Change of behaviour with rugs??

[MrsMagoo]

Just a wonder really, is anyone else's horse really grumpy when putting rugs on etc. Star never used to be, but recently when changing her rugs etc (espec mornings), she is soooo grumpy to the point of trying to take chunks out my arse lol...

What could cause this change in behaviour? or would you say it was a typical moody mare thing and getting older?

Thanks

 

[Ravenwood]

My mare is always grumpy when doing rugs. Quite often she holds onto the top of the stable door or tries to bite at the wall - just so she doesn't bite me - how considerate!!!

 

[Twiglet]

Twiglet can be a grumpy s*d with rugs too - and I find he gets worse the deeper into winter we get, ie. the longer he's had to wear them.
I changed his rug last night and narrowly avoided my kneecap being demolished by his back foot.......

 

[AmyMay]

Ooooo yes. Thumper loves the taste of human flesh when you do anything with rugs........

 

[GinaGem]

Could be an older moody mare thing (my mare got moodier as she got older although not with rugs). Also might be worth having a feel over the back and see if there is any tender spots (particularly around the whither where the rug could rub/sit).

 

[Dolcé]

could it be that they don't like having a warm rug taken off only to be replaced by a cold one, I used to have a mare that became quite aggressive when I had to change her rugs but we leave the same rugs on now and make sure that when they come off for grooming they are folded inwards to keep them warm for when they go back on and none of them make any sign of objection.

 

[charlotte1]

Yep, my mare hates rugs with a passon, and i have to avoid front legs striking out and teeth flying at me. Vet has seen her reaction to rugs and said she shouldn't react like that to rugs and through process of elimination has come up with two possible causes for it gastric ulcers or problems with her ovaries which is being looked into.

 

[Worried1]

She has just had a haircut so she could be a bit sensitive or too warm?

 

[MrsMagoo]

Hey hun, no this was before her haircut...i think it prob just is a moody mare thing, wanting to go out in the morning as she is deffo not as bad in the evening!! Just a thought really lol

 

[emma_lg]

My mare has always hated her rugs..some days she is fine...other days her teeth are whistling past my ears!
She has always hated them...it is mostly the front of them being done up..fine to do back leg straps and not that bad doing belly straps. I tend to always tie her up, quite short to and she can often be more amenable then for some reason.
She does get tight round her neck/shoulder area and this is due to rugs, just the fact that they are worn so much in winter...so I massage her there. It maybe worth looking at the alternatives - gastric/ovaries as your horse has only just started doing this.
Of course she could be fed up of the weather by now...and having the rugs on cos of it!!!

 

[Chumsmum]

My boy is getting grumpier that usual ATM but he has had back problems so not sure if due to that.

The rugs fit him well apart from his H/W stable rug rubbing his mane a little so this may be aggrevating him - is there anything I can do to stop it?

 

[MrsMagoo]

[ QUOTE ]
My mare has always hated her rugs..some days she is fine...other days her teeth are whistling past my ears!
She has always hated them...it is mostly the front of them being done up..fine to do back leg straps and not that bad doing belly straps. I tend to always tie her up, quite short to and she can often be more amenable then for some reason.
She does get tight round her neck/shoulder area and this is due to rugs, just the fact that they are worn so much in winter...so I massage her there. It maybe worth looking at the alternatives - gastric/ovaries as your horse has only just started doing this.
Of course she could be fed up of the weather by now...and having the rugs on cos of it!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

This is exactly her, not to bad with back end but hates having the front done up...hmmm maybe she is just feeling a bit tight there then??? I'll do some streching etc, what massage do you do there?

 

[emma_lg]

I tend to do just some gentle movements (laying hand flat and applying gentle pressure/flexing with my fingers, sometimes I can even feel her mucles really twitching along her shoulder line when I touch in certain areas, so have to be aware of her tolerances and sensitivity. This does seem to help but they are creatures of habit so she will always pull faces and hate it probably!! She will let you know if doing it too hard!!
Physio I had said the rugs, however well fitting, can pull around this area and it is just that they are on constantly over winter. Just some gentle hand massaging will help.
I also do some Equine Touch with my mare...which is similar to basic massaging in a way. Some movements she can take, others are too much for her tho they are all relatively gentle, but obviously if muscles are tight then it is felt much more.

 

[Hayleycob]

My mare hates having rugs on too, and she does the bite the stable door thing (rather than bite me).

 

[dwi]

My mare was getting really grouchy with the front of her rug being done up so I've swopped her rugs over and she's stopped. I guess that having the same rug on all winter starts to rub after a while because its always putting pressure on certain points

 

[emma_lg]

Oh my mare has caught me before now...nice mouth sized bruise on upper arm which was through jumper and thick jacket..she was mortified at actually getting me...still blooming hurt and has taken ages to go down.
Another thing if you look down the shoulder/neck line and towards the chest area you may see slight raised areas...this is pressure from the rugs.
Ive had quite a few of my rugs altered etc...and she doesnt wear the same rug all the time...I try to give her time during the day without a rug round her front done up to try to give a break.
Its just the constant wearing thru winter..bring on the summer!!!

 

[HBII]

How do you put your rugs on? Do you throw them on and then rummage about with them? I fold mine in half and set it quite far up the front, then do the front straps, then un fold and pull the rug back into position.

My mare is casting her coat which has made her very itchy, might Star be itchy? How is she when you groom her? Does she try to eat you when you give her a good groom?

Hb

 

[mangobiscuit]

Oh gosh yes!!

My horse is on his 5th week of being cross tied and even tied like this he tries to bite me with mouth WIDE open and ears flat back or tries to stamp or kick me or squish me into the wall. He does actually scare me sometimes....

I know this is mostly down to his "situation" but he still gets told off (he then shakes his head baring teeth again - but just enouugh to make sure I know he thinks me reprimanding him is not making an ounce of difference)

He's 20 so I also just figure he's turning into a grumpy old man!!

 

[MrsMagoo]

Hmm yeh i do kindof just chuck them over lol...ill try your way. Cant say she's itchy, she's just been clipped out again but it was before this i noticed the change.

Maybe it just is grumpiness cause of having rugs on all the time...will see when summer comes lol