smalll problem...

[caitlin95uk]

myyy 5 year old pony is usually an angel when it comes to tacking up, and was slowly being less stroppy when it comes to riding... but recently when it comes to tacking her up, she has started to kick out and bite.. i know her tack fitss fine and her backk is good too.her rug had been rubbing her, but soon sorted tht out and it is now scabbing over. So at first i thought i would be nice as she is only stroppy cuz it is uncomfortable, but now she is started to taking advantage and pulls her head away when it comes to her bridle.. at first she kicks her leg out wen i bring the saddle towards her and turns round to bite when i ignore her. then once the saddle is finally on, i turn to do her bridle and pulls her head away, turns her bum on me pushes me into the fence and then kicks out. this is started to get me nervous as she is an angel once the tack is on.. what should i do ???

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Is there anywhere you could perhaps cross tie her so she can at least not bite you?

How do you react when she does kick out/ push you into the fence

 

[caitlin95uk]

noo i cntt cross tie her unfortunatelyy its onlyy a small livery yardd

and i react by pushing her from me and moving to the side.. im gettin too nervous to do much else

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Have you tried a firm "No!"

Sorry I can't suggest much else. My horse is quite grumpy to girth up and I just carry on and ignore him, and when he's good I generally move away, tell him he's a good boy etc.

Do you do your girth up slowly, she might be a bit sensitive to it going up fast.

Is there also anyone who could stand by her head etc to give you a hand?

 

[caitlin95uk]

yh.. i have tried a firmm no.. but my friends tell me i need to be firmer and i just hatte telling her off, she seems to think tht wen i tell her off, then it ends up in a war and she arues backk..

 

[Jaii]

Have you had her teeth checked?
She won't want to have a bridle on if her mouth is sore.

 

[traceyx69]

not got much advice reeally but just wanted to say my boy is grumpy to tack up in the winter when he is stabled for long periods. i try and get him out of his box 2 or 3 times a day when we have no turn out just for a roll in the school or for a pick at the grass etc. do you have turnout ?? My boy is much happier to tack up etc during the summer when he is out etc

 

[caitlin95uk]

yupp teethdone not long ago bout 3 monthss

 

[caitlin95uk]

she is outt 24/7...

 

[Roody2]

hmmmm, it is a bit of a tough one to find an absolute solution for!!

If you are absolutely sure that she is in no pain from the saddle or bridle then maybe it is becoming a behavioural evasion that she has started to learn from when you were taking it easy with her - I think you should probably seek some help from someone who has experience in dealing with difficult behaviour so you can nip it in the bud as soon as possible before it becomes ingrained.
You certainly don't want to end up with a horse that thinks it is acceptable to be aggressive or kick out so best get some hands on help as soon as possible.

The next place to consider pain is through seasons. Some mares do get uncomfortable during seasons and although most do stop seasons through winter, some don't. Has she shown seasonal behaviour throughout this winter and do the behavioural 'episodes' tie in with these?

 

[ForeverBroke_]

[ QUOTE ]
yh.. i have tried a firmm no.. but my friends tell me i need to be firmer and i just hatte telling her off, she seems to think tht wen i tell her off, then it ends up in a war and she arues backk..

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you need to keep trying, she's probably just taking the pee and knows that if she does such and such, you'll back away etc. You may hate telling her off but its better than getting squashed against a fence or wall and she wont come to any harm from it. Even just growling at her when she lifts a hoof could be enough to nip it in the bud

 

[vickybrennan]

Why not try working on handling her without the tack. Rub her all over if you get to a point when she starts to react move back to the point where she didn't and them come back to the tricky spot and repeat. Put a hand on her poll and apply pressure - when she drops her head (even a tiny bit) then take your hand away and come back and rub her poll and fluff up her forlock - repeat - expect the same or more each time. When she will touch the floor with her head then hold the bridle headpiece between her ears and guide the bit into her mouth - put furthest ear in the headpiece first. If she objects then put the bridle away and revert to previous exercise. Handle her lots without the tack and never back off completely if you get a reaction but stay safe

Everytime she gives you a positive reaction then back off and repeat .... hope it works for you (it worked for me

) - don't go any further than you feel comfortable with - get help if you need it but avoid getting aggresive as she could escalate the issues - stay cool

 

[caitlin95uk]

yess.. she is become verry sensible and welll behaved when it comes to riding.. but i think tht wen she is in a bridle i suddnely become a lot more confident! as i know tht i have control.. i do have a controlling headcollar as shde can become very strong and bargy at timee.. do u think if i hold her with that and some one put the saddle on for me then she will slowly start to listen.. with two people i will definetely be more confident with her!!

 

[treena]

i think you need to go back to basics and re-establish the rank stucture between you both. try doing some ground work with her. moving her feet aroung ect. take a look at some of the parrelli ground works...she sounds like a dominant mare, and is very obviously in charge of this situation. if you do not get on top of this problem, then she will find other ways to enforce her dominance....im a qualified equine behaviourist and phsycologist, if you require furthur help or assistance, please feel free to pm me... good luck

 

[Tickles]

"her rug had been rubbing her, but soon sorted tht out and it is now scabbing over. "

If she still has scabs (espec where the saddle, bridle or girth are) she could def still be in pain from those/the tack or remembering the very recent pain.

Might be worth spending some time doing ground work etc without the tack until she heals properly and *then* starting again slowly as suggested by JackoDiamonds and co above.

Totally agree that she should be lower in the herd order than you but part of that is taking responsibility for looking after her too. (Obviously not saying you'd be hurting her on purpose... hope you see what I mean!)