarre, especially as she did it when you were just leading her in from the field? If she does it in inhand, it may not be a back problem...I do feel for you, it must be hard. Maybe talk to your vet though.
 
Have you had her eyes checked?

I think she's just taking the piss, tbh, and you should start leading her in a bridle with a lungeline over the poll and clipped to the offside bitring so that when she bolts you can turn her.

What a shame you've lost your confidence!
My horse has days where she's a nightmare to lead and I just stop and turn her when she's an idiot and don't move on again till she's calm.
 
I'm tending to agree with you annret that she'd taking the piss but with complete lack of facilities I don't know how to overcome it.

At xmas I decided to try a 5 min hack. She was fine half way around the village then we get to the half way point which she knows is towards home and she is normally a little daft there but she was way worse than normal to the point I really didn't trust her.
Once I get her in to a school I'm fine as she doesn't really worry me in there. She's more difficult on the ground then ridden.
 
Because mine's done it from the start I'm not scared of it (although I do lead in a hat) but I'd imagine if it was a sudden change in behavious it would worry me.

I would see if you could get a horsey friend to come down and muck about with her and really assert their authority over her as they don't have the emotional investment.

It's just being prepared for it when it comes - I lead in a headcollar but with an extra long rope and make sure she listens every step of the way.

Maybe lead some spooky babies in and out from the field to help you learn to relax about it?
 
I wouldn't think there was anything sinister in this turn of events. Horses do change I find, depending on so many factors - change of environment, companion or pair bond being removed, cold weather, wind, lack of exercise or very fit, too many carrots, hormones if a mare and on and on. I know a mare that has always bolted off when being led and I cannot get the owners to put something else on her head and retrain her - yet! She doesn't do it with me by the way. So, agree with other people, use a bridle, controller halter, be nice halter, dually -there is loads on the market. Use a long line and as she heads off, go with her a little way if necessary then stop and yank her head round. Train her in a yard or arena or get someone else to teach her to yield to pressure. Guess what, if ever there is a use for Parelli, this is it!

Re naughty on the way home, again, I would think its just time of year or any other the above scenarios. Can you hack with a friend who has a quiet horse? If she's unsettled and causing you to be afraid, just stick to the arena for a while. No sense in risking your neck or your confidence. She'll probably settle in the better weather.
 
Mares can be very sensitive to a change of environment. When we bought ours she went from being with 3 other horses kept at home to a busy livery/riding school yard with 50 horses and she was extremely difficult to handle. She was mainly OK to ride but pretty neurotic to hack, as again a different environment - from a quiet rural area to a big village with busy roads and farm tracks.
But she would also take advantage of the situation - my OH is too novicey to either hang onto her while I put boots on, or to put the boots on quickly and safely himself. So until I could 'borrow' someone experienced enough to help me, she knew she could get away with murder.
When we moved her to a very quiet training yard - max of 16 horses, very set routine she was so much happier.
Also if she did get up to anything (she occasionally has a buck and messes about when you are leading her in), the yard staff were as firm with her as I am.
Now she's back at your parents, you need to be confident and firm with her (enlist a friend if it helps) and when you need to move her, try to find a similar environment. She was clearly unnerved by the move and has lost trust in you a bit, which is why she is in all probability, trying it on now.
 
Thank you for the replies.

Trailer wheel is fixed so going to try for school hire again tomorrow and see what happens.

I genuinly don't think there is anything wrong medically apart from a possible bad back still? She is bought in everynight and led out every morning at my parents and is always fine apart from the odd spook in windy weather which is normal for her!

Fingers crossed tomorrow is a better day.
 
Good luck for tomorrow - my mare likes to drag me around the yard occaisionally just to remind me she is in charge but i understand how annoying and unnerving it can be. When my mare does it to me it usually follows a period of lack of excercise - box rext, bad weather etc. I always use a dually headcollar on her with a long rope. When she is being a hooligan I take her into the school and lunge her until she is puffing - it seem s to help put the balance or power back in my favour. The next couple of rides might be a bit lively but turning in and out goes back to normal! I'm sure once she gets back into a routine and regular work she'll settle down.
 
I dont think that after 8 years she is suddenly 'taking the piss'. Horses cant talk, they can only tell you something is wrong by their behaviour. Because they are a flight animal this normaly means running off, leaping about etc. There is a reason why she is suddenly doing this and you just have to work out why. In the meantime use a bridle for leading and gradually work through all the possible reasons, getting help from vet/physio, etc. Until you have looked into absoulutely everything that may cause this behaviour you cannot say she is taking the piss. She is trying to tell you something! Be patient and thorough and im sure you will be able to work it out and help your horse.
 
Off to see a new livery yard tomorrow so if it's the right one once she is moved I will have access to a good equine vet and chiropractor and will hopefully be able to get her sorted!
 
Hi, Showjump2003,

It sounds like something happened at the DIY yard, which your mare remembers? Maybe something/someone/somehorse upset her, but no-one told you? Then she had time off, so she's well on her toes, and with a new trick up her sleeve!!

Please don't be at your wits end with her. You've had such a good relationship in the past, just re-build her trust to get your old friendship back. Hopefully the new yard will be a new start for you both, and i sincerely hope so. (My gut feel is that there is nothing physically or mentally wrong with her, and i only hope i'm right)

With all my best wishes, BS x
 
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