New mare has gone wild.

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racmun

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Hi

Please help. I'm sick with worry.

Recently purchased a 14h 15yr old cob mare for my daughter.

We went and viewed her and she was really lovely and steady a perfect confidence builder for my daughter.

We hacked her out and rode in the school.

I scrolled back through the owners face book page and found of lots of historic post of people who've had the pony on loan commenting how amazing she is the best pony etc etc. small kids riding her. Had her vetted all good.

When we viewed her she was living out and in individual turnout. Her advert said can and previously lived in I checked this with the owners who confirmed she's fine no problems.

I queried the individual turnout and she said all.horses are turned out on their own to avoid kicks etc. I check and she was correct they were all in all. paddocks on their own.

Anyway we got the pony on good Friday and she has got more and more unsettled. She has come into season and is showing stallion like behaviour for want of a better phrase. She is literally calling and calling and box walking and is really really stressed.

She is turned out all day with a group of 3 other mares and she has become very bonded to the another mare who is generally considered the dominant mare in the field. . She literally calls and calls and calls for her and yesterday (Saturday) we couldn't do anything with her and she was so stressed.

I've messaged her old owner and asked if she is normally like this when in season and been told it because she back in a herd and its her hormones. Apparently not been in a heard for 3 or 4 years.

When my daughter rode her on Friday she was really forward and calling a lot and v very different to the pony we tried. The old owner suggested lunging her before we hack. Not exactly ideal for a kids pony.

I am so worried that I have a bought a nightmare horse.

Conflicted between thinking we let her settle but she seems to be getting worse with the her attachment to the other mare or do i see if the seller (private) will take her back and refund me. I don't want to allow too much time to pass.

I'm worried she will be a nightmare every 3 weeks in the summer.

I'm so upset and confused. Anyone else experienced anything similar



Thanks
 
She’s not a ‘nightmare horse’; she’s experiencing separation anxiety. It’s very common in horses which have been moved to herd turnout from individual turnout, because they’re finally getting the opportunity to be with other horses and they don’t want to lose that.

Separation anxiety can be improved but there’s no quick fix to get rid of it. It takes time and training and considerate management to get horses to a point where they’re comfortable away from the horses they’ve bonded to. Up to you to decide whether you want to put the time and effort in to help her or whether you want to save yourself the hassle and send her back now.
 
Not my horse, but a fieldmate of my horse. A mare who had been on individual turnout for some years moved to the yard I was on, where they were all out 24/7 in a herd of circa 8. This mare became very attached to my mare and was terrible to handle when taken away from her (my horse couldn't have cared less). The good news was that after some months, the new mare settled, and as far as I could tell, stopped being a hassle for her owner to handle.

I think if they have been on individual turnout for a while, they can go a bit mental when they have friends again. It's such a strong need for a horse that it kind of fries their brain when they've been without it, then they get it back and never want to leave their mates again.
 
You did your due diligence and this mare is probably "as described", but she is a mare! If she's been living alone, she might well be socially desperate and quick to fall in love with a new boy or girl-friend. My mare is straightforward as a anything, lives in or out, in a group or in a duo, can be left alone in field, etc ... But when she went off on her loan home, she turned into the snorting rage dragon, squirting at all the new horses (she did this at home during first spring season, but they were bored of her and rarely indulged). I've been told by loaner "hormone problem", "behaviour problem" ... all of it rubbish - this is an excited horse in a new environment and I am very confident she will settle in time. Your new horse I do not personally know, but you've done all that background digging and not found anything untoward, so she's unlikely to be a nightmare so much as an excited mare. First/second spring seasons are the worst. Grass is growing, everyone is excited, and she will be very unsettled from all the change. Not saying you shouldn't expect to get a kids pony home and ridden, but that is a lot of change - yard, owner, friends, turnout system etc ... In contrast when she moved my mare was in quarantine for 2 weeks, then slowly socially integrated. She STILL decided she wanted everyone to shag her as soon as she was actually free with the new friends!
 
I would have a look in her passport and see if you can google any older owners.
Mares can be a bit like teenage girls, the fact she has bonded with a more dominate mare is a sign of insecurity, having been on her own for so long will not have helped, even geldings can be like this but hormones rule. Now she has rediscovered friends which give her security in a world that has from her point of view changed completely. I would try and get her to buddy up with a gelding, who she may be an absolute a hole to, but their will be less hormones around to trigger her. Its the start of the breeding season, so she is more likely to be sensitive.
The other solution is to get the vet and try Regumate, because if its basically hormonal it will show an effect quickly.https://www.viovet.co.uk/Regumate-Equine-for-Horses/c9010/?quick_find=131693&gad_source=1
Long term I would try and find a hacking buddy because she obviously needs another horse as security ATM.
We had a TB gelding that had been stabled most of his life, when he discovered her turnout he became anti-stable, loved a mare and we had to travel him with a companion, but once he had a routine his separation anxiety became more manageable.
 
Thanks for your replies.

I'm so upset and confused. I think my worry is whether it will just get worse and worse or will it resolve over time, once her season passes but then reappear in 3 or 4 weeks.

The owner has said its just her hormones I promise she'll settle.

But I feel like she got progressively worse in the week she's been at the yard.
 
If she was in her previous home for a long time with an established routine, a new owner/home can be unsettling. It’s just been over a week you’ve had her, not long at all from her point of view. She should settle, but as said up thread, whether you want to work on that settling-in period and help her become comfortable with her new home or send her back, is up to you.
Many threads are started with this same issue, new home, different behaviour horse. Some settle straight off the lorry as theyre used to changes, and others find it more challenging.

My 10yr mare, same home, same small herd all her life, was very unsettled moving to me. It took many weeks getting her relaxed into new home/routine.
She was never dangerous and knew her manners, but she was not the ‘sweet’ horse i’d viewed or been told she was at the beginning due to move stress. I was very concerned like you’re feeling, but she soon returned to being that sweet mare when she slowly developed trust in me and her new routine, as the weeks went on.

You could consider getting a trainer to help support you with methods to help her settle if you feel overwhelmed.
 
Echo everyone else - but also to add that with the time of year and weather and circumstances, it's likely this season is hitting her really hard, and subsequent ones might not be so hard for her (and you) to navigate.

I've had good results using Agnus Castus with mares whose cycles have imploded temporarily - rather than Regumate which stops them cycling, the Agnus Castus supports their cycle and eases it so their hormones (and hence reactions to them) become more balanced and calmer moving forwards. I've noticed results after a week or so, and have maintained them on it for perhaps 6 weeks overall from memory. It's not been a case of them having to be on it forever more, just a case of it supporting them back to normal.
 
You ve only had her a week, it can take months for a horse to adjust to new owners and surroundings. Don’t be so quick to blame her coming into season it s much more likely to be the whole new life change. How long was she in her previous home?
Establish a routine and stick to it, pop a bridle on to bring in if she s a bit boingey when leaving her friends. Cut out hard feed unless giving supplements then only give a handful as a carrier.
Keep working her ..how old is your daughter? Enlist a supportive trainer to teach the partnership. Take a deep breath and keep calm around her, be her place of safety and person to trust.
 
I recently bought a new horse, the one in my profile picture. A lovely (soon to be) 7 year old gelding. I've had several horses before him, but oh my god, this one was "special" and I've never experienced this type of behavior from previous new horses 🥴

Both me, the yard owner and her husband were freaking out quite a bit because this lovely little horse just wouldn't settle. He barely ate or drank for several days and just paced and paced and paced in his turn out paddock and also would barely eat anything - neither hay or hard feed in his stall. We seriously began worrying about colic. He also bonded hard with a mare and would freak out when she was taken away out of sight from him. It got so bad that I decided one day (I think it was like day 7) that enough was enough and that he was going back to his owner, since luckely I had him on trial for a month before buying. Funny though that the exact same day it was like a switch been flipped and he just, you know, settled in and went back to his normal chilled self and how he was in his previous home 🤷🏼‍♀️ I ended up buying him and he is the most amazing cheeky little chap ❤️

Give your horse some time, some find moving homes very stressful. For some it takes several months!

Btw, about seasons - it's not uncommon, rather even to be expected, for mares to come into season when moving homes. I've read somewhere that is has something to do with herd dynamics and that mares in season are faster accepted in a herd because of it.
 
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I wouldn't panic just be quiet and consistent taking her away from her new pals. My little mare was quiet for a couple of weeks and then became very unsettled when we moved to the summer fields and a combo of grass, first season and to much change 🤯. I just tried to quietly take her up to the yard and back or into the school and just walk around in hand for a minute and gradually progress to a groom and some in hand work. I know it's not what you have in mind when you buy a lovely new pony but they are sensitive creatures and moving can be a big adjustment especially if she has been alone, how lovely she now has a herd. She just needs to settle into the fact that they aren't going anywhere and she will continue to have friends. It will benefit you in the long run I'm sure.
 
I would 100% expect a mare to pop into season with a yard move and new companions, it's just what happens. It doesn't mean she will be like that every month.
One of mine has just moved from 4 mare herd to living out with 1 gelding, yes she's a stinky mess atm but it won't last
Re the turnout after being on individual, she is bound to react in some way to new friends. I would give her a little time to settle, maybe just handling no ridden for the time being
 
sarcasm_queen said:
Can you put her back on individual turnout? It might be that she prefers it (or atleast is less stressed if it’s what she’s used to).
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I doubt that very much, it is far more likely that she was switched off in her previous home and now can barely believe that she has company, so she doesn't want to risk losing that company. I would try to find a hacking buddy for her and give her time to relax in her new home. I certainly wouldn't give hard feed but a handful of grass chaff or fibre nuts might help her to be pleased to see you.
 
Thanks everyone.

I've been to the yard this evening. Her 'best friend' as bought in from the field and she started calling. She then groomed with another horse and I just left her out for another 20 minutes with one other horse.

I then took her straight in the he school to lunge her (next to her field) and she was actually very good. Called once but I worked her quite hard. She was a hot sweaty smelly mess afterwards so I needed to wash her off.

She stood to be washed and then I put her in her box and she started calling. Her other field mate is in the stable.opposite but that doesn't seem to settle her.

She was slightly better than yesterday so hopefully it will start to calm a bit.

I'm clinging onto hope at the moment
 
racmun said:
Thanks everyone.

I've been to the yard this evening. Her 'best friend' as bought in from the field and she started calling. She then groomed with another horse and I just left her out for another 20 minutes with one other horse.

I then took her straight in the he school to lunge her (next to her field) and she was actually very good. Called once but I worked her quite hard. She was a hot sweaty smelly mess afterwards so I needed to wash her off.

She stood to be washed and then I put her in her box and she started calling. Her other field mate is in the stable.opposite but that doesn't seem to settle her.

She was slightly better than yesterday so hopefully it will start to calm a bit.

I'm clinging onto hope at the moment
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Just a gentle acknowledgement that if she is finding it stressful to come away from her friends, working her hard when you take her away from them could work as a 'double whammy' and make her feel even more negative and stressed about time away from her herd.

If she starts to become difficult to catch, or worse to bring away from everyone that may be why, so if that happens it could be worth adjusting what you do with her.

Fingers crossed all starts to settle down soon for all of you.
 
The fact you can still do things with her is a big positive but don’t make it hard work every time. We have some horses here who are the chillest to handle/ride but will take your ear off calling if they think it’s wise to be calling. Some are just very vocal. My old tb had a fairly decent separation issue, but he never put a hoof wrong hacking out but did call along the way. Bar being shook about as he vibrated it didn’t cause any issues.
 
Midlifecrisis said:
You ve only had her a week, it can take months for a horse to adjust to new owners and surroundings. Don’t be so quick to blame her coming into season it s much more likely to be the whole new life change. How long was she in her previous home?
Establish a routine and stick to it, pop a bridle on to bring in if she s a bit boingey when leaving her friends. Cut out hard feed unless giving supplements then only give a handful as a carrier.
Keep working her ..how old is your daughter? Enlist a supportive trainer to teach the partnership. Take a deep breath and keep calm around her, be her place of safety and person to trust.
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Absolutely this.
 
Equi said:
The fact you can still do things with her is a big positive but don’t make it hard work every time. We have some horses here who are the chillest to handle/ride but will take your ear off calling if they think it’s wise to be calling. Some are just very vocal. My old tb had a fairly decent separation issue, but he never put a hoof wrong hacking out but did call along the way. Bar being shook about as he vibrated it didn’t cause any issues.
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My mares been screaming like a banshee for a week she usually chatty but this week 🙉
 
She will settle. My friend moved her gelding from individual turnout to a yard with a small herd and he went wild. Friend was in tears for weeks thinking she’d made an awful mistake and he’d never settle. He was spinning and screaming in his stable and she couldn’t do anything with him.
Within about 6 weeks he was back to being his normal self.

I don’t think people realise the harm that individual turnout actually does to a horse. They may seem ok with it, but when they finally get back with companions they often become frantic when taken away from them. They do settle in time.
 
I think it’s a difficult one. So normally I’d maybe be saying give her time to settle. I’ve had a few that took ages and even one I had ridden for years then had and he was an absolute nightmare for about two months when I actually took him back to mine.
I also had one who was a saint alone but terrible and as you describe with others so I’d say maybe this or a combo is your problem.
So I’d say keep at it, maybe split them if possible, try individual T/O again, but, a child is involved and that makes it a bit different.
I’d certainly try and get her away from the other mare but you may find it too late (from my experience with the above!) that a move to a new yard and kept alone if they don’t know there is an alternative.
Do you have an instructor who can see what’s going on in person and advise?
 
Is she on any hormonal supplements? NAF Oestress is really good, the liquid one. It is quickly absorbed and massively helps my mareish mare. I would start her on that immediately, it may well help a lot!

Given the time of year it’s also possible she is having her first big season of the year, and it could be that as she has more regular seasons they are less severe. Definitely see how she is out of season before ruling her out, they can be very different when not in season and it sounds like this isn’t her usual behaviour…but the fact she was by herself for so long makes me think perhaps the previous owners know this and have deliberately kept her alone.

Stick her on a hormone supplement next week and try keeping her away from the herd and see how she goes. I always think with kids ponies there is added pressure to get them ridden asap but they really do need time to settle, I would give her a bit longer to get used to you and her new environment first. If you need to lunge her for a few times it’s not the end of the world and I expect she’ll soon be back to her previous self.

Other option is to run the bloods from your vetting? Was she 5 stage vetted with bloods? It’s possible she was under the influence of something when you tried her…hopefully not but you never know!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Why do people think/advise that the way to deal with separation anxiety, which has usually been caused by previous management, is to take the poor animal away from its new friends, thus confirming its fears? That's downright cruel imho.
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Exactly this. I’ve found that they settle once they realise that even if they do get taken away for a short time, they’ll be reunited again shortly. Infact, I’d advise keeping time away from the herd short but consistent for a few weeks.
Even just bringing in for a quick feed and a brush and then back out, then build up over a week so they come in for a little longer each time.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, individual turnout is not in the best interests of most horses.
 
Try and put yourself in the horse’s shoes. Her whole world’s been upended and now she’s in a new place with strangers. She’s made one friend and is afraid of losing her. Working her until she’s a sweaty mess at this stage isn’t going to build trust or a relationship with her. Make things fun and relaxing for her, not more stressful.
 
Yes I have her 5 stage vetted so will speak to the vet.

The problem I have is that it's not easy to split her from the herd and there are no other local yards that are actually affordable so I can't really change yards .

I my think my big worry is that I I feel like I need to return her and claim she was misrepresented then I need to do sooner rather than later and not be seen to accept any of her behaviour.

I've messaged the old Owner and she said it's just her hormones and back in the herd and she will settle etc.
She has suggested lunging before riding but tbh that isn't was I bought.

I queried the individual turnout on viewing and she said that is what their yard does. They were all in separate paddocks.

She said she so easy going, she can be left on her own etc etc. you go to shows and she doesn't charge. Right now I can't imagine taking her to a Show

She even came to our yard when we bought her and rode her in the school and down the lane to show she was well.behaved. my yard owner rang and spoke to he before purchase and asked loads of questions etc etc.

Something has triggered her behaviour but it's very worrying
 
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