Is this just a mare thing!

R

Resupgirl

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My mare who I have owned since a foal is most the time a lovely girl she puts up with my kids jumping around her throwing snow balls and wants to be part of the game. Ears always forward kind face etc. Picks my son up by his coat and licks and kisses him.

But she can take an instant dislike to someone and no matter what they do she will not let them near her. Its happened on a few occasions and taken me by surprise both times. Must admit I am normally the only one that handles her and is fine most the time we have our battles but they are low key.

If I wander off and she don't know the person she will stand with her ears back looking at me like its my fault!

I sometimes think someone might have had a go at her when I was not around?
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No I don't think it is a mare thing, Fany is very friendly but Captain will take an instant dislike to a person and won't even take a carrot etc off them! His ears go back and he warns them, if pushed he will bite or at least try. He will stand with his head in the corner if they come to his stable, and he is always consistent, if he doesn't like them the first time he won't warm to them the next times he sees them. I think it is like people, you can't like them all!
 
Yes the head in the corner is familiar! She will stand with her head in the corner even if she hears the voice of a person she don't like.
 
Horses reconise humans by smell, voice, body language and touch - sight is only part of the process of recognition. And just maybe they have a sense we humans don't know about -yet. A horse has also got a long memory. So perhaps she remembers the smell or sound of someone who in the past has hurt her. So when she smells something familiar on a visitor she reacts negatively in fear. I doubt if she'll ever trust that visitor - whatever he/she does in mitigation.
Read about pheromones.

Whatever, take it as a warning and look again at the people she doesn't like and ask yourself why.

Dogs do it too. I once owned a bull mastiff bitch who normally was as brave as can be, but she was absolutely terrified of a veteran soldier who had had a pretty horrendous time in the army during WW2. He never hurt my dog, he even tried to make a fuss of her but she always shrank back from him in absolute terror. I can only assume he had the smell of war on him.

I believe that if you bring a horse closely into your family, then you become a two legged member of the horse's herd. Don't knock it - it is precious.

B G
 
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