How do i stop my mare's sensitivity when putting rugs on?

B

BlueFire710

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 November 2010
Messages
184
Visit site
My mare has recently started putting her ears back and swinging her head round to me when i put her rugs on. She has a full clip. She loves being groomed and is wonderful with all aspects of care and riding so i know it is not a temperament of hormone issue. She was doing the same thing when i did up the girth but has stopped since i did it really gradually. I don't throw her rugs on her roughly -i do place them.

Any tips on how to help her and stop this behaviour would be wonderful! Thanks
 
When you put them on, do you have the pull them forwards a little to do the chest strap up? Oh mare hates this so I make sure to always put her rug on a little far forwards so I can slide it back with the direction of her coat - that way it doesn't bother her at all.
Do they pull on her chest or withers at all? Might be making her uncomfortable?
 
a lot of horses get more ticklish once fully clipped. i have known horses that had sore muscles around their girth area and who showed this by putting ears back, threatening to bite, etc. once they'd been treated in this area (chiro, massage, etc) the negative behaviour disappeared.
if she's started since the clip, i'd probably blame that, but if she did it before, i'd get her checked out.
Welcome, btw!
 
Mine threatens to bite when you take her snuggly warm rugs off, so I leave a thin layer that she has on all the time - I just resite it if I am not taking them all off to groom/ride.
 
Like others have said - could just be the clip making her sensitive; or she could have developed a sore back. My mare never minded having her rugs moved until she had a very bad back problem - she'd then try and murder anyone that even considered touchign her rug! My gelding is uber grumpy anyway and also tries to kill you if you move his rug, that's just him though!

I'd probably get the vet/physio to be on the safe side and for peace of mind especially if it isn't her normal character! :)
 
Do you fold the rug into 4, place it gently slightly forward of where it needs to be and unfold gently and slide back into position? If not try that, it might work.
If you already do that, or that isn't the answer, then yes have her checked over, especially if she is sensitive in the girth area.
 
Jess1 said:
Like others have said - could just be the clip making her sensitive; or she could have developed a sore back. My mare never minded having her rugs moved until she had a very bad back problem - she'd then try and murder anyone that even considered touchign her rug! My gelding is uber grumpy anyway and also tries to kill you if you move his rug, that's just him though!

I'd probably get the vet/physio to be on the safe side and for peace of mind especially if it isn't her normal character! :)
Click to expand...


Good point! Could also be an explaination as to why the horse did it with the saddle before the OP started doing it more gently! x
 
My relatively new horse didn't like his girth being done up or having tack/rugs put on.....I changed his diet to fibre/oil and added Pink Powder.....all of this has stopped.

Possibly gastric ulcers? I never had it confirmed, but thats what I suspect my lad had when he came to me.
 
My tb mare does this, however its when you pull the rug back once the chest straps have been done up, she just throws her head about and nods once or twice, then when you do her belly straps she'll bite the air on the opposite side that your stood. Its just one of her funny quirks though, shes never nasty with it. But if yours has just started doing it perhaps check for rubs and such, she could be itchy if shes been clipped?
x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top