Horse kicking out at nothing?!

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perryhillbay

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Can anyone suggest what might be up with my weird mare? Bit of a long post, but please read as I am so confused.

Last week, she randomly starting kicking the cr*p out of her stable walls, putting her feet through the plywood walls and causing me a lot of concern both for her welfare and my bank balance! I tried to think of reasons for it to randomly start, but she is not overlooked, her stable is private but she can see what's going on on the yard. I get there at 6 in the mornings, so she's hardly kept waiting, she has plenty of ridden exercise, and daily turnout. She ever seems to not want to go in her stable and generally seems a happy bunny.
So, in a bid to sort out the problem, I started putting her hay in two small holed haynets to slow her down and keep her entertained for longer, bought her a treat ball to play with and put her on to NAF Oestress (as she is occassionally a stroppy madam and it seemed worth a shot). I also started leaving her breakfast out for someone else to give her who gets there before me (only 10 mins, but never mind). After a couple of days the stable kicking appeared to stop. Job done I thought. Until last night....

When I got her in and was changing her rugs, I was stood behind her doing her leg straps up, when all of a sudden, both her hind feet were around my ears as she kicked out violently. She NEVER kicks people, Ever. I absolutely went mental at her as I will simply not tolerate that sort of behaviour, however was not convinced that it was aimed at me, just that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She seemed shocked at what she had done and didn't touch me and I know enough about horses to know that they have a damn good aim, if she'd wanted to get me she would have. She then stood quietly and was no trouble.

I got to the yard this morning, and tied her up outside her stable as usual whilst I mucked out and waited for it to be light enough to turn out. She was tied up and I watched her repeatedly, suddenly put her ears flat back and bite at her leadrope and then kick out violently with her back legs, either just one, or both together, double-barrelling the air. It was aiming at nothing, and as soon as she was done, she would stand quietly for another 30 seconds or so, and then go mad again and then stand again. So strange and with no provocation. I stood and watched and none of the other horses were even looking at her.

What the HELL is going on? I am so confused I just don't know what to think. She is absolutely fine to ride, has her back regularly checked (last about 4 weeks ago), teeth are done, farrier not due, wormed, generally spoilt rotten and wants for nothing.

Massive cups of hot choccy with whipped cream and marshmallows to anyone who got this far... Please HELP!
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Personally I'd be having a good check for mites or mudfever. Only time I've seen anything similar was with a feathered horse that had bad mudfever. He would kick out at the itching.

have you checked her heels and legs for scabs of any sort?

What sort of bedding is she on? could there be mould/mites in this?
Best of luck finding out what's causing it.
 
My friends pony did same, after she tied him up and left him all day coz she forgot he was tied up!!!
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He did get better, but it took alot of retraining to get him round. She used to tie him up for 5 mins then give him a treat then un-tie him, and went on from there. Maybe if you tell your mare she good when not kicking and give her something she reaaly likes then she may get the idea after a while. Sorry thats all I can suggest.
 
It really sounds like shes not happy about something, my first point of call would be thats its poss pain related or some kind of irritation. Id give her a good check over and maybe speak to your vet!
 
I was going to suggest insects/itching too. Check around her ladybits too in case she has anything biting her - we get nasty scuttly flies, even in this cold weather, that hide out under tails and round their bits.
 
May be completely off track here but Che starting doing this earlier this year. Turned out to be a bad reaction to his diet, too much sugar, not enough fibre. He just couldnt help himself, was fine one minute, the next kicking out randomly behind and sideways, almost like a child with too many e numbers. I put him on a magnesium calmer as believed this to be part of the problem, limited his grass intake and cut out as much sugar as possible. Within a week he had changed completely and with careful management we have had no repeat performances. Just a thought, may be diet related.
 
Ok, I've got two ideas:

My mare used to have an intolarance to protein, if she was fed it in reasonable high amounts (ie the dosage in the mix or nuts or oats she was having at the time was too high for her) so I had to change her diet.
Her symptoms were that her whole body but particluarly between her back legs were incredibly itchy. She used to rub herself until she bled.
When the vet saw her if didn't take any tests but told me to change her diet to a low protien and after a week she stopped.

Idea2: My sisters gelding started doing this very suddenly (convienently she was on holiday and I was in charge!). His behaviour was almost colic like. When I examine him I found that his sheath was very dirty and had maggots up there, which was obviously what he was kicking out at.
I guess that mares can also get dirty and smelly in the same area. Perhaps you should give her a wash - you'll soon know if it's that!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ok, I've got two ideas:

My mare used to have an intolarance to protein, if she was fed it in reasonable high amounts (ie the dosage in the mix or nuts or oats she was having at the time was too high for her) so I had to change her diet.
Her symptoms were that her whole body but particluarly between her back legs were incredibly itchy. She used to rub herself until she bled.
When the vet saw her if didn't take any tests but told me to change her diet to a low protien and after a week she stopped.

Idea2: My sisters gelding started doing this very suddenly (convienently she was on holiday and I was in charge!). His behaviour was almost colic like. When I examine him I found that his sheath was very dirty and had maggots up there, which was obviously what he was kicking out at.
I guess that mares can also get dirty and smelly in the same area. Perhaps you should give her a wash - you'll soon know if it's that!

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree with both of these-coming into winter people tend to change/increase feeds and also rich haylage (horsehage) can have high protein content which some horses can react to. Have you clipped her? Might be that she is a little more sensitive/ticklish for a few weeks (I know a mare that kicks out when her tail tickles her back legs-nightmare!).

Otherwise, I would be tempted to get the vet out and maybe get bloods/back checked-good luck and let us know how you get on!
 
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