Mare being extra mareish!

[Katiemay]

I have 5 year old mare who is generally not very mareish at all, she has the odd “off day” but generally is a very calm pony. During the summer my pony is stabled during the day and out during the night (for weight management on top of regular exercise. This works for us and I know does not work for everyone as I know this does spark debate). 4 days ago I changed my ponies routine over for winter (out during day and stabled during night). After day one of her change of routine i was on holiday for 2 days (she was left with a very trusted friend who she knows well and looks after her for a day or 2 every couple month) I have returned from my holiday to a very mareish mare. She is absolutely perfect and no different in every other manner, she still comes to me when shouted from the other end of the field, she still gets back and waits for me to put her feed down before she tucks in etc however when it comes to grooming her her ears are flat back and turning round to nip me. This is only on her body she is perfectly normal with her legs and mane and tail. She is a lot more in my face constantly coming over and smelling my face. After an attempted nip I used my man voice and she sharp pooped her pants and gave me the puppy dog eyes, which makes me think is she really just testing me? She is eating, drinking, pooing etc as normal nothing else seems to be off apart from her not wanting me to groom her l, however she is quite happy for a good scratch in the same places she isn’t happy for me to clean the poo staines off. My question is has anyone ever experienced this with there mare, could it be the change in her routine or a change in her hormones due to the seasons? Looking for other people experiences however I know my pony and if this behaviour carries on I will seek advise from a vet however at the moment she is not indicating any signs of actual discomfort, lack of appetite etc!

 

[Bellaboo18]

I actually really like your summer/winter routine. You know your mare and if this is out of her normal behaviour I would be considering the vet, however, I've always found the first and last of my multiple mares seasons are the worst. I wonder if it's a last season surge of hormones.

What routines are her friends around her in?

 

[Katiemay]

Thank you for your response! All of the horses on the yard are in the same routine for most of the year, half have come in this weekend for winter routine. Her one stable buddy is in the same routine and is also a mare who hasn’t changed behaviour wise. I guess this I all part of raising a mare and hopefully she is just going through a last surge of hormones and can prepare myself for this next year and it won’t come as much of a shock. She didn’t show this much change in behaviour last year (first winter I had had her) however her routine was changed and she came in very late in October for winter due to a leaky stable which was being fixed so this may have not been as easy to see with her not being in the stable with me as much during this cycle?

 

[Peglo]

My TB hates being brushed. She will do the same and makes faces at me. I’m not sure she’s always been like that but for the last few years she just doesn’t like it. She loves a scratch though and weirdly loves her mane and tail being pulled and it relaxes her. Maybe she’s just decided now to let you know she doesn’t like it? Hope it’s nothing serious for your mare.

 

[Sir barnaby]

My mare was the same to the point of cow kicking if you used a brush on her, she was fine to bathe and brush head neck tail mane but not body I just assumed she was very ticklish so used a soft sheepskin pad the mitten types on her she was a very clean mare so very rarely had to use a brush, I even bought a very expensive leather backed body brush but still couldn’t brush her body so just sponged her if she was dirty. I could clip her but was again awful on her flanks so just did a high trace as best I could

 

[stangs]

After an attempted nip I used my man voice and she sharp pooped her pants and gave me the puppy dog eyes, which makes me think is she really just testing me?

Horses cannot ‘test’ people - they are not planners - and ‘testing’ is an anthropomorphism used all too much to turn a blind eye to a horse expressing discomfort. In your case, it might be something to do with her seasonal cycles or to do with the change of routine, but, whatever it is, she’s not ‘testing’ you.

 

[Trouper]

A friend's mare can be the same when having a particularly high-hormone season - to the extent of exhibiting almost mild colic symptoms. You might try a short trial of bute to see if it is pain related to a season but if it continues I would be thinking of a vet check to rule out persistent pain elsewhere.

 

[Katiemay]

Horses cannot ‘test’ people - they are not planners - and ‘testing’ is an anthropomorphism used all too much to turn a blind eye to a horse expressing discomfort. In your case, it might be something to do with her seasonal cycles or to do with the change of routine, but, whatever it is, she’s not ‘testing’ you.

Horses cannot ‘test’ people - they are not planners - and ‘testing’ is an anthropomorphism used all too much to turn a blind eye to a horse expressing discomfort. In your case, it might be something to do with her seasonal cycles or to do with the change of routine, but, whatever it is, she’s not ‘testing’ you.

Thanks for your response, as I said in the above post I know my mare and she can regularly try and get away with things especially when other people try and do things with her for the first time. As also said above I am turning a blindsight to discomfort I am looking at all options and have said that I will be seeking a vet if her behaviour does not improve however at the moment she is not showing me any significant signs of discomfort.
This post was not to receive negativity it was to seek experiences from other people.
Thanks.

 

[Katiemay]

My mare was the same to the point of cow kicking if you used a brush on her, she was fine to bathe and brush head neck tail mane but not body I just assumed she was very ticklish so used a soft sheepskin pad the mitten types on her she was a very clean mare so very rarely had to use a brush, I even bought a very expensive leather backed body brush but still couldn’t brush her body so just sponged her if she was dirty. I could clip her but was again awful on her flanks so just did a high trace as best I could

Thank you for your response, she has always been fine brushing and is brushed every day and usually enjoys it, she isn’t showing too much sign of actual aggression she has only actually went to nip once and the rest of the time she is just pulling a face. She is a little bit happier in herself this morning however her and the mare next door are arguing like cat and dog however she has not shown any bad signs towards me when I’m sorting her

thank you for your response and I Will take this into consideration

 

[Katiemay]

Thanks for your response, as I said in the above post I know my mare and she can regularly try and get away with things especially when other people try and do things with her for the first time. As also said above I am turning a blindsight to discomfort I am looking at all options and have said that I will be seeking a vet if her behaviour does not improve however at the moment she is not showing me any significant signs of discomfort.
This post was not to receive negativity it was to seek experiences from other people.
Thanks.

*not turning a blind eye

 

[Katiemay]

A friend's mare can be the same when having a particularly high-hormone season - to the extent of exhibiting almost mild colic symptoms. You might try a short trial of bute to see if it is pain related to a season but if it continues I would be thinking of a vet check to rule out persistent pain elsewhere.

Hello thank you for your response! She has been much better this much morning however arguing like cat and dog with the mare next door but fine with me! I am going to give her a little extra space over the next couple days and see how she goes , if she hasn’t improved and I am still worried coming into next week I will get the vet out
Thanks again!