soloequestrian
Well-Known Member
My mare is a conundrum.
When I go to catch her she is pleased to see me and always happy to come in. I ride in the mornings - at that time she hates being brushed and threatens to bite and kick most days though not all. I think she's slightly worse when in season but it's not a clear pattern and her seasons aren't very obvious. She particularly hates me brushing her right hand side to the point where I quite often leave the girth area on that side or brush it by reaching under from the left. She hates being tacked up, though she is better if I put the bridle on first and then the saddle. Occasionally she stands quietly but more often threatens to bite and kick. If it was someone else's horse I would immediately say that the tack hurts but I've been very careful with her tack and I'm confident that it's comfortable; she also very rarely reacts to the girth being done up or tightened - often the reactions seem more to do with ticklishness than pain e.g. she's as bad about having the numnah put on as the saddle itself; she gets cross if the girth brushes against her but doesn't care when it's firmly tightened. Once tack is on she turns back into a normal horse except if I try to check her girth by putting my finger underneath - she really hates that. She's not keen on me getting on if we're in the school, if we're going on a hack she doesn't react at all (both always off a mounting block). Once I'm on there are no signs of discomfort and although she is alert and can be spooky she also enjoys trying new things, marches out on hacks and generally seems to quite like being ridden; she's very willing to stretch.
She is on 'Sassy Mare', which seems to help a bit with the spooking, and a general mineral supplement that contains magnesium. She's out 24/7 with friends and ad lib forage, she gets the minerals in one small feed in the evening. She can be silly to brush in the evening too unless she's itchy when I am encouraged to be firm with the curry comb in all the places she objects to in the morning, including her girth area.
If this sounds like ulcers, where do I start? Is it a vet job straight away or is it worth trying supplements myself? Any other suggestions?
It's getting me down a bit - neither of us enjoy the morning brush and tack up and it would be nice to not dread that bit of my day. I do try to be positive and reward her whenever she stands quietly but it doesn't seem to be working.
When I go to catch her she is pleased to see me and always happy to come in. I ride in the mornings - at that time she hates being brushed and threatens to bite and kick most days though not all. I think she's slightly worse when in season but it's not a clear pattern and her seasons aren't very obvious. She particularly hates me brushing her right hand side to the point where I quite often leave the girth area on that side or brush it by reaching under from the left. She hates being tacked up, though she is better if I put the bridle on first and then the saddle. Occasionally she stands quietly but more often threatens to bite and kick. If it was someone else's horse I would immediately say that the tack hurts but I've been very careful with her tack and I'm confident that it's comfortable; she also very rarely reacts to the girth being done up or tightened - often the reactions seem more to do with ticklishness than pain e.g. she's as bad about having the numnah put on as the saddle itself; she gets cross if the girth brushes against her but doesn't care when it's firmly tightened. Once tack is on she turns back into a normal horse except if I try to check her girth by putting my finger underneath - she really hates that. She's not keen on me getting on if we're in the school, if we're going on a hack she doesn't react at all (both always off a mounting block). Once I'm on there are no signs of discomfort and although she is alert and can be spooky she also enjoys trying new things, marches out on hacks and generally seems to quite like being ridden; she's very willing to stretch.
She is on 'Sassy Mare', which seems to help a bit with the spooking, and a general mineral supplement that contains magnesium. She's out 24/7 with friends and ad lib forage, she gets the minerals in one small feed in the evening. She can be silly to brush in the evening too unless she's itchy when I am encouraged to be firm with the curry comb in all the places she objects to in the morning, including her girth area.
If this sounds like ulcers, where do I start? Is it a vet job straight away or is it worth trying supplements myself? Any other suggestions?
It's getting me down a bit - neither of us enjoy the morning brush and tack up and it would be nice to not dread that bit of my day. I do try to be positive and reward her whenever she stands quietly but it doesn't seem to be working.
