Horse suddenly won't stop following?

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Nicole-Louise

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I've had my filly less than 2 months. She'll be 3 in July, and getting close to 16hh, so she's a big girl for her age.

When I first got her, anytime I went to get her out of the field, she'd run the other way, or as soon as I had her head collar on, she'd completely stop and refuse to move, even with food, she wouldn't come in! Nor would she leave the side of any horse.

She now follows me in the lunging pen, which I don't mind. However, she was originally on loan, so her owners came down 2 days ago, and it was like she was a completely different horse.. literally.

I walked into the field, and as soon as she saw me, she came running over and would not leave my side. ven when the other horses called her, she still stuck by me. Where I went, she went, even if I stopped, she'd stand waiting next to me. A few times she got in front, would stop, look to see where I was and would wait until I caught up.. Any horse that came near she'd chase off. She even started going up to her previous owners and pinnng her ears back, warning them anytime they got too close to me.

Again, I went to get her yesterday, she seen me and came running over, trotting behind to make sure she kept up. Even if I went in the opposite direction to her, she'd make sure she put the effort in to stick to my side. Even when I turned her back out and she walked off, as soon as she seen me by the gate, she ran to the gate and wouldn't move from it?

I'm pretty chuffed though, her previous owners were impressed with the way she is, and decided to completely give all ownership to me!


But, what I don't understand is how she went from refusing to come in, and turning the other way when she saw me, to now completely making sure she's by my side 24/7?

Here she is..

575183_224238731026371_100003207379900_389986_1951956508_n.jpg
 
She's beautiful!!!

How strange though. Can't help much I'm afraid.

Only thing I can think - is she itching? My mare had an allergic reaction to something unknown a couple of summers ago and she wouldn't leave my side - she was craving for me to scratch her!
 
Moomin1 said:
She's beautiful!!!

How strange though. Can't help much I'm afraid.

Only thing I can think - is she itching? My mare had an allergic reaction to something unknown a couple of summers ago and she wouldn't leave my side - she was craving for me to scratch her!
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Haha thanks!

Nope not itching at all.. she even bit me when I tried leaving her though (but that was immediately corrected). I just find it really strange.. I barely hand feed her either..
 
Speaking from experience I would be looking at avenues to get her out of this behaviour as could be a territorial issue which is what I had with Nugz. Never extended to the field particularly as doesn't share, but he can get a bit shirty with his paddock mates if near to the fence line. But he does in his stable - there are bars in the stables so the horses can see each other, but he has taken a disliking to the 2 horses that have been in there, but only when I am around. OH sat an watched him, and I have spied on him as has my friend and he quite happily nuzzles up at the bars to the current neighbour when I am not around but the moment I turn up he turns into a snarling demon!

It has only happened since I had to put our old mare/his 'mum'/pair bond to sleep autumn last year. And when he is particularly insecure when leading up from field to stable (like when he feels he's been left) he makes it quite clear to any nosey horses that I am his :o

I have managed to curb it by making a point of sending him away when he gets nary and then carry on with what I was doing be it feeding another horse or just paying attention to another. Fortunately he is slowly starting to settle and realise that I mean business and that I will always be his so doesn't need to worry, but now we have the other issue that he feels he needs to vet everyone I meet and then either stands there if they are deemed worthy, or he tries to walk off and normally passes wind in the process :D
 
Nugget La Poneh said:
Speaking from experience I would be looking at avenues to get her out of this behaviour as could be a territorial issue which is what I had with Nugz. Never extended to the field particularly as doesn't share, but he can get a bit shirty with his paddock mates if near to the fence line. But he does in his stable - there are bars in the stables so the horses can see each other, but he has taken a disliking to the 2 horses that have been in there, but only when I am around. OH sat an watched him, and I have spied on him as has my friend and he quite happily nuzzles up at the bars to the current neighbour when I am not around but the moment I turn up he turns into a snarling demon!

It has only happened since I had to put our old mare/his 'mum'/pair bond to sleep autumn last year. And when he is particularly insecure when leading up from field to stable (like when he feels he's been left) he makes it quite clear to any nosey horses that I am his :o

I have managed to curb it by making a point of sending him away when he gets nary and then carry on with what I was doing be it feeding another horse or just paying attention to another. Fortunately he is slowly starting to settle and realise that I mean business and that I will always be his so doesn't need to worry, but now we have the other issue that he feels he needs to vet everyone I meet and then either stands there if they are deemed worthy, or he tries to walk off and normally passes wind in the process :D
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I suppose it's worth getting her out of it. She's never nastily though, my boyfriend can walk happily by the side of me, as can others, and she'll just follow along. I've kept an eye on her in the field, and she's fine with the other 5 horses she shares it with. Even when I'm around the dominant gelding will always put her back into place. I don't understand why she has the need to follow though. When she followed yesterday, she even let the other horses near and around me, but she just refused to leave my side..

It's almost like she sees the need to stick to me like glue. It's just strange that it's only started the past few days..
 
Nicole-Louise said:
I suppose it's worth getting her out of it. She's never nastily though, my boyfriend can walk happily by the side of me, as can others, and she'll just follow along. I've kept an eye on her in the field, and she's fine with the other 5 horses she shares it with. Even when I'm around the dominant gelding will always put her back into place. I don't understand why she has the need to follow though. When she followed yesterday, she even let the other horses near and around me, but she just refused to leave my side..

It's almost like she sees the need to stick to me like glue. It's just strange that it's only started the past few days..
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Is it worth maybe running some bloods or looking at feeding a general vit/min supplement if not already? Just a thought as someone I know through my boy is a firm believer that when horses do something like this, out of the blue, then there is a reason - either they are picking up on you and your vibes, or there is something wrong with them.

Or you could be pregnant and not realised yet :D
 
Nugget La Poneh said:
Is it worth maybe running some bloods or looking at feeding a general vit/min supplement if not already? Just a thought as someone I know through my boy is a firm believer that when horses do something like this, out of the blue, then there is a reason - either they are picking up on you and your vibes, or there is something wrong with them.

Or you could be pregnant and not realised yet :D
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Might be worth having her checked, just for peace of mind. I already have vit/min supplements contributed into her daily feeds. She's showing no signs or symptoms, but that's not exactly needed for something to be wrong.

Haha, I hope no, don't think I'm ready for that just yet lol. A youngster is enough for me haha :D
 
I want to say maybe she is just happy with you and was worried her old owners were going to take her away, dont want to get lynched for my airy fairy foundationless thoughts though :D

She is lovely, whats your plans for her?
 
alfielola05 said:
I want to say maybe she is just happy with you and was worried her old owners were going to take her away, dont want to get lynched for my airy fairy foundationless thoughts though :D

She is lovely, whats your plans for her?
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If I've understood correctly that she only started following you when the owners came, I'd agreed with this. I've seen similar things happen with other horses. Nothing to worry about there imo.
 
alfielola05 said:
I want to say maybe she is just happy with you and was worried her old owners were going to take her away, dont want to get lynched for my airy fairy foundationless thoughts though :D

She is lovely, whats your plans for her?
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Haha, you won't get lynched, I can totally compromise what you're saying! It's funny, I went in again today, stood half a field away from her, she realised it was me and came dashing over. No other horse followed, and she actually cantered to catch me up.. I'm quite liking the idea, no hassle in getting her in anymore haha! :D

Thank you! I'm hoping to break her in within the next few weeks, and eventually I'm aiming to event her :D
 
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