Handling help

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holliej

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My 17 year old ID mare has always been an angel to handle and lead in from the field, actually she is a sweetheart with anything she does.
She damaged a tendon this year and was on box rest for a few months and started going out for grass gradually. She love her stable so box rest was no problem.
She has been retired due to the injury.
She became very strong to lead to the field (which was understandable as she wasn't getting much turnout time due to the injury)
Since then I have moved yards.
She has got used to being out for most of the day now and is generally happy, although it took a whole for her to settle in her new field. (she is on individual turnout)
The only problem I have now is that she can be so strong to bring in from the field and occasionally to turn out.
I think because she has so much energy from not getting ridden anymore, she winds herself up for some reason and is awful the whole way to her stable. I even tried a dually halter this evening, which didnt seem to help.
She is fine once on the yard.
I just hate that she is so difficult when she has always been so easy to handle in the 10 years I've owned her.

I have started taking her on short walks to give her something to think about, but she can be strong on these too and they have to be limited due to her leg recovery.

I was hoping someone had some advice for me.

Has anyone else had a similar problem due to retirement?

Advice with the dually halter or other halters? I don't really want to have to start taking the bridle with me.

Should I think about giving her some sort of calmer to take the edge off?

She gets barely any hard feed since her retirement, only enough to get vital vitamins and to feed her supplements.
 
I would start looking for a yard that offers group turnout so she can enjoy her retirement living with others, ideally out 24/7 so she becomes more relaxed, it cannot be much of a life living alone even if she seems happy she is probably more resigned to it than really content.
 
Yeah she has been turned out with others up until her injury. But it's not an option at the mo.
her field is next to 3 other horses and she can see others. She is fine in the field, it's the in between bits that seem to be a problem.
nightmare.
 
Think I will just get some help with her behaviour whilst handling.

I think it is just where she is so full of energy.

She can not be turned out with others at the moment, because she is still recovering from her injury.

If she was unhappy I would obviously do something about it, but she is happy in herself. Just too much energy.
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|Thanks for your help.
 
I use Equine America Magnitude and it has transformed my boy. Even though on minimal feed is there any sugar or high protein involved. Is she on hay or haylege, I find haylege can spark my boy up too. There was a time (years ago now) that I had to bring Hudson in with a bridle as he was just awful, so don't worry if you need to do that, it won't be for ever
 
there are a few way to solve the issue though not a quick fix but not hard at all....try by possibly with the dually halter or something similar designed for control and start by walking her out even if its just a few strides then turning round and going back....gradually increasing the distance before turning round..the point in this is she is probably anticipating going to the field or somewhere that she get excited and by turning round you are making the horse think differently....even just turning a few circles when she startd getting strong and standing and waiting till she settles before walking on again.?

if she is retired with an injury you could try some basic natural horsemanship to establish leadership with her. my horse was quite pushy on the ground and would take you or a walk for miles! i did some simple horsemanship work and now she just happily follows behind me everywhere i go!

try out anything you can think of and see what works its trial and error!:)
 
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