Behaviour change overnight

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magquiqui

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Hi everyone. First post and I am absolutely DESPERATE for your advice/suggestions/words of encouragement.... 😢


I have had this mare for 2 years (owned her for one). We have an INCREDIBLE bond. I moved her to a new place back in April. She was previously at a livery yard and stabled 24/7, she is now on full turnout with friends and living her best life and getting copious amounts of love from me every day. She comes to me when I call her, whinnies if she sees me and is happy in her work.


Saturday her and her 3 other buddies were moved into a larger field with more horses to give their paddock a break. I went to catch her yesterday and it was like a malignant spirit had taken over. She screamed the whole way out of the field, danced and tossed her head to the point i ended up in A&E with a suspected broken nose after a headbutt, today i couldn't even catch her. She has latched on to a new mare, and its impossible to separate her from her. We had to catch the other mare to get mine, I put her into the arena to feed her and she went buck wild. This is behaviour I have never seen from her before and its heartbreaking. Its like shes completely detached from me all of a sudden, and I am completely devastated and I dont understand it. Is it hormones?? I have attached 2 videos. One of her "normal" behaviour every day over the past 2 years and another from this evening.


Please help 💔
 
Tbh I'm not surprised she doesn't want to be caught she's probably worried she's going to be stuck in a stable again! That combined with new friends and probably lots of grass she's just being a horse. As good as you think your bond is she'll always pick a herd over one person.

Anyway little and often will be key here. If you can safely get her just out of the field to have a feed and then put her back in she'll learn it's worth being caught.

Good luck!
 
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Mine has decided a couple of times in the last week that he prefers the field over coming in. Even when all his friends were removed and it was pouring with rain. He was enjoying the grass. she’s just being a horse. it’s great that you moved her to a better yard with plenty of turnout. it’s going to need an adjustment for both of you. Sorry you were hurt. Don’t take it personally, she was just reacting as a horse and many of them are fresh at the moment.
 
Sorry to hear of your injury. You don't say how old your mare is? My first impression is that her current behaviour is as a result of the change to her routine, and new turnout group - she is establishing her place in the group. Also, assuming you're in the UK, the weather is changing - and she's moved to better pasture, so she'll be fresh off the grass. Lots had changed for your mare, so just keep to a routine with her and I'm sure things will calm down soon.
 
Might be worth popping her on a supplement for a while until she's more settled in her new and exciting environment. something like monks pepper/agnus castus maybe?

I'd put it down to the excitement of a new field and friends, the lush grass and (I bet she has) coming into season. I'm sure she'll chill out in a few days.
 
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