Some advice on what to do with rescue mare

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OzzyBuffy

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As some may know I picked up a rescue mare last week, she has come on greatly just in under a week, I know to some that may not be possible but its surprising what a good brush and some feed can do! She looks like she is filling out already, she gets D&H build up with a small amount of chaf and pony nuts, and a very small scoop of sugarbeet, with some vegetable oil for her coat.

She is 6, rising 7, unbroken tb x arab.

Basically I just wondered where to start with her just bonding, I know its similar to having a youngster, but shes alot more nervous than any youngster I have ever owned! I sprayed her with fly spray and to begin with she accepted it then she went on a massive freak out half way round her body and now I can;t get near her with a spray.

She panics alot and all the time, she gets taken out and tied up to eat her feed just to allow some bonding and down time as shes used to fighting for her feed, and if shes left tied up and the eladrope randomly moves, she freaks out and pulls away from the fence.

I don't think the owners ever hit her but she obviousley has had no life experience and thinks absolutely everything is out to kill her, the only thing I can do with ease is brush her, and pick up her feet.

She is very weak (although she didn't appear so after galloping to the gate to greet me last night!), she has no muscle and cannot do any amount of work, although I could start parelli with her, touching her all over and getting her too accept me.

But my main problem is what else other than parelli can I do to start desensitizing her too things? It's totally different too having a youngster as she really is crazily scared of silly things.

Thanks in advance

Edit - This is a picture just before I got her:
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And this is her last night:
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I had tied it properly but she had pulled it so much while I was taking a picture as she had a couple of spooks it was lose, immediately after that picture was taken I untied her and retied. I don't see what else there is too comment on?

I have asked advice as too where to start with helping her bond with me better, other than feeding and grooming.

Edit - She also was never hayed before I got her and now she gets her hay in the evening everyday which has made a big difference I feel

Another edit - I have checked over my post several times as I don't understand what there is too ''comment on'', however if you mean the facilities and lack of grass, her field is 5 acres and has enough grass, the hrose you see in my pictures belongs too somebody else and yes I agree its disgusting that they have no grass whatsoever in a paddock thats probably only about 1/4 of an acre.

I am in the process of finding a new yard with good facilities and more grass for her.
 
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Others will give you better advice than I on bonding, I'm sure. But my own personal feeling is that spending time with them generally will start to form the bond you are looking for. She's not in any fit state to 'work' as it were, so just the general day to day management of her will get you started beautifully.

As for the panicking when tied up issue. Simple to resolve really. Never tie a horse up to be fed - dangerous and uncessary. The damage that can be done from a tangled leadrope can be devastating.

It is probably the hay that is going to be most beneficial to her in terms of getting condition on her - so keep it up.

She's improved allready. Well done.
 
Thank you amymay, ok I shant tie her up, sometimes I do hold her, but from now on I will always tie her up, she's definately in no fit state too work.
 
Thank you amymay, ok I shant tie her up, sometimes I do hold her, but from now on I will never tie her up, she's definately in no fit state too work.
 
Give her time and plenty of it. As has been said, no need to tie her up. Just put her bucket down and stay as near as she is comfortable with. You have only had her a week, I am a great believer in that she will tell you herself what she is ready for. I have had horses for years who don't like the 'spray' noise from fly sprays let a alone one with her issues and the timeline you have had her. Spray some on a sponge and put it on her that way if she is comfortable with that (You say you can groom her). Give her time to judge each situation, take it slowly and quietly, don't rush anything, she will come round if she is given the time to realise things for herself. No need to rush! :)
 
Tbh, if she was mine I would forget anything other than feeding and really basic handling for the summer. Just give her the summer to chill and relax then start any 'organised' handling or plans.

The danger with a nervy horse is that if you overload their minds you don't gain any trust, in fact you can make them even more nervous - jmho but parelli can reinforce nervousness as it relies so much on the horse picking what are very easily mixed signals from the handler especially if they are not experts themselves. Good, consistent, confident, quiet handling is usually the key in cases like this.

The other thing is that it looks like she might be a good doer once she's up to weight so watch out for laminitis!

Best of luck with her, she's lovely.
 
OzzyBuffy said:
I don't see what else there is too comment on?
Probably the reference to Parelli, its not popular on this forum.

I would as others have said give her some time. I had a session with Sarah Weston once and she gave us some great techniques on desensitising involving advance and retreat using things like feather dusters and carrier bags on sticks, worth a google maybe?! I wouldn't start anything like that until she was completely settled in though, a week isn't very long.

Good luck, she does appear to be doing well.
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Getting her to trust you will take time, pure and simple. Don't try to do too much with her until she is happy with you around her. Just be quiet and consistent, do a lot of grooming and feet picking out. Don't go onto "dramatic" things like fly spraying until she is relaxed with you. It could take months so don't be in too much of a hurry. She has a lot of adjusting to do mentally, remember.
 
Firstly well done for taking the mare on....she looks fab !!!

Also their are quite a few people with to much to say for themselves...its your horse tie it up how you like, its your field so your fencing is your buisness ...you dont have to justify yourself to anybody on here.

The horse world is full of people bitching...poking their noses in ect

Thats why lots of people are not posting on this forum anymore ..its far to bitchy
 
Well done she looks a sweet mare. I agree with some of the others comments - bonding takes consistency, time and patience.
I have a WB 6 yr old who was abused and it has taken 6 months of tears and set backs for him finally to trust and not attack us. He is 17hh so very scary and he was so close to being pts that's how bad he was. He had been through the so called 'experts' hands.

I would suggest using a good calmer - I use Relax Me and it does help without a doubt. I am also using clicker training with my WB - not for everything, but he understands perfectly and he picked it up so quickly that a click means he has done what I wanted and he is a good boy. It's just another reward method and an 'instant' sign to the horse that they have done as you wanted. Probably very useful in your early days if your horse wouldn't necessarily appreciate a good pat and a rub.
Good luck - I hope these ideas may help.

I want to comment on the tying up - yes she's on a long line, but hey you have her tied to bale string so of course she wouldn't break her neck!! Ignore comments like that OP - you have done nothing grossly wrong here.
 
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If you had seen some of the places where I had tied my horses up in the past, it would make your hair curl. Not everyone has decent facilities.

I also wouldn't use Parelli on her. I've seen too many switched off/traumatised horses started in this way. A good idea would be to buy Kelly Marks' books Perfect Partners and Perfect Manners. Also try posting on the IHDG forum as there are lots of people on there who have taken on rescue cases.

I personally would give her at least a year before doing anything too much apart from daily handling, grooming, hoof care, etc.
 
Nokia, the OP said herself that the mare had been pulling on the rope and spooking. People are giving her good advice that it is an accident waiting to happen. Would I tie a nervous horse with handling issues to a fence to be fed? No I wouldn't. Much better to hold the leadrope yourself and less chance of a disaster happening or feed the mare somewhere where she can eat without being held. It is purely concern and trying to help the OP.

Anyway, good luck with her OzzyBuffy.
 
nokia said:
Also their are quite a few people with to much to say for themselves...its your horse tie it up how you like, its your field so your fencing is your buisness ...you dont have to justify yourself to anybody on here.

The horse world is full of people bitching...poking their noses in ect
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Nokia, the OP posted asking for advice.

Some advice has been about tying up. That is not bitchy - just doing what the OP asked for, giving advice.

I'm sure, being experienced as you are, that you will understand the inherent dangers of tying up incorrectly, inappropriately and to objects not designed for the job.......:rolleyes:
 
Bless you for taking her on. I take it you have wormed her.

Anyway as said already let her chill for a while and whilst she is doing so you could get a crate and just sit in her field so she gets used to you being there. She will hopefully come for a nosey just let her know your there without too much fuss.
 
She's gained a lot of weight quickly and appears to have lost of all her winter coat at the same time. If you've not already wormed her, please do so.

In regards to bonding give her time. If the grazing is bad maybe take her a walk up the yard drive for some grass. Holding the feed bucket apparently works whilst their eating. She knows you feed her and wouldn't come to the gate if she hadn't already formed some bond with her. It can take a year to develop a good bond.
 
She looks amazing, after just one week!
All I can say with this mare for trust is to get her into a set routine. So she knows that she gets brought in, groomed, feet done, fed, put back out. You man find she relaxes alot when you really drum the routine in and she knows whats happening. Then start adding the odd walk down the road, gradually build it up so she slowly sees more of the world,but at her pace :) It could take a long time but it will be worth it!!
 
Its amazing what a week can do with someone who cares :) she is looking much better!

Bale twine doesnt always snap though :-/ I learnt that the hard way after I tied my mare up to eat, she got her front leg over the rope (it was too long) and panicked - pulled back and the twine didnt snap - which resulted in her slipping on the concrete and falling over - luckily she only had a small scrape - but my god it was scary! I use the safety rubber tie up things now just in case :)

But well done! x
 
My girl is a TB x Arab :) youve done a good job with her :D
I started off with the 'bonding' for a year before i did anything with her. I would stand and hold her feed bucket for a while (she was very nervous of most people) and i would just spend time with her and play games, we clicked very quickly :)
Good luck with her and dont forget to keep us all updated :)
 
If you do change yards and she has better grazing don't let her gorge herself. Be a bit careful to start with as she could end up with laminitis (happy to be corrected on that!) or colic. Also be careful when you worm her. If she has a huge worm burden she could get very poorly when they die off en masse and come out. Have you have an egg count done?

I would just take things very slowly with her. She needs to gain your trust before you can start doing 'scary' things with her. Be patient and I'm sure she will start to let you do more things with her. I'd maybe leave any riding until late summer\autumn and maybe turn her away for the winter to let her digest her lessons and start afresh in the spring. Just enjoy her for now :-)
 
As others have said, I wouldnt tie up to feed, purely because Ive never felt the need, however, if you feel you need to have a degree of control of where she goes etc, use a lunge line connected to her headcollor and then through the string to your hand. That way you can move freely around her whilst retaining control, and also teaching he that if she flings herself backwards there is no resistance unless you give it. This will help your bonding too.
i personally dont like 'pirelli', and prefer the Monty Roberts type route...but that said, its all just common sense and knwing when to push and when not to.

Feed wise she has put a remarkable amount of weight on in a week, and I would be concerned that she was gaining too rapidly. How much of the build up, h&p cubes and beet is she having? Id revise the meals into 3 or even 4 small feeds of no more than 300g nuts, 300g build up and then half a scoop of beet and the chaff. Also a calmer - magnesium or relax me - would be beneficial.

Get her teeth looked at and a worm count done, and keep feeding her as much good fibre (hay/haylage/grass) as she wants.

With regards work, leave her be for a bit, gain her trust by gooming, handling and generally loving her, she needs at least 6 months before she will be ready for even in hand work IMO.

Good luck with her, she is a pretty girl, you should have lots of fun with her x
 
Damnation said:
She looks amazing, after just one week!
All I can say with this mare for trust is to get her into a set routine. So she knows that she gets brought in, groomed, feet done, fed, put back out. You man find she relaxes alot when you really drum the routine in and she knows whats happening. Then start adding the odd walk down the road, gradually build it up so she slowly sees more of the world,but at her pace :) It could take a long time but it will be worth it!!
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Ditto this^^^^ Routine is the best policy - stick to it as religously as you can so that she happy knowing the drill i.e feet picking , grooming from top to toe , leading nicely ( including halts with loads of praise ) I wouldn't tie up to feed as after shes's been tied to groom and have her feet picked ,IMO her feed time should be taken at leisure as reward for being a good girl. Also i would watch the food intake , if she's honestly gainned this much in a week then i would take it a bit slower and remember to give plenty of forage if the grazing is poor. She looks a lovely girl , all the best of luck to you...
 
I'm glad someone else thinks the same...
Sorry, but that much weight in 7 days, a winter coat suddenly replaced with a summer coat, and a horse thats looks as though Stevie Wonder tied it up? :rolleyes:
 
pastie2 said:
I am sorry, but that weight gain has NEVER happened in one week, its impossible.
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doesnt look like the same horse. different head shape, muzzle different colour, mane/forlock would need to now be an inch long to get rid of the suns tinge.. i may be wrong however ;)
 
You are a suspicious lot on here, aren't you? Blimey!

I'd be inclined to just spend loads and loads of time with her. Talk to her as much as possible and just be around her. Lots of stroking and encouragement. Don't worry about anything more structured for a good few months until you have gained her trust.
 
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