Miserable? or just the way she is?

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noodle_

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My mare has nipped for as long as i can remember (owned her 8/9months)...she will nip when doing up the front of her rug.... nip when anyones standing round her stable chatting (ears are always forward...) so i put it down to her being cheeky. (we always stand round stables chatting....)

She also started bucking when ridden but this was *possibly* due to a sore back - so physio/new saddle (on way) will have sorted that - however i do think its also her trying it on (shes just turned 5)....but we will have to work through that when i get my new saddle.

Even now minus sore back - i had to ride bareback due to waiting for a saddle... i ask her to walk on a bit.... she puts her ears flat back - its almost like she dosent want her sides touching... mabey sensitive?

But in general now...shes just a miserable sod;. recently shes changed and become more moody and almost lethargic? However when shes lunged she goes ballistic... and a "just f-off" attitude....


Ive never owned a mare before - this normal? changing time of year/seasons?

i was going to look for a suppliment later for her to get her to loosen up a bit??? and well.... be a bit happier...

Any ideas? I can deal with her thats not an issue but i dont want a miserable witch on my hands...? :D

(btw - physio/saddler have been out - dentist is next week - vet for vaccs soon too)...
thanks :)
 
Ive never owned a mare before - this normal? changing time of year/seasons?
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I have three girls and none of them are as you describe, even when they are in season.

I would see if she improves with the new saddle as it could be pain related. Also keep a diary of her seasons and her 'sensitivity' and see if there is any corollation between the two.
 
Ditto Faracat, check out causes of pain and keep diaries - great to look back on and often provide that light bulb moment you're looking for!

Just a quick add - I look after 2 mares and 2 geldings. One mare (mum of the other) was my main ride at first, then I took over her daughter too. Cue Mummy mare slowly becoming grumpy, withdrawn unco-operative and generally unhappy. I think it was down to jealousy at my increased involvement with her daughter, who has forged a very striong bond with me. I put her on a short course of stroppy mare (tried it cos she was taking it out on the shetland, despite never having been a nasty mare), and made sure she knew she was my number one. Difficult, because her daughter gets possesive too, just had to split time as best I could, and always go to mummy first, even if I walked past daughter and gave her a covert stroke and pat whilst walking past on opposite side to mum, so she couldn't see lol!!

Honestly, it sounds completely hair brained and I can't believe I'm doing it, but its totally worked. And yep, I've tried dropping the act after over a year and immediately got the grumpy mare routine back.....
 
Good idea AP. If she's the same all the time and it doesn't relate to her seasons or the saddle, it could be something like ulcers.
 
I ride my friends mare and she can be grumpy, pulling faces and nipping. I've never seen much of that side from her but then I tend to only see her when I have loads of time, so I do everything very slowly, calmly and with very little pressure. To move her over I literally tickle my fingers in the air by her side and she moves. She's super clever and very sensitive and I think if you are too brash with your 'asks' she gets very grumpy - as if you're shouting at her i suppose. If your mare is sensitive that may be it?

I would definately look into pain problems too.

Trina x
 
Thanks all :)

my RI suggested she colud be sensitive.... shes always "nanged" when i ask her to go forwards into trot... and canter well tbh forget it - buck.....

but that could have been her saddle/back (both like i said i had a very good physio out and the saddler and spent £700 on a new saddle - which were waiting for)

In the stable shes lovely....she never puts her ears back in a morning... shes a nasty girl when i put her girth on.... or even a roller.... runs to the back of the stable (again though mabey she now assumes pain....)???? with the saddle /girth - she WILL try to take my head off with her teeth :o

shes very sensitive to touch her sides..... as my RI found out when she was giving me a lesson and pushed my leg back behind the girth (at a standstill) and my horse kicked out...

I need the vet for vaccs anyhow so i can get them out that isnt an issue but i was just wondering if there was a suppliment i could try for a week or two before i get my saddle to make her chill out a bit??

She goes out all day everyday.... at the moment lunged only... walked in hand/groundwork.... brushed daily (again fine except her tum).....

thanks again for the replies....

writing it all down makes her look like a nighmare lol - shes not that bad! just a bit opinionated?
 
noodle_ said:
Thanks all :)
shes a nasty girl when i put her girth on.... or even a roller.... runs to the back of the stable (again though mabey she now assumes pain....)???? with the saddle /girth - she WILL try to take my head off with her teeth :o

shes very sensitive to touch her sides..... as my RI found out when she was giving me a lesson and pushed my leg back behind the girth (at a standstill) and my horse kicked out...
brushed daily (again fine except her tum).....


writing it all down makes her look like a nighmare lol - shes not that bad! just a bit opinionated?
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all references to her not wanting to be touched around her stomach and trying to show you that she doesn't want her tack on - these are classic ulcer symptoms!
i'd be getting her scoped pronto!
IME very few horses are just 'miserable', the majority of 'bad' behaviour has a reason our job is to figure out what it is.
 
her back was sore -(where her saddle didnt fit).... but i assumed it was just remembering the soreness so therefore pain related....

are ulcers fixable??

:o
 
It could well be related to her season or she could just be very sensitive. What is she being fed? This can effect horses sometimes so if possible maybe try her on a different feed. From my experence I'd keep a diary of everything for say 2 months and see if theres a pattern in her behavior. If there isn't and shes still unhappy/sensitive then i would get the vet to give her a good going over to see if he can pick up on anything.

I believe there has been a study done and the outcome of it was that hindgut damage can lead on to changes in mood and tiredness. Maybe something to look in to? even if shes never had a known problem always worth getting it checked out.
 
Sounds exactly like mine! Scan showed a huge ovary (vet couldn't get his hand around it!) that was mega painful for her for about 10 days of every 21. She's just started Regumate but not convinced it's working. :( I'd tried Hormonease, Stroppy Mare & Oestress over the last 2 years but none of them seemed to make much difference to her behaviour.
 
its just her attitude though...

she only gets fed a handful of chaff and some redigrass as shes prone to weightgain - shesa warmblood x cob

I will see how she goes with her new saddle (give her two weeks) and have a look for a suppliment (or even a calmer???)....and if no change then i will get the vet out.
 
Got to admit....when my share mare is in season she can be an absolute devil. She's coming into season now and over the past few days she's; bitten me, going for another horse (couldn't reach him I was next in line) kicked out at us mucking out, shoved her owner into a patch of nettles in a temper tantrum, shoved her daughter out of the way wanting to come out of the field then proceeded to throw a REAL strop, bucking and kicking, rearing and boxing at us in the field etc etc etc!!
Its good to see that fire back in her tbh as we thought we were gonna lose her a few months ago :)
Could you try a supplement such as Moody Mare, Oestress etc?
K x
 
sadly - had to have the vet out tonight


COLIC :( :(

i did buy oestress which i will try.... obvs when shes better but i asked the vet while she was out who said regumate - but tbh i dont want to go there just yet

vet also said shes a cracking stamp of a horse and wold have a cracking foal :D

im going back to check on her in a bit - so will update you all :)
 
Obviously investigate all the very sensible suggestions above. Also, loads of turn out, gentle walks... Maybe try to use the no-saddle time bond with her on the ground. You mentioned that she bites when she is in her stable and you're standing around... Why is she in at this time of year? Lovely weather most places and moving around in the field better for colic.

Very best of luck to both of you.
 
This reminds me a bit of my horse, except he's a gelding! A bit grumpy to tack up, used to be grumpy when I brushed his belly and now he won't let anyone on his back. Is being lunged and going beautifully, I'm wondering if its not his back now but is his belly! Horses eh? :D :p
 
noodle_ said:
sadly - had to have the vet out tonight


COLIC :( :(

i did buy oestress which i will try.... obvs when shes better but i asked the vet while she was out who said regumate - but tbh i dont want to go there just yet

vet also said shes a cracking stamp of a horse and wold have a cracking foal :D

im going back to check on her in a bit - so will update you all :)
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Your previous description and now colic SCREAMS ulcers. Get her scoped if you are insured.

If you are not insured then buy some ranitidine from Tesco £1.38 a packet of 12 and give her the twelve in six twice a day or 4 three times if you can, or even 3 4 times. Try that for a couple of days and if her behaviour changes, then get her scoped as she may well have ulcers. Ranitidine is a horse ulcer drug and very safe, but you would need 30 or 40 tablets a day to cure them so you'll need the vet.
 
We are using Aloe Vera juice in all our 4's feed at the monent. The new mare who arrived at the end of Jan was all or biting when saddled. This may have been a result of rough handling in the past but we were also concerned that she may have some discomfort. The Appy was also getting a bit touchy about being girthed, which she has done in the past. We have been feeding haylage this year for the first time and wonder if this has something to do with the Appy's problem. Anyway the shorter version of this is that all are much more relaxed, both when being saddled and in the field with each other. Might be worth a try.
 
Thanks for the replies...

i went back 11pm last night and she was fine - never seen a horse so grateful to have hay - nor have i ever been so grateful to see ****.... :D

she was ok this morning too - left her in and then vets advice shes now out...


As for the original post - thanks for the suggestions.... i will give her a week on oestress (sp..) for 2 weeks??? then if no change - especially when iget my saddle and the bucking - i will get the vet back out to get her scoped.....

The vet said she would advise regumate - im not 100% on this but i know it messes with their seasons.... i eventually (within the next 4ish years) want a foal out of her so dont want to be pratting about with her seasons unless absolutely necessary....

Thoughts on the above?? ^^^
 
I would talk to the vet re breeding from her. I don't know how much oestress problems are inherited or how they would affect pregnancy. Regumate can work wonders and I would definately try it if vet says it's ok from the prospective breeding point of view. Do be aware regumate is expensive, ok if she's insured for the first year but check your policy after that.
 
vet said shes a nice type for breeding from but obvs if it came to light she had problems to be passed down to a foal theres no way id breed from her - its just not worth it.
:)

She is insured.... but im trying oestress?? (spelling) from today and see how that goes... :)
 
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