Clingy horse?

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hiddentalents

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6.5 years ago, I bought my little mare. When we first got her she was bordering on dangerous, bucking, spinning and mini rears. Someone actually came a cropper on her in her last home (which IMO I think was why she was sold), and from what I gather, was not an easy horse to break either.

I've spoken to her breeder who owned mum and her for a year before he gave them away, his brother still owns my horses half sister. She is and always has been an angel from what I've heard from him, never been a problem.

Now my little mare, G, was a difficult horse when we bought her, fast forward on to now and for me she's as easy as pie. We do still have our issues occasionally (confidence rather than naughtiness) but she's turned out to be my perfect horse. Unfortunately, I'm away at uni 3 hours away and G sulks. She becomes grumpy and takes her anger out on our other mare who she's turned out with. G is the boss of the field, but is usual clingy ness to our other mare, but then will take chunks off her! If I'm away for more than a month, her eyes lose the happy but cheeky glint and she almost gets very depressed. Her routine doesn't change at all, bar not being ridden (due to her history, I'm reluctant to let people ride her without my being there). My parents look after her, and feed her, they're still around when I'm home. The only change is that I'm not there regularly.

Is it normal for a horse to be this clingy to a human?
 
My mare hates everyone else! she sounds very similar to yours! she was pretty evil when I first got her, I was told she was a 1 person horse, which I refused to accept but they were right!

I've had her 11 yrs now and she pulls faces at anyone else that tries to do anything with her! but she loves me! I have never been away from her for more than a week so I don't know if she would be the same as your mare!

but I do notice her looking rather unhappy if she doesn't get ridden very often! she is 27 now, so I don't ride her half as much as I used to but she loves going out, even if its just a jog in hand!

so what I am wondering is, is your mare bored as well as missing you? maybe if there was someone you could trust to take her out! I totally understand about not wanting anyone else to ride, I wouldn't either, but even try getting someone to walk her out once a week?
 
I've thought of that but tbh there were times when she wouldn't get ridden for months (winter is usually difficult for me to ride as dark when I start and finish work and menage freezes easily, as does the road she's on) and I don't have to ride for her to get that spark back.

The problem with others riding her is that she's very unpredictable. With me, she's fine but others not. She has a history of bucking people off, I'd hate it if someone came a cropper. If I'm around I can control her on the floor if someone starts to struggle, if I'm not there I don't know exactly how she's behave.

My parents look after her and give her attention, lunge her occasionally, and chat to her. I just get phone calls while they're with her so I can speak to her and cheer her up in between! Lol!
 
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