New mare hates being rugged up

[DappleDown]

Still going through the first year of having my new mare.

Now it is rugging up time and I have discovered she hates being rugged up. I think it is to do with the surcingles touching her belly.

She doesn't like being groomed around the back of tum/rear legs (as I found out not long after she arrived and I received a nasty large bite on my ass whilst grooming).

This reaction of hers may be to do with her last foal being a little too rough (foaled prior to my ownership).

Anyhow, it's all ears, and turning to warn me off when I reach for the surcingles and when I try to attach them.

Once the rug is on she is fine with it.

I'm listening to her, and keeping a lookout in case there is more to it (no probs grooming or tacking up), but as ever, am always open to ideas.

Anyone else on here had this reaction? Please share.

 

[Littlebear]

What’s she like having a girth done up and being tacked up ?

 

[DappleDown]

What’s she like having a girth done up and being tacked up ?

Fine, other than rear of belly/teat area no probs grooming or tacking up.

The reaction is only when rugging up. First full week of rugging and this morning she was already anticipating the rug so it was all ears before it was even on her back. I'm careful with it, no harsh chucking it on her. I let her see it and all done carefully and matter of fact, no fuss on my part.

*Edited to add, I'm not sure, but maybe she has never been rugged before coming to me.

 

[Antw23uk]

Leave her unrugged

 

[DappleDown]

Leave her unrugged

Am considering this but would rather work through the issue.

She is a Friesian, no clip (at the moment - another learning curve to come....), t/o rug is not lined and is purely to keep her dry. We've had some pelting rain and some whacking great big hailstones this week.

 

[Farma]

Am considering this but would rather work through the issue.

She is a Friesian, no clip (at the moment - another learning curve to come....), t/o rug is not lined and is purely to keep her dry. We've had some pelting rain and some whacking great big hailstones this week.

I have 2 out unrugged at the moment all ok, just don't groom too to remove the oils they need x

Edit to say; if you want to work through it you may want to reintroduce them as if she were a baby, just gradually, no rush and reward for quiet acceptance

 

[SEL]

I had to introduce mine to a rug when she was a badly handled 5 year old, weighing in at around 700kg (obese!) and with a vile temper. Reaching under her belly to do surcingle straps up would have been suicidal.

I used to attach a lead rope to the surcingle strap whilst it was still undone. Kick the lead rope under her belly so it made an extra long strap and was out far enough the other side that I could pick it up without putting any part of me within reach of her legs. It meant I could pull the strap gently up under her belly using the lead rope from a safe distance. The lead rope was then obviously detached once I'd done the strap up. I used to have to do the same for girthing her.

No issues now, but it took a while.

 

[DappleDown]

.....I used to attach a lead rope to the surcingle strap whilst it was still undone. Kick the lead rope under her belly so it made an extra long strap and was out far enough the other side that I could pick it up without putting any part of me within reach of her legs. It meant I could pull the strap gently up under her belly using the lead rope from a safe distance. The lead rope was then obviously detached once I'd done the strap up.........

Thanks - that's a good idea. I think I will use it and follow a 're-introducing the rug' routine.
I'll try it tomorrow morning. It puts me in the right (safe) place and with a free hand for praise and reward too.

 

[HeyMich]

Leave her unrugged

Why don't you leave her unrugged, but go through a bit of re-training in the meantime?

Maybe put the rug over her back and praise/reward then immediately remove and turn her out. Then gradually increase the time the rug is on her back each day and gently introduce the buckles and surcingles. Might take a few weeks or months, but in the end she should have a positive association with the rug and not have such a negative reaction each time.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

 

[DappleDown]

Why don't you leave her unrugged, but go through a bit of re-training in the meantime?

Maybe put the rug over her back and praise/reward then immediately remove and turn her out. Then gradually increase the time the rug is on her back each day and gently introduce the buckles and surcingles. Might take a few weeks or months, but in the end she should have a positive association with the rug and not have such a negative reaction each time.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

:thumbup: I'll be combining this with the leadrope trick, starting tomorrow.
Even if she doesn't thank me immediately, my derriere certainly will !

 

[SEL]

:thumbup: I'll be combining this with the leadrope trick, starting tomorrow.
Even if she doesn't thank me immediately, my derriere certainly will !

Mine spent most of her first winter unrugged because she was being so horrible! Finally realised rugs were nice on a bitterly cold Feb morning when the sleet was horizontal. Rather than turning herself inside out in the rug I forced her to wear she realised it meant she could stay dry and keep eating. Result!

 

[LeneHorse]

I'm afraid I bribe my mare with a little pile of haylage while I'm doing up the rug straps.
Also I don't know what build your mare is but mine has a very broad chest and I need to be careful not to fasten the rug too tightly at front. It can look ok when their head is up, but when they bend to graze the top chest strap can really cut into their neck.

 

[Cobbytype]

I knew of a mare that hated cold rugs and her owner used to warm her rug on a radiator for a minute or two before putting it on. Maybe try warming the surcingles so they don't feel chilly against her belly?

 

[MouseInLux]

Mine was a hazard with her teeth until I started handing out carrots while rigging her. She’s starting to like having her rugs chNged now!

 

[Abby-Lou]

Mine can be sensitive not with the straps just putting the rug on & off, she doesn't like been groomed on cold mornings and shrugs herself, I tell her no and kind of ignore and carry on, we get there even with a bit of personality LOL

 

[Umbongo]

I would agree with leaving her unrugged (with shelter available) and doing some training. Another option is the modify the rug so there is just one surcingle where the girth goes if she is ok with a girth? Not ideal but have had to do that before with one horse until he got used to the normal surcingles.