Nervous horse/bad experience

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emw474

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I've had my horse for about 6 years now. She's a cob X and is 15 years old! She's very much a mare. She's always been funny about being touched and trusting people. For example, I can't just touch her feet, I have to run my hand from her shoulder down to pick her feet out. I can't touch her nose either, so putting suncream on is very much a mission! Also, once she thinks I'm going to touch her nose or any part she doesn't like, she uses her weight and will literally hold me against the wall (as of yet she's never tried to kick me or bite). But I wouldn't 100% rule it out as some days she's in worse moods. This one time we had a vet come out for a mild colic. She was absolutely fine, but the vet didn't ask anything about my horse, she just straight away went and tried to clip and inject her. Baring in mind I have clipped my horse before and she was okay, but kicked when her belly was being done, but she doesn't like injections. So therefore she just went straight ahead and clipped her and my horse went nuts. Now, my horse won't let a vet go near her, she won't be clipped (even after a full injection of sedation), won't have her teeth done without being sedated, won't let the saddle fitter near and won't trust anyone except me and there's even been times where she won't let me put her saddle on. Whilst being ridden though, she's a star, will have anything done to her within reason. I just don't know what to do, I want to build more trust with her, but it's impossible! One little thing just throws her off completely. I'd never part with her though as she's my best friend. Just wondering if anyone had experienced this or like this and had any advise because I'm stuck! Thanks!
 
Poor lass - both of you!

Could she be in pain somewhere? (Assuming you can get a practitioner near enough to find out!)

Otherwise it might be worth getting a local natural horsemanship practitioner to come and do some work with both of you. It could be that she is being naughty and has discovered how to make you back off. It could be something is wrong or hurts. Or it could be that she is genuinely fearful. Independent experienced eyes on the ground are really the only way to work that out and my preference would be to natural horsemanship type thing (Not the one beginning with P - don't want to start that debate...) rather than an instructor alone in the first instance.

I have a cob who squashes when we're doing something he doesn't want. He doesn't get away with it - but he's only 13.2 so we can push him about! (And he is a great lovely cuddle who is very much loved before anyone thinks we're mean to him....)
 
emw474 said:
I've had my horse for about 6 years now. She's a cob X and is 15 years old! She's very much a mare. She's always been funny about being touched and trusting people. For example, I can't just touch her feet, I have to run my hand from her shoulder down to pick her feet out. I can't touch her nose either, so putting suncream on is very much a mission! Also, once she thinks I'm going to touch her nose or any part she doesn't like, she uses her weight and will literally hold me against the wall (as of yet she's never tried to kick me or bite). But I wouldn't 100% rule it out as some days she's in worse moods. This one time we had a vet come out for a mild colic. She was absolutely fine, but the vet didn't ask anything about my horse, she just straight away went and tried to clip and inject her. Baring in mind I have clipped my horse before and she was okay, but kicked when her belly was being done, but she doesn't like injections. So therefore she just went straight ahead and clipped her and my horse went nuts. Now, my horse won't let a vet go near her, she won't be clipped (even after a full injection of sedation), won't have her teeth done without being sedated, won't let the saddle fitter near and won't trust anyone except me and there's even been times where she won't let me put her saddle on. Whilst being ridden though, she's a star, will have anything done to her within reason. I just don't know what to do, I want to build more trust with her, but it's impossible! One little thing just throws her off completely. I'd never part with her though as she's my best friend. Just wondering if anyone had experienced this or like this and had any advise because I'm stuck! Thanks!
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Unfortunately its just a case of calm repetition until she becomes accustomed to things.

Don't be namby pamby with her either. If you say "there's a good girl, its okay it won't hurt you, good girl" etc, etc she will become very wary and anxious because she will anticipate something bad is about to happen (even if its not bad, it is in her eyes).

Its like that with loading my horse who has suddenly decided he doesn't want to go out in the trailer after months and months of having no issues with it at all. I think its my fault as I broke his trust, so now he has to trust me all over again. It will come, but like your mare, its a case of calm repetition. So when I do manage to get him in I just give him a quick pat and leave it at that - although I feel like flinging my arms around his neck and crying into his mane with happiness lol :)
 
i think some are just wired like this sadly. My highland is 4 and i know her entire history, noone has been unkind to her. I have to continually just work her, quiet repetition as applecart says. We backed her in march but i still have to let her get accustomed to my legs being on her every time i get on still and she is very nervous picking her feet up etc etc, despite a year of working with her.
 
Sadly, before she came to me, it was clear she wasn't treated well as no one could get near her and if you tried to touch her she would just stand and shake and certainly wouldn't let you put a saddle on her! Eventually after a year or so of working on it she started trusting us and ever since the vet visit it's just like she was before. Considering the vet visit was about 2 years ago, it's just weird but they do say they have 10 year memories! I'm moving her closer to home to spend more time with her so hopefully if I'm seeing her everyday more than once a day we can work together :)
 
emw474 said:
I've had my horse for about 6 years now. She's a cob X and is 15 years old! She's very much a mare. She's always been funny about being touched and trusting people. For example, I can't just touch her feet, I have to run my hand from her shoulder down to pick her feet out. I can't touch her nose either, so putting suncream on is very much a mission! Also, once she thinks I'm going to touch her nose or any part she doesn't like, she uses her weight and will literally hold me against the wall (as of yet she's never tried to kick me or bite). But I wouldn't 100% rule it out as some days she's in worse moods. This one time we had a vet come out for a mild colic. She was absolutely fine, but the vet didn't ask anything about my horse, she just straight away went and tried to clip and inject her. Baring in mind I have clipped my horse before and she was okay, but kicked when her belly was being done, but she doesn't like injections. So therefore she just went straight ahead and clipped her and my horse went nuts. Now, my horse won't let a vet go near her, she won't be clipped (even after a full injection of sedation), won't have her teeth done without being sedated, won't let the saddle fitter near and won't trust anyone except me and there's even been times where she won't let me put her saddle on. Whilst being ridden though, she's a star, will have anything done to her within reason. I just don't know what to do, I want to build more trust with her, but it's impossible! One little thing just throws her off completely. I'd never part with her though as she's my best friend. Just wondering if anyone had experienced this or like this and had any advise because I'm stuck! Thanks!
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Hi, I have had great advice from a horsemanship friend. Don't be put off by the title "horsemanship". It sends a lot of people running for the hills! My friend says it should be changed to "horse sense" and that is not being rude. I have been around horses all my life, but sometimes the communication between horses and people get blurred. However experienced you are, sometimes it is good to do ground work (in the correct way) to establish leadership and make those communications clearer in a calm quiet way. Do some research and use someone with a good reputation. There are a lot out there, but some are better than others. I am sure all you have said is fixable, or most of it with the right approach. It has done wonders for my communication with my horses. Another thing you can do it watch Buck Brannaman or Warwich Schiller on YouTube, they are incredible horseman and talk a lot of sense and are very respected. You can learn a lot about where you may be going wrong without it costing you a fortune.
Good luck.
 
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