Does my mare have an issue with my pregnancy?

[Annandalelass]

I have a 16.3h hanoverian mare called Mitzi. She is a lovely big, affectionate horse, and is the top horse in a field of 6.

In the past couple of months Mitzi has become very difficult to handle, which is unusual for her especially if I'm handling her as she normally behaves for me. 4 of the horses in the herd always go out together, but they go out at different times different days of the week depending on which of the owners is turning out, it can be 7am some mornings and then 10.30-11am others. Mitzi and Zeb (our 10.3h pony) always go out together at 7.30am. Recently if I come to the yard and all the others are out Mitzi is impossible to rug and lead to the field as she just wants to be in the field with her friends, and she doesn't listen to me at all, at times I think she totally tunes me out she gets so distressed. If I turn her out before all the others she paces the fence and gets herself very distressed and sweats up until all the others go out.

She is also not eating very well. She gets has much hay as she wants, and a complete chaff based feed which is not molassed, and I have started giving her Magic Calmer. Quite often she is not eating her breakfast which is highly unusual.

There have been a number of issues recently:
1. Over the previous 9mths there have been a number of changes in the herd. 4 horses were taken away, and 2 others have arrived.
2. Mitzi had fallen in her stable and badly bruised herself and frightened herself about 4mths ago.
3. She has been stabled more than usual this winter as she panics if she gets led to the field and slips on the icy ground. We have an indoor arena and she always gets free time in here to stretch her legs
4. She hasn't had much exercise since last July as I am pregnant, 29weeks now.

My concern is that Mitzi has an issue with my pregnancy, she behaves much worse around me and yesterday when I was putting her rug on she threatened to kick me! This is something she never does, she doesn't kick or bite and is normally mild mannered. I have a 17yr old girl who comes to help and she can handle Mitzi - so my concern is is it possible Mitzi has an issue with my pregnancy?

I am trying to do everything I can to help Mitzi settle but am not getting anywhere - can anybody please help?

Thanks

elaine

 

[Spotsrock]

congratulations on your impending mummy-hood!
I'm sorry I can't help with your question as I don't have appropriate experience but I will be following the responses as I have 2 sensitive girls and we are planning a family, I hadn't thought of this as a potential problem.
Good Luck

 

[angandstar]

my pony has changed since i am pregnant im sure she can sense something, she hasnt once barged me in the stable or been naughty whilst out on walks not shied at all,

 

[soulfull]

I wouldn't have thought so, most I know go the opposite and are more likely to protect you.

IMHO I would say she is sore somewhere and as she trusts you the most, and probably feels you are the most likely one to listen she is trying to tell you

 

[scatty_mare]

Congratulations on the pregnancy!
I have a neurotic tb mare who behaves in a very similar way to Mitzi whenever there is the slightest change... in fact sometimes I don't even know what the change is.
She definitely is more unsettled/bolshier when in less work and when stabled more.

I think it is unlikely that Mitzi is bothered by your pregnancy, but is it possible that as you are now in a more vulnerable and sensitive state yourself your handling of her has changed? Perhaps you are not as confident and therefore not as reassuring to her when she feel insecure?

Only a thought. There are so many possible reasons, and I can't imagine that she would have an issue with your pregnancy. Do mares usually react differently to mares in foal?

 

[Honey08]

My mare gets much grumpier on the winters when she has to stay in more....

Yesterday I rode her for the first time in months due to my injury, and you could almost feel the mood lift as we went up the lane and onto new views and experiences...

 

[Latiano]

I would say its more likely you have changed emotionally and physically and she is probably sensing this inbalance in your hormones. Im guessing you are more cautious around her now again she will pick up on this change of behaviour. Added to the fact there has been a change in herd.

Congrats by the way.

 

[jessikaGinger]

Afraid it's true (so they say)
Apparantly (excuse spelling) it is the same with dogs, as it is a strong bond (compared to a pet fish) they notice differences in hormounes etc..
When my mum had cancer the dog would avoid her like the plague..now shes clear he's her best bud..

 

[Jenni_]

to be honest - i always thought it was the opposite way - the become more gentle and protective of you?

my friend had a 16.2 TB mare who was an absloute nightmare 99.9% of the time... she became pregnant and Kiah never left her side or put a foot wrong. and once the baby came , she more or less stayed the same. give or take a few mad moments.

after i broke my jaw due to a kick to the face from a horse on the yard - my arab wouldnt let anyone near me (naturally day i was out of hosp i was back at horse lol!). even my mum was a suspect and he'd stand ears back snapping his teeth.

he was a nightmare in the field - galloped to the gate to meet me but if anyone joined him or tried to go near the gate when i was there, it started world war III. he was fine with anyone else catching him with other horses.

 

[MissSBird]

Have you had the vet/dentist/back person etc. out. I've never been pregnant so no experience there, but she sounds like she's very unhappy about something. A checkover might be worth it to put your mind at ease there.

I know my old mare, whenever she was injured, used to get very grumpy on box rest. If she is 100% maybe you could find someone to exercise her for you and see if that makes a difference? It could simply be that she's bored.

It might also be worth trying to get someone (a confident experienced person) else to handle her for you, with you there, to see if she's the same with another. Would help eliminate if you are subconciously not being as confident with her as you used to be. It would be perfectly understandable given your situation - your mind will be very focused on keeping the baby safe right now, even if you don't necessarily think you're being any different.

Good luck, and congratulations!

 

[feisty_filly]

is it possible that you are subconsiously (sp?) handeling her differently now you are a bit thurther into your pregnancy?
the same thing happend to me when i was pregnant, i subconsiously (sp?) was alot more wary around my horses and without realising it i had almost lost some of my trust in them. they responded in the same way your mare is and didnt respect me as much as they must have felt that i was feeling vaunrable.
hope that helped and congratz on your pregnancy

 

[rossiroo]

when i was pregnant my mare knew before i did ! she treated me very respectfully and her usual spooky behavior stopped. It was a standing joke that she would snort step back and sniff my tummy when i went in the stable this was when i was only a few weeks gone and lasted for the whole term. She was also very carefull with the baby and her behavior around it was amazing. She is now a very contented mum herself.

 

[Annandalelass]

Thanks so much for all the advice and support its much appreciated. On looking over the weekend on how I handle her, you're probably right I am lacking in confidence. I'm only 5ft 2 and Mitzi is 16.3h but her size has never bothered me before, however I do appear to be much more conscious of this now which I hadn't realised.

Normally I only allow myself or my husband to handle her, and I am the only one who rides her. Recently I've had a young girl coming up to ride and handle her which must be a bit of a shock for Mitzi.

It never occurred to me she might still be sore from the fall in the stable, it has certainly knocked her confidence. She was very sore at the time and we thought she had broken her neck, or damaged her pelvis but luckily not - however maybe there is some residual pain there so I will get her checked out.

She has now stopped eating any of her feed and will eat the hay but is getting fussy which is very unusual. On a good note I tried to remain very calm and confident taking her to the field this morning and she was much more relaxed, and while she did pace the fence waiting for the others to go out she did take a few mouthfuls of the hay that I put out for her, which is not something I have seen her do in the field for some time.

Thanks again for all the advice.