Help please with aggressive mare

[Dizzykizzy]

Can anyone give me any advice or experiences with a very foal proud mare?
She foaled a lovely coloured filly at 6am yesterday and by last night wanted to kill us if we went anywhere near. My husband got a nasty bite on his arm over the stable door so she means business.
I don't have any history on her, she was rescued from the meat man last summer and has been a nice horse to deal with until foaling, very sweet and amenable....will this come back?
I would like to get them out for a few hours but since we can't get near the foal I am a bit worried about trying to get them to the field and back again....I think we could catch the mare as she loves her food but I don't want the foal racing around, too many things she could hurt herself on.
Anything at all to help please?

 

[danni1986]

at our stud we dont lead any of the newborn foals as have lost one on slippery concrete. They generally wont leave their mums side, and its always handy to get two people following on either side to help guide the foal. As for the your mare being aggressive, we have found their is no quick way to get over it, but to show her you're not going to take her baby away, by gradually trying to interact with the foal but keeping her happy! she might mellow out after being turned out for a bit. x

ps i'd love to see a pic of them

 

[flowerlady]

When I was on a yard one of the borders had two mares for breeding from but both were their first. A dutch warmblood who had her's first she was lovely her attitude never changed and was happy to let you fuss the foal and the foal loved you to scratch him. The second foaled about 3 weeks later this mare a full thoroughbred had always been easy to handle as well but when her foal was born she was like the devil possessed she would try and attack you if you went anywhere near the stable her lips went back and it was as if her teeth left her face she was evil. They were turned out and eventually she became a bit better but you still had to watch her. The foal was also a little aggressive. So maybe as the foal grows she will become a little less aggressive and the more you can handle them both the better. Just be careful at all times.

 

[Dizzykizzy]

Thank you both, that is very helpful.
I feel the mare really needs to get out as she gets stressed being in but they have to cross a concrete yard with lots of things which can't be moved.
I hope she doesn't stay this way for the whole time with the foal especially if the foal is going to copy as she is a very sweet little thing at the moment.

Pics are not brill as my camera was having a bad day when she was born but here they are....

 

[danni1986]

aww isnt she just adorable! Yeh u dont want her to start copying her mum! Maybe if you can definately catch the mare, then use a big towel or scarf to plac round the base of your fillys neck, that way your not pinning her down and upsetting mum anymore, but at least u will have some control as to where she is stepping!! xx

 

[KarynK]

You could try twitching the mare for short periods so you can interact with the foal, this might well help her to see that you are not going to hurt the baby. Or if she will distract her with food?

It sounds like she might be worried because of past experiences, thats probably why the aggression. One of mine doesn't like other people near her foals, for the first few days but then she settles down. She trusts me but will lay her ears back and stand between the foal and other people, I think all the best mothers are a little like this, but she is taking it a bit far.

Mine all get handled shortly after birth, I hold them front and back and teach them that I release the pressure when they stop struggling. They have their first leading lesson at two days old having learnt how to release the pressure, they learn exceptionally quickly at this age and by a week old they lead perfectly and lift all their feet, they enjoy the company of people and seek you out for scratches.

If you can do these sorts of things at a very early age then I feel it is much better for the foal as there is no stress and they know nothing else, instead of leaving it all to weaning with the added stress of that process too.

 

[reynold]

my mare is the same but gradually getting better after 2 weeks - she is still the agressive b***h from hell in the stable but can now lead her to/from the field with the foal - no other touching permitted and you need body armour to skip out the stable if they are in it

all I can suggest is what I've tried is Nupafeed magnesium calmer - it is OK for lactating mares and foals and has seemed to make a difference to my mare

she is sweet and normal and I've had her 16 years and know her full history. She's had 2 previous foals and been no problem -this one she's being a great mum but as for her behaviour - mmmm

 

[AmyMay]

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You could try twitching the mare for short periods so you can interact with the foal

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[genie]

Hi. We have a warmblood broodmare who is very gentle and peaceful..up until a week before she foals.then she turns into something possessed......this lasts for about 4 days where we can't get near her or the foal.after that she is happy to bring the foal to anybody around.and will quite happily swap her baby for a bucket of feed. good luck.

 

[Dizzykizzy]

Thanks for all your thoughts/advice/experiences. It is so helpful to know you aren't alone coping with it.
Mare is now distracted by feed bucket and lets me play with the foal a bit. Also they have been out a couple of times and she is much better out than in. We are not out of the woods by any means but it is becomig more manageable....wouldn't dare muck out with her in there though!!

 

[thedunthing]

havent really got any advice but foal is huge lol