My mare is shunning me!

[fattylumpkin]

Anyone else ever had this? I travelled abroad over christmas for 3 weeks to see my parents. My mare lives out so not much changed in her life while I was gone, the yard manager took over for me and made sure she was groomed and fed and warm. I came home on Tuesday to find a slightly chubbier but happy horse and went out in the field to catch her with a big bucket of carrots and christmas treats. At first she didn't come when I called, which is odd enough, she was just standing in the field very erect staring at me. Then when I got close she put her ears back and walked away from me! She wasn't even interested in the bucket, she just marched away from me while all the other horses in the field mobbed me for carrots. Eventually she gave up running away and let me catch her, but she wasn't her usual self. Wednesday and Thursday she was easier to catch, but she's still being stand-offish and is being difficult about letting me brush her head and ears which used to be her favourite thing in the world.

I've never had a horse give me the cold shoulder before. I know 3 weeks is maybe a long time to be away but I wasn't expecting this!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I once went away for 3 days and my Clydesdale mare refused to speak to me, she walked across the field giving me a very odd sideways look.

 

[Elvis]

Hmmm odd, my gelding did the opposite, when I came back after 2 weeks away he spent a good 30mins grooming me and being very affectionate. Maybe it's a mare thing?

 

[Antw23uk]

You are being punished. Let this be a lesson to you. Don't do it again.

 

[fattylumpkin]

Lol Ant, yes I think she's definitely making sure the message has gone in! Glad to hear it's not just me

 

[Templebar]

It is a mare thing i have found, geldings see you as the top horse so welcome you back whereas mares in this time find they can actually be boss and therefore dont need you, or think that anyway. My baby mare hates it when i go away she gets all stroppy with everyone and when i come back she is horrible to me for days, until i tell her off and find that good itchy spot she loves.

 

[Lolita]

My gelding does this to me any time I don't see him for a period of time.

 

[L&M]

My gelding sulks if he sees me riding my son's horse......

 

[Megibo]

My mare does this if I go away, or ride the other horse where she can see. lol

 

[chestnut cob]

My horse does this, and the last one did too. Even if I only went away for a couple of days, my last one would attempt to bite me when he first saw me (he was a miserable so and so anyway), then fine the following day. The one I have now is like a big puppy dog and I'm convinced he takes it personally if I don't go up to the yard each day. If I go away for more than 2 days, when I get back I can never catch him to bring in from the field. He pretends he doesn't know me and that I am probably trying to steal him so I can ship him to France to be served up with chips!

 

[Nessa4]

The youngster I have now is very affectionate and clingy if he hasn't seen me for a while. My last horse was the opposite, and used to sulk for days! He perfected the art of taking treats without actually looking at me or touching me - sort of "I will eat your carrots/apples/polos but understand that I am NOT speaking to you!" Very expresive horse, that.