Grumpy mare

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Harrison76

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Looking for advise regarding my grumpy 4 year old connemara mare. She pins her ears back at me all the time, if I touch her to move her over she goes to cow kick, swish her tail and pins her ears flat back. When in the field she walks backwards in a threatening manner towards my other mare, which 9 times out of 10 ends up with my other mare kicking out at her, but she doesn't seem to learn. They are generally very good friends until she does this.
 
She’s telling you that she doesn’t like the way you re interacting with her and this might be a lack of education on her part or yours? There are so many factors which might be in play..how long have you had this young mare? Was/is she used to herd turnout..is she hungry and being protective of food…or of your attention. How much has she been handled, is she broken and in work…so many factors to consider…..
 
We have had her for 2 years, she was broken in last year and is currently in light work, just because I don't want to do to much on her because she is still young. She was a lovely mare when we had her, but she just changed. Doesn't like you walking past or touching when she is eating . Herd turnout, definitely not hungry.
 
May I ask if she is kept at a livery yard? Do other people interact with her on a regular basis when you are not around? How long has she been doing this and does it fit in with any major changes like breaking her in, or new staff around her etc.?
 
We are on a livery yard yes... plenty of people about who interact with her. She's started to be like this a couple of weeks after returning from been broken in. She as days when she loves a fuss, but when she's had enough she let's you know. I'm considering getting her scoped for ulcers and getting her ovaries checked.
 
Sorry if I am misunderstanding. Is this the same horse from January 2023 that you were having the same issues with? Has she been behaving like this for the last two years?

Edited to try and save drip feeding information which doesn't help us or you.

Is she just broken in, or broken in two years ago>
Does she behave the same way with livery staff?
Did you ever have a professional help you with establishing better behaviour and ground rules?
 
Respect the mares wishes and don’t hover near or touch whilst feeding, that’s just polite. If she’s ok for a while then gets grumpy she’s just retelling you enough is enough. Having lots of people interacting with her sounds like she’s not comfortable with it, just like a dog will…or a child..or me if I’m honest.
 
No she hasn't been like this for 2 years. She was broken in Back end 2023 into 2024. Professionaly broken may I add. She is very dominant with my other mare, which as not always been the case. She's great to lunge and good on the ground when leading. She just doesn't like you to be near her unless it's on her terms in the stable. If you stroke her or want to move her over, if she doesn't want you to touch her that's when she pins her ears back and sometimes goes to cow kick.
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
Just had a quick look at your previous posts about this mare two years ago. I assume still the same one? Did you ever get professional help with ground work and putting manners on her etc.?
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The mare from two years ago I still have. After been sent away to have all groundwork and professionally broken she is a totally different mare.
 
Harrison76 said:
The mare from two years ago I still have. After been sent away to have all groundwork and professionally broken she is a totally different mare.
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I do wonder if there is your answer. You have had a very similar problem with both your horses, thankfully bringing in professional help for breaking and groundwork solved the problem for the first mare.

Now you appear to be experiencing the same problem with your newest youngster. Without wanting to offend you I do wonder if your ability to enforce ground rules and manners in a youngster might not be enough to set them up for success? This is nothing to be ashamed of by the way, very often excellent horse people can be very effective in some areas of training and care in youngsters, but not quite so effective in other areas of training.

Perhaps consider asking around for a trainer who is very good with groundwork and general handling.
 
not sure how to take this thread so far, but for what it’s worth, this is precisely what my 5 year old was like last year, minus the kicking in the field (lily would not stand for that😂)

groundwork made the biggest difference, i can touch her whilst she’s eating and do her rug etc now without issue - working in the school with a rope halter, backing up and all that fun stuff.

she’s still got it in her though, i think she’s just “like that” about her space - she’ll come over whilst i’m mucking out, taking the fork off me and putting her head on my shoulder, but if i point across the stable and click to ask her to move over she puts her ears back and swishes her tail at me in a real huff that i’ve told her she’s in my way😂

definitely worth getting her scoped for ulcers though, mine did/does have them (waiting for rescope) but treatment has made no difference in her case, which isn’t a surprise as i did think she’s simply a grumpy bum in the stable😂
 
dottylottie said:
not sure how to take this thread so far, but for what it’s worth, this is precisely what my 5 year old was like last year, minus the kicking in the field (lily would not stand for that😂)

groundwork made the biggest difference, i can touch her whilst she’s eating and do her rug etc now without issue - working in the school with a rope halter, backing up and all that fun stuff.

she’s still got it in her though, i think she’s just “like that” about her space - she’ll come over whilst i’m mucking out, taking the fork off me and putting her head on my shoulder, but if i point across the stable and click to ask her to move over she puts her ears back and swishes her tail at me in a real huff that i’ve told her she’s in my way😂

definitely worth getting her scoped for ulcers though, mine did/does have them (waiting for rescope) but treatment has made no difference in her case, which isn’t a surprise as i did think she’s simply a grumpy bum in the stable😂
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This is my mare all over😂
 
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