Marron
New User
Hi
Can anyone help with our aggressive mare?
We have a 14 year old mare, 2 donkeys (male and female 4 years) and a French Trotter gelding (2 1/2 years). We're in France.
The donkeys and mare have been together since the donkeys were 6 mths. We have various visiting horses and ponies between then and now and Hattie our mare has always been protective over the donkeys and aggressive towards any newcomers - even after the initial separate "introduction" fields. This time she is worse than ever. Our new trotter is a rescue - would have gone to the butchers had we not got him as he wasn't fast enough in the speed trials. He is a lovely natured boy, very inquisitive and friendly. Our mare is becoming a real pain as she is constantly blocking him from saying hi to the donkeys. She is a squealer and a foot-stamper - has always been so with every new horse and even is with horses we stop to say hello at whilst out hacking.
She has got so bad that she is now backing towards him and kicking out and she even did it to me! I was wondering whether she is behaving just like a mum to the donkeys? Interestingly they're not that worried and want to say hi but the mare won't let them. I fear if it goes on too long his lovely nature will be spoiled. The quietest solution is to have donkeys in one field and the two horses in another but she is still squealy and stampy. I have heard about herbal supplements to help any hormonal imbalances as I read that this stallion like behaviour could be as a result of that. Any advice would be much appreciate.
Can anyone help with our aggressive mare?
We have a 14 year old mare, 2 donkeys (male and female 4 years) and a French Trotter gelding (2 1/2 years). We're in France.
The donkeys and mare have been together since the donkeys were 6 mths. We have various visiting horses and ponies between then and now and Hattie our mare has always been protective over the donkeys and aggressive towards any newcomers - even after the initial separate "introduction" fields. This time she is worse than ever. Our new trotter is a rescue - would have gone to the butchers had we not got him as he wasn't fast enough in the speed trials. He is a lovely natured boy, very inquisitive and friendly. Our mare is becoming a real pain as she is constantly blocking him from saying hi to the donkeys. She is a squealer and a foot-stamper - has always been so with every new horse and even is with horses we stop to say hello at whilst out hacking.
She has got so bad that she is now backing towards him and kicking out and she even did it to me! I was wondering whether she is behaving just like a mum to the donkeys? Interestingly they're not that worried and want to say hi but the mare won't let them. I fear if it goes on too long his lovely nature will be spoiled. The quietest solution is to have donkeys in one field and the two horses in another but she is still squealy and stampy. I have heard about herbal supplements to help any hormonal imbalances as I read that this stallion like behaviour could be as a result of that. Any advice would be much appreciate.