how to deal with this behavior, suggestions please

[moodiestmare]

Sorry long post!

Up until recently I have kept my mare with 2 geldings and a pony mare. However, we have sold the geldings now (about a month ago.)

My mare seemed absolutely fine with it. She doesn't graze with the pony like she did with the geldings but she seems as happy as she ever was.

However, last week I turned her out in a different paddock, and there was a gelding in the field next to her and it seems to have sent her bonkers. She was neighing non-stop to the other horse and was charging about and when I led her she tried to drag me and had her head bolt upright etc (which she has never done in the 2 years I have had her, she is normally fantastic to deal with.)

I have moved her back up the top and she is still neighing and charging around like a 3 year old.

Any ideas on what to do?

She isn't in season and the gelding has been near by for the last couple of months so isn't totally new to her.

Any suggestion would be very welcome and so would any ideas on how to handle her like this.

Thank you!

 

[Shilasdair]

Does the gelding look like one of the friends she lost?
S

 

[moodiestmare]

Funnily enough not remotely! The geldings were one grey 16"3 tb and one black 16"2 tbx. The horse she has tried to attach herself to is a big bay that is not remotely like a tb.

 

[SillyMare]

Ignore it and see if she settles down?

As long as your fences are safe (and sufficiently high) she will probably get over it.

In the meantime if she is dragging you around, perhaps handle her in a bridle or a chifney.

Is the gelding doing anything to encourage her? Could he be a rig?

 

[moodiestmare]

I am pretty sure the gelding isn't a rig because he is pretty much ignoring her. It is very one sided.

She can't go anywhere (would have to leap several electric fences and 3 wooden ones to meet him!)

I am pretty sure I have one of those pressure halter
click on attachments that I bought for one of the geldings so I will have a look and try that on her for the time being.

 

[Shilasdair]

Perhaps she feels vulnerable having just lost some of her 'herd' and so is trying to join up with others for the old equine herd instinct...safety in numbers.
Or maybe she is in season?
Either way, if you can't put them all in together, then you'll have to just wait and hope she settles again.
Hope she reverts to normal soon.
S

 

[Cop-Pop]

My TBx gets like that before she goes into season - she is a total slut though

and comes into season at the mere whiff of a male (even gelded ones)

I just leave her to settle down now, she usually calms down after a day or so. She can't go into a field with a gelding coz once the novelty wears off she tries to kill them