Mare Being Silly...should I start her on a calmer?

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Tallulabelle

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My mare who is 9 years old (new horse to me...3 weeks in) has settled in well at the new yard, she is great some days, really calm, a few silly nappy moments like she plants her feet and tries not to move when walking down to the stables but she always comes around. Around 1/2 day a week she has a really silly day, today for example I caught her from the field, she came down ok (stopped and refused to move once but carried on with gentle persuasion) I got our down to the stables and she acts like a muppet, won't stand still, getting stressed, barging around etc.

i rode her as she seemed to calm down and she practically runs up to the outdoor school, but she listens to me and calms down, we ride around a few times and I can feel her calm down and settle down so we start to practise some transitions. After a few, she trips on something and falls over, I come off as well!!

She is a very genuine horse and I'm not scared off her "moments" whilst she is a dominant mare I do feel she knows I'm boss.

If you've got this far I'd like to offer a Jaffa cake and a lovely hot chocolate.

I'm wondering if this is all normal in a new horse or if I should consider a calmer?

i do feel she is settled, I also know she is trying to push the boundaries at times, but when she has a moment she takes a lot to calm down and she can be very nervous as well,.

Phew, fingers aching and thanks for reading this far!
 
Sometimes it can take a horse 2wks to settle in at their new home, others 2 months. Rethink her feeds, take her off hard feeds for the moment, do a lot of in hand walking around with her ( with hat and lunge line, you have more leeway/control) and grooming, inbetween riding her. Be firm and consistent and you will get there.
 
My mare is like this and ive had her 8 years. Day to day she is a sweety but ie last night we hacked her out and she bombs of at any movement and you can literally feel her heart beat but the other 6 days of the week she is like a donkey, bomb proof and perfect. I have found the best way with her is to enforce good ground manners always. She was a handful as a youngster but now she knows the rules she just has the odd funny day. I have tried her on oestress before ad know someone who swore by it but it didn't make a difference In mine so I suppose depends on the horse. Also things like magic calmer are worth a try. So long as you are confident with her and not bothered by her funny moments I would say stick with what your doing. I think mares like this will always be quirky but as a rule improve over time so out bursts are less common!

Good luck with her!!!
 
Thank you both! She is a lovely horse but at times her heart starts racing and she becomes stressed and won't settle, which is something I know will happen we all have off days!

I will see how she is over the next few months and consider a calmer if she still doesn't settle.

It makes me laugh when big things like tractors don't bother her but she sees a little piglet and she isn't at all happy!
 
How often is she tripping & falling over?? That would worry me tbh.. did you have her vetted?

Re being unsettled - took my Mare 6mths to settle in when I got her, so 3 wks is very early days - I found my mare thrived on Routine
 
Early days yet .If she trips a lot get the farrier to check her feet perhaps fit rolled toes if she is shod if not check feet with trimmer.Tripping can be nothing but it can be the start of something major.So I would keep an eye on this.
I wouldn't be looking at a calmer yet just making sure you have her attention and working on active transitions. Just my opinion.
When I moved my settled herd to a new home they took a month or so to settle and longer to be calm and cool all the time things set them off easily.
On days she 'plants' when coming in who knows what has happened to worry her.
Quiet determination for me would be the key. Perhaps fetch her in on a long line and lungeing cavesson.
 
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She tripped once over a hole in the ground, our school is grass and she just caught her foot in the one hole! Typical! She has been very steady on the ground otherwise.

Her feet are due next week, back, teeth all done in the last week so she is fine for those.

I don't feed her other than grass, she is overweight (came to me like this)

I'm building up her riding to increase her fitness, and as we are fast approaching winter I know she will drop some weight. She will never be skinny as she is a section c and thick set!

I'm planning to start her on a balancer to ensure she has the vits and minerals she needs without the calories etc, I'm hoping that might improve her nerves, if not i will consider a calmer.

Thanks everyone x
 
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