Filly with an attitude, how to handle?

D

dontworryaboutme

New User
Joined
23 January 2014
Messages
3
Visit site
I got my foal on Sunday and she has been stabled since the weekend due to being wormed (panacur 5day), she is due to be turned out for the first time on Saturday in a paddock next to the big girl mares for a week so I can monitor her - this is the longest she has ever been stabled.
All I've been doing with her really is leading her out a couple of times a day up and down the yard (not been led before coming coming me and doing great!) , grooming hber, teaching her to have her legs touched and mucking out around her. Generally just getting her used to my presence.

Over the past two days though she's been really narky and has taken to pinning her ears when I walk in the stable, she doesn't come at me but I make her back away from me when she does this and she can sometimes swing her head at me but never really acts on her grumpiness (never bites/kicks) but can mouth snap.
If I have food she will come at me with her ears back and so I use the stirrer stick to push her away until she relaxes and gets out of my space, then I put her food down.

I've only had to stomp my foot at her hard and shout 'oi' once when she swung her bum on my other half. Making her disappear to the back of the stable.
I've come across foals with attitude before (I helped start my friends colt) but not quite as she presents, v bolshy at a young age (6months).
So I'm wondering am I being firm enough? I don't want her to fear me! What's all this mareishness about already? Can't work out if it's fear coming off as being grumpy, or if she's testing me? Fedup of being in now, or??

As always, no nasties please. Just looking to throw ideas around and after some kind opinions...
 
TBH she is probably bored! Has she got enough stimulation can she be turned out in a school to let of some steam?

HAs she got any company?

She is a baby and needs to let of steam no wonder she is grumpy!
 
She has a likit, a jolly ball, carrots from the ceiling, plenty of hay and can see her neighbours... I realise that doesn't replace stimulation of being outdoors but soon be Saturday! And unfortunately no, a no turnout/freeschool zone is the menage.
Yes there is a need to keep her in cos she's been wormed as it's yard rules. Roll Roll on saturday!
 
She's a baby horse, taken away from all she knows, shut in and without any sympathetic company, being fussed with in ways she doesn't like, Granted, that is no reason to take bad manners from her but since there is nothing you can do about her circumstances for the time being can you stick to pleasant things - grooming her itchy spots, taking her out for a graze etc and leave out any stressful activities. I presume you have other young horses for her to go out with and things should improve when she has her own friends to interact with. It's very hard on horses to be alone at that age - some cope but many find it hugely stressful.
 
Sorry but just the way you describe your going in and giving her her feed with a stirer stick, she is probably wondering where you are coming from and thinks you look like a predator so she is being mean to protect herself.

Drop down the manners and big arms waving and make friends with her poor thing, she has been taken away from mom, locked in a stable and now she is going to go in a field next to others not with them why.

She is mores cared of you at her age and the turning the bum towards you is a protective mechanism not a threat
 
Aw I just can't imagine my little foals being stuck in a stable for 5 days. When I see mine out running around and playing with each other, it breaks my heart to think of this poor little mite all alone. Roll on Saturday when she gets to go outside and be part of a caring herd again.
 
Lol at some responses. As if I've gone in there cracking the whip all guns blazing. This is just two days of a couple of bad scenarios... Funny cos I'm probably the most gentle loving horse owner you will meet. A pushover sometimes.
I'm doing the best with what I have regarding worming and having to stay in, I don't have the luxury of my own yard.
I sit with her for hours doing nothing and expecting nothing just reading or daydreaming until she decides to approach me, I sing to her, I scratch her, give one another kisses, lay with her when she's laid down.
But what's the point in me explaining all this when I'm asking about ear pinning and bum swinging behaviours?? Blimey! I was asking if your opinions cumulatively matched mine and whether I'd hit the nail on the head suspecting she was just bored... And praying for Saturday to swing around!
Of course I had to stomp my foot when she swung and threatened my other half... Thats not kind. I didn't go in wheeling a stirrer stick, I simple 'used it as an extension of my arm' and asked her gently 'over'.
Forgive me for coming across as offended but by dressing up what I've said and with a bit of imagination I sound like a cruel ogre locking up a poor pony for no good reason approaching her with a bad attitude. When that's not the case...
 
Last edited:
dontworryaboutme said:
Lol at some responses. As if I've gone in there cracking the whip all guns blazing. This is just two days of a couple of bad scenarios... Funny cos I'm probably the most gentle loving horse owner you will meet. A pushover sometimes.
I'm doing the best with what I have regarding worming and having to stay in, I don't have the luxury of my own yard.
I sit with her for hours doing nothing and expecting nothing just reading or daydreaming until she decides to approach me, I sing to her, I scratch her, give one another kisses, lay with her when she's laid down.
But what's the point in me explaining all this when I'm asking about ear pinning and bum swinging behaviours?? Blimey! I was asking if your opinions cumulatively matched mine and whether I'd hit the nail on the head suspecting she was just bored... And praying for Saturday to swing around!
Of course I had to stomp my foot when she swung and threatened my other half... Thats not kind. I didn't go in wheeling a stirrer stick, I simple 'used it as an extension of my arm' and asked her gently 'over'.
Forgive me for coming across as offended but by dressing up what I've said and with a bit of imagination I sound like a cruel ogre locking up a poor pony for no good reason approaching her with a bad attitude. When that's not the case...
Click to expand...


cant you put a quiet horse in next to her friday night and turn her out with company she has met saturday? I would be worried about her going through fence or hurting herself another way galloping about if she is separate from the herd and alone
 
She has had some huge changes in her life and is probably at 6's and 7's. Horses have no time sense - you know she is going out on Saturday, but as far as she knows this is it for the rest of her life !

I think you have taken a sensible approach, one of the hardest things to do as a human is to see the world thru your horses eyes.
 
twiggy2 said:
cant you put a quiet horse in next to her friday night and turn her out with company she has met saturday? I would be worried about her going through fence or hurting herself another way galloping about if she is separate from the herd and alone
Click to expand...

This in spades. And she sounds very bored. She needs out with other horses, and I say that as someone who kept a yearling alone for a while due to an injury. Had he been well, he'd have been out with others. He is now back out with others, by the way. And at six months he was out 24/7 with other youngsters, being a horse!

I fail to comprehend why she needs to be in so long for worming - perhaps you should look for another yard where group turnout is possible. As she will be hyper once turned out, and will not enjoy being alone...
 
I think the 'not been led before' says it all! A lot of changes and new things...she is very young and most likely finding all a bit to much! It's like sending a child to school for the first time and expecting them to write in perfect sentences by the first week :o! The child would find this hard and show it by not wanting to participate by the end of the week!

I'd just back off for a few days....leave her be as long as she has stuff in her stable and can see the activities on the yard. Once she gets out, has a good leg stretch, and becomes part of the herd I'm sure she will settle down and be more friendly!
 
Sounds to me that you are a very caring owner but there are some on HHO who will turn things you've said against you! Appearing to score points seems to make them feel superior… Hopefully, they will grow out of it.

Which leads me on to the old pecking order which exists in horses too. I suspect the foal is thinking that attack (but not following through) is the best means of defence. The best people to teach a youngster manners are older horses. I have an old mare here who is on the bottom of the pecking order and she always flattens her ears when you approach, but it is all bluff and she is really a big softy! Personally, I wouldn't react except as you have done when the threat looks like being put into effect. THAT is NOT allowed!

I have two foals here around the same age. When they were about four months old and still with their mothers I thought it might be interesting to try some approach and retreat. Funnily, the filly decided to put her ears back at me, then swing round and threaten to kick. That was the first and only time she'd tried that. I haven't tried approach and retreat since and she hasn't threatened me either, in fact is quite a sweetie. Two yearling colts couldn't be more gentle and well behaved -- which I credit to them being in with the stallion and a gelding who taught them how to behave!
 
It is only a couple of days, she will survive and she won't be damaged by it. Yes, she needs to know the ground rules and she is obviously doing well if you are handling her etc. it is very early days for her and there may be an element of being protective of her stable too. In an ideal world a bit of company would be good but that is not always possible, can you stick a radio on? Roll on tomorrow, she will have kicked all the worms out and she can go and have some fun.
 
I have a similar situation, however, my 8 month old foal has been in for 2 months since having major operation following a field accident on the 4th day of weaning!

I too have supplied her with a range of things to keep her entertained, but its hard. She has an attitude to boot and whilst I understand she'll be frustrated its not acceptable sometimes. She literally lets you do anything at all with her, she doesnt barge but sometimes puts ears back or swishes her head when foods about.

You have to remember, that this (if you actually watch foals) is how she tells her mum she demands milk from the milk bar. Its only when they are weaned they are taught by others what is and isnt acceptable behaviour.

When she goes out with the others, they will most likely chase her a little, and sort out her attitude. I'm sure you'll see a difference in her within days.

Bare with her, and if she approaches you with ears back - do nothing else bar steping backwards until she approaches better. Its worked wonders with mine.

Unfortunatley, whilst mine is allowed to go out its far too wet and im scared she'll either rip her hernia site, ruptured stomach or colic surgery wound open! I have a few months yet, but hang on in there & good luck.
 
NZJenny said:
She has had some huge changes in her life and is probably at 6's and 7's. Horses have no time sense - you know she is going out on Saturday, but as far as she knows this is it for the rest of her life !

I think you have taken a sensible approach, one of the hardest things to do as a human is to see the world thru your horses eyes.
Click to expand...

your right horses have no 'time sense', so she has only the here and now to think of she does not think in terms of 'the rest of her life',
 
Dontworryaboutme - you should not be offended by posters replies we are going by what you have said in your post and tried to understand what you are saying, sometimes we get it wrong but it doesnit mean we are being nasty or trying to get one over you or any other poster for that matter, if people dont like to hear peoples answers then they shouldnt ask a question.
 
I wouldn't worry about it until after she has been out and been allowed to be a horse again. Once she has settled if she is still the same, then start to think about how you wish to handle it. I would suggest looking at the different approaches out there i.e. parelli, monty Roberts, think equus, clicker training etc. and decide what suits you and then stick to it. calm and predictable are the key factors in all of them. This way she gets a positive response for the behaviour you want and an uncomfortable response for the negative behaviour. Sounds like you have been doing a great job so far and by the sounds of her walking out so well with little or no previous experience in a new environment and whilst being stabled 24/7 she seems very well balanced to me. I don't think this is 'marish' behaviour :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top