Field Ornament being a pain!

[Wagtail]

What can I do with my mare? She retired 18 months ago due to serious injury. Most of the time she is not lame at all but has a serious shoulder tendon injury which means the joint is very unstable and every now and then she goes lame on it for a couple of weeks. She's not on bute or anything except for the flare ups, looks stunning, eats well and is very perky and happy.

So why is she being a pain? Well she is getting naughtier and naughtier, for example, barging out of the field whenever I try to get one of her field mates either in or out, then refusing to go back in until she's been brought in and made a big fuss of. (I know, I am probably reinforcing her behaviour!) I have tried taking in a schooling whip in and it worked for a couple of times but now she still barges past. It also frightens the lower ranking horse if I am trying to get her through the gate and she ends up nearly mowing me over. What she really needs is to be worked! She is bored. I take her into the arena to do all her 'tricks' such as stepping over really low jumps (a few inches high), lying down on command, touching a ball with her nose when I throw it etc. But she needs an outlet for her energy as she is just getting more and more bargy.

Any one else had similar problems with bored field ornaments? Any solutions? PTS is not a consideration.

 

[unbalanced]

Could she go hacking on bute? What about ride and lead? If you are really creative could you turn any of her 'tricks' into a useful job for her to do? Perhaps she would feel better with a function. Could she be a babysitter or pick up any grooming brushes left lying around or anything like that?
Could she do any liberty work within the limitations of her injury? What provocative sorts of games can you make up to use her brain in the arena? Our new game involves two poles, kind of end to end, but with about a 6' gap in the middle. Horse is on a 45' rope and I have to stay at the end of the first pole and can't touch the horse. Horse sidepasses along the first pole, belly over the pole. When she gets to the gap she turns around to face the other way and sidepasses along the other pole facing the other direction. When we are really good we will add a third pole. That type of thing. And of course the smaller the cues the better.

 

[Tormenta]

Is she up to being lead out in hand? I have a field ornament who loves to be out and about at a leisurely pace just taking the world in (She, however, is very nosey so it works for her) Possibly devising a work plan for her where she gets varied activities that she is capable of would be good so that she isn't doing similiar things each time? Sometimes, school, stable, field isn't quite as interesting as the things they can see and have interest in when they are out and about.

 

[Wagtail]

Could she go hacking on bute? What about ride and lead? If you are really creative could you turn any of her 'tricks' into a useful job for her to do? Perhaps she would feel better with a function. Could she be a babysitter or pick up any grooming brushes left lying around or anything like that?
Could she do any liberty work within the limitations of her injury? What provocative sorts of games can you make up to use her brain in the arena? Our new game involves two poles, kind of end to end, but with about a 6' gap in the middle. Horse is on a 45' rope and I have to stay at the end of the first pole and can't touch the horse. Horse sidepasses along the first pole, belly over the pole. When she gets to the gap she turns around to face the other way and sidepasses along the other pole facing the other direction. When we are really good we will add a third pole. That type of thing. And of course the smaller the cues the better.

Some excellent suggestions here. Thanks. Unfortunately, it is not safe to ride her due to the instability of the joint. Also, she was never a very 'good' hacking horse as was too excitable. I used to school her and compete her dressage and show jumping, which she absolutely loved. I think I could do some of the exercises you suggest with her in the arena though. I think she is so intelligent that she has just become frustrated and bored in the field.

 

[*hic*]

What can I do with my mare?

Any one else had similar problems with bored field ornaments? Any solutions? PTS is not a consideration.

Well, faced with a horse that is getting more and more fed up and difficult and has sudden bouts of pain that you don't prevent but can only react to and whose management is now causing the other horses to be upset, you might take the view that for the good of the mare, her companions, yourself and anyone else who has to deal with her, because, as you rightly point out YOU are reinforcing her bargy bad behaviour, perhaps PTS might need to be a consideration.

 

[Wagtail]

Is she up to being lead out in hand? I have a field ornament who loves to be out and about at a leisurely pace just taking the world in (She, however, is very nosey so it works for her) Possibly devising a work plan for her where she gets varied activities that she is capable of would be good so that she isn't doing similiar things each time? Sometimes, school, stable, field isn't quite as interesting as the things they can see and have interest in when they are out and about.

Actually, yes, I could lead her out in hand within the confines of the yard as the driveway is a third of a mile long and she would enjoy the extra grazing (grass is poor in the paddocks at the mo and I am feeding haylage to supplement). Thanks.

 

[Wagtail]

Well, faced with a horse that is getting more and more fed up and difficult and has sudden bouts of pain that you don't prevent but can only react to and whose management is now causing the other horses to be upset, you might take the view that for the good of the mare, her companions, yourself and anyone else who has to deal with her, because, as you rightly point out YOU are reinforcing her bargy bad behaviour, perhaps PTS might need to be a consideration.

No way! If you ever met her you would see what a lively and happy spirit she is. Her flare ups happen maybe every 3 months for a period of two weeks maximum when she is 1 - 2 tenths lame and on one bute a day, so she's hardly suffering. Her behaviour is due to wanting more attention. I am asking for ways to exercise her brain so that her bargy behaviour (which she has always been prone to) reduces.

 

[bumblelion]

This rings a bell! My field ornament a 17hh ID (well for the summer anyway, then a half field/half stable ornament) is very bolshy! I have to bring him in first if I want to bring in my other horse otherwise he just barges through or won't let my other out! I have to put my other back out first or he wont let me get my other in! He rips my other ones rugs to shreds! Trouble is my other one is a tb so needs rugs, otherwise I'd give up! They play fight a lot, the tb is very cheeky but the ornament always has to go a step further, biting causing blood! My poor tb looks like he's been throught the wars! I can't split them up, tried and failed as the ornament trashes the elec fencing (can't put anything more permanent up) also the tb gets all stressed if they're separated! Seems to like getting bullied!
He's been off for 2 years due to stifle ops and arthritis (only 10yrs old), hoping to bring him back into a bit of work, gentle hack etc a couple of times a week! I could never get rid of him as my horses are with me for life and he's in no pain so won't PTS, so I just have to grin and bear it, although he is worth it!!!! I tell myself, it's character!!!

 

[Tickles]

Find a child (adult if necessary) who wants (but isn't allowed) a dog.

Get them to take her for walks and do her tricks ;-) if you're luck they might want to practice plaiting or smthing too...

More seriously though, the walks are a good idea. I know a retired pony (who is actually in much of the time due to previous lami) but seems very happy with regular walks.

 

[Wagtail]

This rings a bell! My field ornament a 17hh ID (well for the summer anyway, then a half field/half stable ornament) is very bolshy! I have to bring him in first if I want to bring in my other horse otherwise he just barges through or won't let my other out! I have to put my other back out first or he wont let me get my other in! He rips my other ones rugs to shreds! Trouble is my other one is a tb so needs rugs, otherwise I'd give up! They play fight a lot, the tb is very cheeky but the ornament always has to go a step further, biting causing blood! My poor tb looks like he's been throught the wars! I can't split them up, tried and failed as the ornament trashes the elec fencing (can't put anything more permanent up) also the tb gets all stressed if they're separated! Seems to like getting bullied!
He's been off for 2 years due to stifle ops and arthritis (only 10yrs old), hoping to bring him back into a bit of work, gentle hack etc a couple of times a week! I could never get rid of him as my horses are with me for life and he's in no pain so won't PTS, so I just have to grin and bear it, although he is worth it!!!! I tell myself, it's character!!!

That's what I say too! She has always had 'character'. It just shows though that horses need mental and physical stimulation otherwise they will devise naughty ways of amusing themselves. I think there is a bit of jealousy involved too. My mare is bossy also with the other mare and takes chunks out of her bum! But the subordinate mare loves her to bits and screams like mad if I take naughty mare away!

 

[Wagtail]

Find a child (adult if necessary) who wants (but isn't allowed) a dog.

Get them to take her for walks and do her tricks ;-) if you're luck they might want to practice plaiting or smthing too...

More seriously though, the walks are a good idea. I know a retired pony (who is actually in much of the time due to previous lami) but seems very happy with regular walks.

Good idea. They must also like being lifted up by her head and used as a scratching post.

 

[bumblelion]

That's what I say too! She has always had 'character'. It just shows though that horses need mental and physical stimulation otherwise they will devise naughty ways of amusing themselves. I think there is a bit of jealousy involved too. My mare is bossy also with the other mare and takes chunks out of her bum! But the subordinate mare loves her to bits and screams like mad if I take naughty mare away!

You're right I think some of it is down to jealousy!!

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

I've got one like yours. He's been retired for about 10 months so far. 17.2, 10 year old TB, full of beans and full of life. I do the same as you, trying to keep him interested, etc, doing all the ground work, leading him around obstacles in the school, etc. I've not attempted to teach him to lie down on command though - Sounds like a challenge!

My horse can be such an idiot in the field. He doesn't seem to be able to socialise properly. He isn't aggressive, but he insists on playing and not allowing anyone to graze, and for his own safety I have resorted to giving him an individual paddock (next to his friends) fenced with electric. Electric fence is the one thing he completely respects. He goes though or over post and rail.

The last time I tried to give him a companion, who was a really docile pony, within 2 days my horse had provoked his friend into snapping, and my TB got thoroughly beaten up - and I ended up with a £600 vets bill.

 

[Wagtail]

I've got one like yours. He's been retired for about 10 months so far. 17.2, 10 year old TB, full of beans and full of life. I do the same as you, trying to keep him interested, etc, doing all the ground work, leading him around obstacles in the school, etc. I've not attempted to teach him to lie down on command though - Sounds like a challenge!

My horse can be such an idiot in the field. He doesn't seem to be able to socialise properly. He isn't aggressive, but he insists on playing and not allowing anyone to graze, and for his own safety I have resorted to giving him an individual paddock (next to his friends) fenced with electric. Electric fence is the one thing he completely respects. He goes though or over post and rail.

The last time I tried to give him a companion, who was a really docile pony, within 2 days my horse had provoked his friend into snapping, and my TB got thoroughly beaten up - and I ended up with a £600 vets bill.

Your boy sounds like a right character! I have considered giving my mare individual turnout next to her friends, but the problem is, in the winter, they go out in a rota in the all weather turnout and so it would mean less turnout for all the horses if I had to turn her out separately.