Carryonriding
Member
Hi all... Long story but here goes..
I have just taken on a 13 year old fresian X mare, although she is not new to me as I've known her for about a year ( including riding and seeing to her etc) in her old home. She spent the last 6 years sharing with a 2 year old gelding who she was the boss of, and she was living a laid back relaxed life, being ridden perhaps once a month if that. She got first dibs on most things and she was happy this way! But the owner regretfully had to sell her through no fault of her own.
So now she has moved to me and has found herself at the bottom of the pecking order below a 7 yo gelding and a 20 yo mare. She has been bitten a few times and gets chased off when food is about. For the first couple of days she was a real sweetie, just like her normal self. Then one day I bought her in to groom her and pick her feet out, and wow did she object to the latter. Front two feet were fine, back feet she started twitching and threatening to kick. I didn't want her to completely get away with this so I made her move her feet about a bit and got her to step back using the parelli porcupine game and yield her hindquarters using the driving game. I then attempted to pick her hooves and she cow bucked at me, catching me on the hand. Later on I was going to attempt some join up with her so I went to bring her in to the round pen and she planted the floor. Eventually she became so adamant she almost started to have a stand off with me and attempted to charge at me, I cracked a lunge whip and she backed off but she pinned her ears back and tried to chase me off. Now I know I should have persisted but I have to admit I was becoming petrified of her.
Now it has got so bad that I can't even groom her or catch her, she pins her ears at me and kicks with her hinds if I dare present a brush or a halter. Even if I approach her in the field she pins her ears back when I stroke her.
I will just reiterate that I have spent the last year riding her, grooming and picking her feet out with no problems at all. Now she is like the devil incarnate!
My reasonings for her behaviour are
1. She's extremely stressed and unsettled in her new home
2. She is attempting to dominate me because she is a dominant horse and has been knocked to the bottom of the pecking order in her new herd.
3. Importantly, she came into season like there was no tomorrow when she moved, this has worn off now but I know it could have seriously affected her mood.
What is the best course of action baring in mind I can't even catch her without her threatening me? I will admit I am scared of her behaviour! I am first time horse owner, other than a vary laid back part loaner. I don't want to give up on her I am frustrated and feeling helpless.
I have just taken on a 13 year old fresian X mare, although she is not new to me as I've known her for about a year ( including riding and seeing to her etc) in her old home. She spent the last 6 years sharing with a 2 year old gelding who she was the boss of, and she was living a laid back relaxed life, being ridden perhaps once a month if that. She got first dibs on most things and she was happy this way! But the owner regretfully had to sell her through no fault of her own.
So now she has moved to me and has found herself at the bottom of the pecking order below a 7 yo gelding and a 20 yo mare. She has been bitten a few times and gets chased off when food is about. For the first couple of days she was a real sweetie, just like her normal self. Then one day I bought her in to groom her and pick her feet out, and wow did she object to the latter. Front two feet were fine, back feet she started twitching and threatening to kick. I didn't want her to completely get away with this so I made her move her feet about a bit and got her to step back using the parelli porcupine game and yield her hindquarters using the driving game. I then attempted to pick her hooves and she cow bucked at me, catching me on the hand. Later on I was going to attempt some join up with her so I went to bring her in to the round pen and she planted the floor. Eventually she became so adamant she almost started to have a stand off with me and attempted to charge at me, I cracked a lunge whip and she backed off but she pinned her ears back and tried to chase me off. Now I know I should have persisted but I have to admit I was becoming petrified of her.
Now it has got so bad that I can't even groom her or catch her, she pins her ears at me and kicks with her hinds if I dare present a brush or a halter. Even if I approach her in the field she pins her ears back when I stroke her.
I will just reiterate that I have spent the last year riding her, grooming and picking her feet out with no problems at all. Now she is like the devil incarnate!
My reasonings for her behaviour are
1. She's extremely stressed and unsettled in her new home
2. She is attempting to dominate me because she is a dominant horse and has been knocked to the bottom of the pecking order in her new herd.
3. Importantly, she came into season like there was no tomorrow when she moved, this has worn off now but I know it could have seriously affected her mood.
What is the best course of action baring in mind I can't even catch her without her threatening me? I will admit I am scared of her behaviour! I am first time horse owner, other than a vary laid back part loaner. I don't want to give up on her I am frustrated and feeling helpless.