Mare with sensitive sides.

[Pennyhp]

My Paint cross mare is very sensitive to pressure on her sides, especially when in season.
Even grooming her she wil put her ears back and fidgit, and while riding her she will draw back and put her ears back when I use my legs to ask her to go forward.

I have never had a mare before. Is this a comon marish problem or is there more to it?
Also how can I overcome it?

 

[BankEndRescue]

It does seem to be quite common, my TB mare is like that and as you say much more so when in season. I put her on a hormone supplement and she's been much better...still a moody old cow but not so sensitive

 

[Pennyhp]

Thank you Bankenrescue

It does seem like a mare thing to me.
She has crabby cow sindrome it seems.

I always said I would never own a mare, after working with a few in a competition yard who were very awkward.

Still she is really good in other ways, and her general progress is good and steady.

Its just a bit frustrating when she is like this.

 

[RuthP]

My mare is exactly the same, always worse when coming into season. Have tried hormone supplements which have helped but recently put her on Regumate and there has been a big improvement when I ride.

 

[ironhorse]

Hormone supplements are useful, but we've also been working to 'desensitise' our mare a bit, as advised by a trainer.
Put simply, make sure you are somewhere you can move out of the way if she lashes out, and just touch her with your hand on her sides. Make it a reasonably firm touch, and if she squeals or reacts, put your hand back where it was and aim to leave it there until she accepts it. I she ignores you, tell her she's good and leave her alone.
My mare was quite hideous to brush anywhere behind her 'waist' and once lashed out a trainer who was trying to show my OH where to put his leg - she has improved a lot by quietly insisting!

 

[Pennyhp]

Thanks evryone. This is a fairly comon mare thing by the sound of it.

I like the idea of desensitsing.

To be honest she isn't that bad. But I would like to stop it getting any worse.
She has been a little crabby in the past but this week was the first time she tried to bite me while grooming. Nothing nasty but not the kind of behaviour I want to become established.

Thanks agin all.