now_loves_mares
Well-Known Member
My young mare has been behaving a bit, hmm, oddly lately. She is a very intelligent, sensitive thing who has been out of work (first due to a splint and then this awful winter) and is probably bored out of her mind. But a few things are not quite adding up.
A couple of weeks ago when taking her in from the field, she went to roll, then sort of bolted from her rolling position. She did it again the next day, then stopped for a few days. About a week or so later she twice bolted when being lead; this time no rolling first, just seemed like bad behaviour; actually one of those times was turning her out, she spun round and bolted back to the yard. She's a bit more on edge than even her normal behaviour I think? And she seems to always have her eye on the horizon and/or going towards something specific.
She's also incredibly itchy, which I am putting down to her casting so today I took them in from the field, then decided to give them a few minutes back out without rugs to have a roll/mutual scratch. She went down to roll, but again did the bolting thing. However earlier in the day when they first went out, she rolled about 4 times (told you she was itchy!) but didn't do any of the mad bolting.
Now the only real thing I can put as the common link is that whenever she bolts she has been wearing her headcollar. I did worry at first she might have a back problem, but then presumably that would cause pain EVERY time she rolled, and she seemed totally fine this morning. So now I'm wondering if there is something bothering her around her poll or ears. She does have plaques in her ears, although these have never seemed to bother her in the past. But she's been shaking her head a bit when I first take her in, and rubbing her ears on the stable door post. Again could just be itchy though.
Seasons have also occurred to me, but it's probably a bit early and I can't quite tally the timelines!
So - I can't decide if she's just acting up, if it's hormones, if it's pain, if it's frustration, if she's uncomfortable...
If I did call the vet, what on earth would I ask them to look for
Just looking for some idle suggestions on a snowy afternoon! FWIW she had her teeth done at the beginning of the month. She gets turned out for 12 hours pretty much every day, has haylage 24 hours a day, was checked for ulcers and ovary issues in June last year. She a rising 6yo TB.
Oh and yesterday was one of the few days all winter when they have been kept in. Presumably out of boredom, she tipped up her water bucket 4 times during the day
but just thought I'd add it in case it was some important symptom in the crazy life that is my girl
Anyone speak horse?
A couple of weeks ago when taking her in from the field, she went to roll, then sort of bolted from her rolling position. She did it again the next day, then stopped for a few days. About a week or so later she twice bolted when being lead; this time no rolling first, just seemed like bad behaviour; actually one of those times was turning her out, she spun round and bolted back to the yard. She's a bit more on edge than even her normal behaviour I think? And she seems to always have her eye on the horizon and/or going towards something specific.
She's also incredibly itchy, which I am putting down to her casting so today I took them in from the field, then decided to give them a few minutes back out without rugs to have a roll/mutual scratch. She went down to roll, but again did the bolting thing. However earlier in the day when they first went out, she rolled about 4 times (told you she was itchy!) but didn't do any of the mad bolting.
Now the only real thing I can put as the common link is that whenever she bolts she has been wearing her headcollar. I did worry at first she might have a back problem, but then presumably that would cause pain EVERY time she rolled, and she seemed totally fine this morning. So now I'm wondering if there is something bothering her around her poll or ears. She does have plaques in her ears, although these have never seemed to bother her in the past. But she's been shaking her head a bit when I first take her in, and rubbing her ears on the stable door post. Again could just be itchy though.
Seasons have also occurred to me, but it's probably a bit early and I can't quite tally the timelines!
So - I can't decide if she's just acting up, if it's hormones, if it's pain, if it's frustration, if she's uncomfortable...
Just looking for some idle suggestions on a snowy afternoon! FWIW she had her teeth done at the beginning of the month. She gets turned out for 12 hours pretty much every day, has haylage 24 hours a day, was checked for ulcers and ovary issues in June last year. She a rising 6yo TB.
Oh and yesterday was one of the few days all winter when they have been kept in. Presumably out of boredom, she tipped up her water bucket 4 times during the day
Anyone speak horse?
