Do they sense bad weather?

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Resupgirl

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Have been riding my youngster in a dressage saddle which has been all well and good up until the weather changed. Monday she stood bolt upright who knows why and spun only reason I stayed on was that she kicked out at the fence first and threw me forward and Tuesday she just leaped through the air bucking. Normally a good girl.

Next day we did get severe weather do these animals know when bad weather is coming my mare seems to get very edgy every time its like a pattern. She is a big girl and generally a nice type but this week she has been nasty ears back most the time and I have never been worried about getting on but this week I have thought twice.
 
How old is she? Have there been any changes you can think of? You mentioned the dressage saddle, have u always been using this or is it recent?

I personally doubt she did all that because of sensing bad weather, she is showing signs that she maybe in discomfort for some reason perhaps?
 
Hi yes I'm sure they do! Our mare was being led out to her field one day, started walking down the track with her to turnout and she planted her feet, didn't want to move at all for my daughter. I said to her give her to me, thinking I'd get her down the track but she still insisted no matter how hard I tried to get her to move that she wasn't going anywhere! Time was running out as I had to get my daughter to school and then go to work so I reluctantly gave up and took her back to her stable. Later that day while at work the sky went extremely dark, the heavens opened and the wind got up so bad that there was a mini tornado which hadn't been forcast in Kensal Rise? I thought thank goodness our pony was tucked up nice and dry and cosy in her stable while all the other liveries had been turned out! There i was getting angry with her in the morning because she didn't want to go out in the field but how amazing she must have known/sensed what was was coming!!! She's such an intelligent mare!!!!
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I think they can sense direction of weather approaching. I wouldn't be surprised if they can 'sense' snow as maybe the air smells different to them? One of the ponies on the yard has been very spooky since the weekend, he really hates cold weather. A woman I know who studied native pony breeds a lot says you can see Exmoor ponies on the moor start to head towards more sheltered areas well ahead of severe weather arriving and heard similar thing said about Fells ponies too in Cumbria. Not sure about finer things but I would think native types are quite attuned to weather.
 
In my experience they do. My group of oldies act like 3 year olds when snow is within 24 hours. I didn't know about it, or perhaps hadn't connected, until I was doing some part time work at my instructor's stables and one day, the horses were absolute pigs to bring in, throwing themselves around, barging, generally no manners at all, from horses that were normally no problem at all. My instructor said oh, snow's on it's way and sure enough, the next day, 2 o'clock, down came the snow. I've watched out for it since and it's true. Don't know why or how though.
 
As Lucyfer. Whether or not horses can sense changes in the weather, I very much doubt if that's why your mare has suddenly started to react badly when ridden. She's trying to tell you something so you have to work out what it is. 99 times out of 100 it's a pain issue.
 
Makes me wonder!

My pony had been sectioned off to restrict her grazing as she was getting too fat. Felt sorry for her on Tuesday so removed part of electric fencing so she could go in larger field with other horse. She proceeded to gallop madly around it for about 5 minutes, then returned to gallop back up field to other horse - however galloped straight past me to field gate, squeezed her body (no she is not ultra thin from being starved) through gateway, proceeded up the track, round the corner and out of the top gate into neighbours drive and out into his sheep field. This top gate had only just been opened due to neighbour's oil delivery and 99% of the time is locked and is never used by us. I felt very shocked by what happened as pony is usually very laid back and often just wanders around the stable area having a nibble when I'm there. In the four year's I have owned her she has never ventured up the track on her own.

Once back in her field with haynet she looked as calm and innocent as ever. Bless my other horse - he's usually a bit neurotic, but just carried on eating his hay whilst all this went on.

Probably just confused you with my rambling on - but I think you will get the gist of it.

Ps Pony is from the New Forest
 
Will defo investigate the saddle as it could be pinching nothing wrong with her back as just had my lady out. Had the saddle for a while now and been working nice moving well etc but youngsters what fits one day dont the next!

Whats strange about this is that she has done this before when the rain and gales came and because its so out of character it made me think. She seems generally out of sorts like she is depressed? no other symptoms just grumpy and laying down a lot more than normal. Bit like human SAD.
 
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