Bellaboo18
Well-Known Member
It's just from your posts it seems like it's been going on for 4 years? I'd really want a proper workup done.
Mare hates being tacked up
- Thread starter Cavewoman14
- Start date
Zoeypxo
Well-Known Member
how old is she?
Has your vet or physio assessed the horse trotting up and moving on a circle
Has your vet or physio assessed the horse trotting up and moving on a circle
FieldOrnaments
Well-Known Member
Oh gosh, I've just had a look at your thread history and this has been going on a while with colicky type symptoms too. I'd definitely want to look into getting her hind gut checked and would in your shoes probably raise the possibility of investigating ovary issues.
If it's longstanding symptoms she may have remembered pain issues even once it's been resolved, but the sooner it is got to the bottom of and fixed the faster she can start relearning that being tacked up and ridden isn't painful anymore - they can be in pain under saddle even if they enjoy their work, adrenaline/enthusiasm just overrides the pain but when they're in a lower arousal situation (like being tacked up) it shows.
Best of luck, I hope you can get things sorted.
If it's longstanding symptoms she may have remembered pain issues even once it's been resolved, but the sooner it is got to the bottom of and fixed the faster she can start relearning that being tacked up and ridden isn't painful anymore - they can be in pain under saddle even if they enjoy their work, adrenaline/enthusiasm just overrides the pain but when they're in a lower arousal situation (like being tacked up) it shows.
Best of luck, I hope you can get things sorted.
Cavewoman14
Active Member
She’s never been an easy horse. She came to me after having many owners and I think was not always treated kindly. She was terrified of all men and whips when I got her. You couldn’t even pick a dropped whip up from the floor and move it without her freaking out. She’s also got scars and marks that point to ill fitting tack, so I do think some of her behaviour is down to her past experiences. It took me a long time to get her to trust me and to learn that she has nothing to fear and won’t ever be hurt again. I’ve had bit and bridle specialists out to make sure everything is comfortable for her, and tried just about every girth in the market! She’s always been a bit tense when it comes to being tacked up, she was bad a few years ago and I had her scoped and treated for ulcers, then she got a bit better. It definitely got worse again, so I had her scoped again, and she came back clear.
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Cavewoman14
Active Member
She’s 16 , and yes to both. She had her annual jabs a month ago and I spoke to the vet about her then. He couldn’t see any signs of lameness. Her physio checked this too and was happy with her
Cavewoman14
Active Member
Thankfully the colicy symptoms haven’t reoccured. She’s been moved away from the sandier fields which seems to have solved that particular problem
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GypsGal1718
Well-Known Member
Def a work up should be done, you mentioned she doesn’t want her bridle on, try a headcollar/bitless bridle to see if it’s the bit she doesn’t like. Best of luck to find what’s wrong
SantaVera
Well-Known Member
Playing devil's advocate here but it could be the opposite of what everyone is thinking. You say she enjoys her hacking and likes being out, maybe even for longer than you originally intended. I think the dislike of being saddled and bridled might just be a "get on with it I want to get out and about now!" Thing. Rather it's not actually a dislike of being tacked up but a dislike of waiting whilst she's tracked up.come on get on with it sort of thing.
Bellaboo18
Well-Known Member
What absolute nonsense.
Honestly these threads make me think we shouldn't have horses full stop.
OP, you're obviously a caring owner *but* she's trying to tell you something, how else can she communicate with you?
It's gone on 4 years and she's saying something hurts. I'd bet my house on if you put her through a workup they will find something to explain this behaviour. She's not opinionated, tricky etc etc she's not happy being tacked up.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Horses don't have this complex way of thinking they live in the moment not think about what will happen 10 minutes or hours later.
maya2008
Well-Known Member
- Who does her teeth? Vet or dentist? Vets sometimes miss things - I know they have for us.
- Reputation of your saddle fitter? Not all are equal there, so a second opinion might be worth it.
- Physio? Worth a check-up?
- How safe is she? Could you ride in a bareback pad and bitless bridle to triple check it’s not a tack issue?
I would check all the obvious stuff and if nothing found (and scope clear) do a Bute trial to check for pain.
- Reputation of your saddle fitter? Not all are equal there, so a second opinion might be worth it.
- Physio? Worth a check-up?
- How safe is she? Could you ride in a bareback pad and bitless bridle to triple check it’s not a tack issue?
I would check all the obvious stuff and if nothing found (and scope clear) do a Bute trial to check for pain.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Are you sure her saddle fits?
Years ago when I had problems with Arabi 2 fitter were adamant his saddle fit, I was none the wiser as didn't know much about it then.
It didn't fit his back had been badly damaged by it I only knew it wasn't right as horses generally shouldn't need a narrower saddle as they grow and get older.
Eventually I found someone who understood what was going on.
So I suppose I'm saying just because someone says it fits doesn't mean it does especially if you are relying solely on the professional opinion.
I've educated myself about saddle fit now and have much better knowledge so it doesn't happen again.
Years ago when I had problems with Arabi 2 fitter were adamant his saddle fit, I was none the wiser as didn't know much about it then.
It didn't fit his back had been badly damaged by it I only knew it wasn't right as horses generally shouldn't need a narrower saddle as they grow and get older.
Eventually I found someone who understood what was going on.
So I suppose I'm saying just because someone says it fits doesn't mean it does especially if you are relying solely on the professional opinion.
I've educated myself about saddle fit now and have much better knowledge so it doesn't happen again.
Alibear
Well-Known Member
Is it equiona? that do the videos on pain signals? If so, they also have a bit around creating positive associations with tack in horses that have built up negative associations. I think Miri Hackett has mentioned it, too.
So if you're sure its not pain it may be that she has a negative assosiation with tack going on due to her past and you might need to reset that.
So if you're sure its not pain it may be that she has a negative assosiation with tack going on due to her past and you might need to reset that.
Trouper
Well-Known Member
Have a look at Tom Beech's (The Osteopathic Vet) work. He usually finds things others don't and for a case like this I would go straight to him. Not easy to get an appt but he does have clinics around the country.
Cavewoman14
Active Member
A dentist does her teeth and she has a master saddle fitter for her saddle. He bridle and bit were fitted by a bit and bridle specialist. She had physio in June. She’s very safe to ride, i haven’t ridden her bareback for a while but used to. I can’t at the moment due to being post surgery, I need a saddle to get on and off with at the moment.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Master saddle fitter means nothing there are good and bad.
Lucky Snowball
Well-Known Member
Is she the same if you were to tack up in the stable, tied in the yard, tied to the trailer etc. I have a horse who is dangerous in the stable but quiet and sweet everywhere else. Chequered past also.
SantaVera
Well-Known Member
It's definitely not absolute nonsense and there's no need to be so rude. I had a mare who would get very excited being tacked up, anticipating a fun ride or endurance ride. A friend's arab gelding used to shiver with anticipation at competition,head and ears up, very excited.he know they were off for a blast asap and couldn't wait. However,as the horse in question has had a less than good past it could be something physical or remembered pain, maybe someone hiked the girth up suddenly and tightly or banged the teeth with the bit. That type of thing. Maybe the horse had ulcers in the past with a less caring owner who ignored the symptoms. This might explain why she's not liking being tacked up. It could be an ovary issue or something internal. Would be good if the op keeps us informed as to progress with diagnosis.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
If all pain routes have been exhausted, id just do carrot stretches with her in between doing her girth up , trick her, pull it up a little and over praise her give her a little carrot and do the next buckle. If it is a learned behaviour, with time she may forget it.
Cavewoman14
Active Member
So a quick update. This evening I thought I’d try her in a different saddle, despite having had my saddle checked only a few weeks ago.i was thinking maybe my saddle just isn’t right for her. So I tacked her up using my friend’s very expensive Bates dressage saddle, and she was so much better. There was no moving away, and she only half heatedly snapped at me when I put the girth on, but nothing like she has been. Before, she looked like she was trying to kill me! I’m going to try her again with my friend’s saddle in a couple of days and see if the improvement is still there. But it looks like it could have been the saddle
snowangel5
Well-Known Member
Just wondered does she only react happn with you and do her ears go back or is she happy as Larry when a friend or a rider helps you out 
I hope you can get the saddle situation sorted out soon
I hope you can get the saddle situation sorted out soonmotherof2beasts!
Well-Known Member
Is she a cob ?!
FieldOrnaments
Well-Known Member
But they don't show enthusiasm by trying to bite and moving away. Little piaffe, nickering, head up ears forward is more what I would take to be communicating anticipation about an upcoming activity they enjoy.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Have you had the same saddle since owning her?
blitznbobs
Well-Known Member
Have you ever retrained tacking up? Like everything else it can be trained but rarely is. Like mounting it’s a ‘just get on with it’ thing . But it can be broken down into smaller steps. Then you can see which part it upsetting her and that can be worked on or if appropriate investigated . If it is behavioural the only way to change their behaviour patterns is with retraining. Tack up often and in small stages and DONT RIDE. Think of it as a thing of its own . Do bridle or saddle. Start with a bridle without a bit and a saddle cloth without a saddle. Only add the next stage when the earlier stage is easy. But the key to unlocking what the issue is is one tiny part at a time. It maybe she has had ear twitches in the past or a girth that pinched or it may be that there is something more pain related going on but only by breaking it down into steps will you find out where the issue is
Cavewoman14
Active Member
She’s not as bad with other people. When I was out of action a friend rode her, and although she bloated herself out and was a bit difficult, she didn’t try and bite my friend like she does with meJust wondered does she only react happn with you and do her ears go back or is she happy as Larry when a friend or a rider helps you out
Cavewoman14
Active Member
She’s a PRE
Cavewoman14
Active Member
Yes. I have a GP that’s adjustable
Cavewoman14
Active Member
I sort of tried it once a while ago, but it might be something I need to revisit. Thank you
Cavewoman14
Active Member
Just a quick update about my mare who hated being tacked up. I finally decided to get a horse behaviourist out to help me, as I was just getting no-where by myself. The behaviourist worked so gently with my girl and gave me so much help and a lot of techniques to help solve the problems we had. Since then things have really improved . I am no longer being lunged at with snapping teeth when I tack her up. She stands quietly and lets me tack her up now. It’s still not perfect, but she is so much happier and so much better now. I’m so happy that she is happier, I no longer feel like I’m hurting her when I tack her up.