New Owner - Moody Mare

E

EJ87

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 August 2011
Messages
134
Visit site
Hello I was just wondering if anyone could offer me any advice/explanation into my mares behaviour. So this is how the story goes I bought my 11 yr old irish 14.2 mare about 2 months ago after having lessons in a riding school for 2 years. She is my first horse and i would be a novice in all ways. When I got her she was placed in a paddock next to another mare and she was grand with that but unfortunately the other mare wasnt so we moved her to another field on her own. she generally is quiet and sweet natured will follow you around the field type and happy go lucky to ride but occassionally she will flip and become very hard to work with e.g she will squeal, snort, buck and bolt on lounge line and be forward goin to ride even in the stable she will prance round wont stand still to be groomed and did NOT want to work with the farrier. I have been working through alot of these things like giving her staw to entertain her in stable while i groom her etc and she was improving. Last week farmers were at silage on her lane and field so we moved her into a field with cows which she didnt mind until she realised the field was opposite another mares she has started squealing, prancing and seemed totally preoccupied so we moved her back down to her own field last night but she is still squealing out at anything and barged her gate for about two hours last night before she gave in and went down the lane to her field. I seen her again this morn she was a bit more settled but a horse from a nearby livery yard called out and she started squealing and prancing again. Why is her changes in behaviour so rapid? or is a mare just like this? i was told she could be on season but she could do this one day be fine the next two and be horrible on the fifth day alot more frequent than every 21 days. Or is it something im doing? Any help please as my confidence is at 0 and all i want to do is help her. PS she is only feed grass the occasional arm full of staw and 2 handfulls of cool and calm meal mix to bring her in from her field. Thanks
 
It sounds like she is in season...only reason i say this is that my mare is being a complete cow at the mo, she is in season. Although luckily she isnt normally mareish at all, but this time she is being a trout. I do know of mares that are a pain alot in the same way you are describing. And often people say that they tend to have worse "seasons" around july time in the summer. Wether or not thats true i dont know....i will have had my mare for a year next week and iv not know her like this!
This morning for example (having been worked hard for the last couple days) was prancey, spookey and snorty out on her hack. In the stable a complete fidgety, squirty, squeely, wickery nightmare. Who managed to trash both overreach boots in about 30 seconds in a stable tied up. When normally she is the most chilled out, laid back, never needs to be tied up for anything sort!
she is obsessed with another mare opposite her who is also in season!
Maybe try regumate. That might help, its not cheap but could help balance her a bit.

Or if its nothing to do with hormones, you have had her for only two months. She could just be testing you out a bit if she is feeling well. Could be worth getting some help from the riding school you bought her from or do some ground work with an instructor.

Good luck
 
Aw please get her some company ASAP. She must be desperately lonely. Some of the squealing behaviour could be down to her hormones but no horse should be kept on it's own. It is unfair. Her extreme behaviour is a reflection of her need to be with other equines.
 
Hiya, dont lose heart, we have just got a new mare that is a nightmare. I think thatmoving them can bring them into season more strongly and this poor mare had been in season for three weeks . Squirting and squealing so bad that shecant be ridden and became dangerous. I spoke to the vet and he came out and had a look, she has been put onto regumate and she has calmed down but I noticed today that she has come into season . She seems lots calmer so we will try and ride her today for a little bit.
 
I think your mare sounds very unhappy. The fact that she is barging the gate indicates that she wants to get to the other horse and is probably very frightened being alone. Can you not keep her at livery where she will be with others and where you will have advice and support at hand?
 
I would think it would be worth trying to see if she can be put in a field with another horse.
My mare (who I've had about as long as you've had yours) was a huge stress-head for lots of reasons but when she was moved into a field with other mares she's gone back to the dope on a rope she was when I viewed her.

Don't forget that horses are herd animals, they're not supposed to be on their own.
If you're worried how she or the other horse(s) will react in a field together let them all say hello with you still a hold of her then turn her out in a field next to the other(s) for a while. Then if all seems okay try putting her in with them for a little while and stay and watch for a bit. Unless all hell breaks lose it would be worth trying to socialise her with another horse.
 
Wagtail said:
Aw please get her some company ASAP. She must be desperately lonely. Some of the squealing behaviour could be down to her hormones but no horse should be kept on it's own. It is unfair. Her extreme behaviour is a reflection of her need to be with other equines.
Click to expand...

^ I agree.

Don't forget that two months is not long enough for a horse to settle fully in their new home.
 
Wagtail said:
Aw please get her some company ASAP. She must be desperately lonely. Some of the squealing behaviour could be down to her hormones but no horse should be kept on it's own. It is unfair. Her extreme behaviour is a reflection of her need to be with other equines.
Click to expand...


This.
Horses are naturally herd animals and should always live with company of their own kind IMHO.
 
I'd second getting her a friend or moving her to a yard where she can go in with others, she sounds lonely - my mare was exactly the same when she had to go in on her own, she was fine when she went back in with her friends. She's a herd animal and is probably used to being kept with others and doesnt like being alone.
 
Also, don't just dismiss bad behaviour as 'mareishness'. I've known quite a few mares that suddenly stopped being mareish once their saddles were fitted properly and they were no-longer in pain.

^ Just keep this in mind. :)
 
Faracat said:
Also, don't just dismiss bad behaviour as 'mareishness'. I've known quite a few mares that suddenly stopped being mareish once their saddles were fitted properly and they were no-longer in pain.

^ Just keep this in mind. :)
Click to expand...


I can back that up completely, mine lost weight and her made-to-measure saddle began to bruise her back, it made her a hassle to tack up as before we'd noticed the problem we thought she was just being mareish, but it was her way of telling me that it was uncomfortable.
She still has her moments though :p
 
Wagtail said:
Aw please get her some company ASAP. She must be desperately lonely. Some of the squealing behaviour could be down to her hormones but no horse should be kept on it's own. It is unfair. Her extreme behaviour is a reflection of her need to be with other equines.
Click to expand...


I agree! My mare would be exactly the same if she didnt have company :)
 
She sounds a saint for being moved about so much with no company and not having flipped completely! SHE NEEDS AN EQUINE FRIEND!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top