Strange behaviour from ancient mare - is she okay?

[catembi]

My old mare is 34 & has been in the family since she was 3. She's had Cushings since the age of 26/7 so has the long coat, drinks a lot & has gone a funny shape, but it isn't being treated cos the vet says while she's well in herself, it's best to leave her alone.

She's got a very healthy appetite, isn't lame & gets excited out hacking.

When she's not eating her food, hay or grazing, she's taken to standing with her head facing the field shelter, sometimes with her head actually inside but her body outside. She does this regardless of whether it's sunny, raining, flies, no flies etc.

Why's she doing it? Should I be worried? She's only had a field shelter for 2 years as when we were at our old yard there wasn't one, so I can't be certain whether this is 'normal' for her.

I can't see anything wrong with her eyes, etc. Her eyesight isn't brilliant but she's def not blind.

Any ideas??

 

[magicchett]

My good friend’s mare used to do this (RIP sweet girl

), she had an accident walking into a stable, ripped open her hind quarters, she wouldn’t go into stable after that. She lived out with two other mares, my little girl and her sister, she used to stand with her head in and body out (provided the herd was round near the field shelter..) Has she ever done this before with a field shelter, maybe trees?..

You know your mare better than anyone and can pick up on odd behaviors like that, if you think it’s unlike her and needs checking out, I would get it checked out… one strange behavior for one is another ones norm,..If you get what I mean!

Need to start thinking like a horse!

*thinks*..not as easy as its sounds!

 

[dozzie]

Mine would always stand with his head inside and his body across the entrance if the shelter was a bit small. He spent the whole time blocking any of the others from getting in!!!Once I got a huge shelter with two exits he went right inside as he couldnt defend both doorways and had to share!!!

Maybe she feels like she couldnt turn round and escape if she went in?

 

[Fairynuff]

I tend to snooze better if the curtains are closed

. Wow, you still hack out together! Mairi.

 

[catembi]

Oh that's good that other people's horses do it.

I wasn't sure if it was a 'Cushings' thing that I hadn't heard of...

She doesn't like being in her stable at all & box walks constantly & neighs to be let out if she's in overnight due to bad weather, so I suppose it makes sense that she doesn't use the field shelter 'properly'.

 

[zigzag]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh that's good that other people's horses do it.

I wasn't sure if it was a 'Cushings' thing that I hadn't heard of...

She doesn't like being in her stable at all & box walks constantly & neighs to be let out if she's in overnight due to bad weather, so I suppose it makes sense that she doesn't use the field shelter 'properly'.

[/ QUOTE ]

Did she like being in her stable before she had Cushings? Reasson I ask is my old cob who has cushings won't saty in a stable now yet he used to love being in!

 

[catembi]

Hello zigzag, no she's always hated being in. If she's in overnight, her stable looks like she's an abuse case who's been kept in for 6 months without being mucked out!!

She's just an outdoorsy kind of horse.