Snappy mare

[jumpingjack]

My mare has been quite moody for the last couple of weeks, initially she was being a nightmare to catch but seems to have got a bit easier now.

I have put her on Oestress and she is pretty chilled out again now apart from grooming and tacking up, when you brush her tummy/side or do up the girth she will try to nip.

She has been like this for a couple of weeks now, wondered if it had anything to do with her going onto hard feed for the winter, she is kept out 24/7 but i give her a small feed in the evening (1/2 scoop honeychop, couple of handfuls of pasture mix and 2 spoons of oestress). She is worked 6 days a week, a mix of hacking, schooling & jumping.

Should i be worried or is it just moodiness with the season?

 

[debradley]

She hasn't had a fall or anything has she? My mare was very defensive around her tummy and whilst being girthed up - she wasn't nasty just wouldn't stand still. Turned out she had a very sore back, might be worth having her checked!

 

[alicep]

my mare is always a bit touchey when being groomed or girth/rug being done up. shes worse when shes in season and i can only groom with a soft brush never mind giving her a good curry comb over! lol with seasons, like us i think they can get a bit more sensitive and obviously grumpy! lol when im doing her girth up i do it with my elbow sticking out so when she turns to bite she gets my elbow in her face. but shes done this forever and is just naughty!

 

[jumpingjack]

I did wonder if she is sore as her field mate is quite nasty and has tried to bite her several times, and the other day she kicked out catching her - she was snappy before this though i just wonder if the other mare has previously kicked her.

I hope it is just her season as it seems to coincide with her turning into an old bag in the field and then she was getting really moody and defensive.

 

[alicep]

how long has she been on the oesestress [sp]? it normally takes a hwile to kick in so you may find she eases up when it gets going. id think about having her back looked at also as it may be the saddle causing her a bit of pain and therefore she does not want the girth done up

 

[jumpingjack]

i started the Oestress about 3 weeks ago.

 

[eventer28]

Have a look in the girth or saddle area. My mare can be a bit like this and is prone to girth galls..