Stubborn Mare

[Beccahope01]

I’ve recently rehomed a 14 year old mare that has lived in a field all her life. with me she has no access to a field during the winter months, so I’m currently allowing her to be out during the day hours and in on a night to get used to the concept of being stabled and coming in. She has no concept of groundwork, respect or manners. I’ve been trying to teach her basic groundwork (backing up, walking on, moving hind quarter etc.) but am getting no where fast as she just doesnt understand and just tries to walk next to me instead. I’m now having issues with getting her out of the field, as she’s very stubborn and will plant her heels when I try to bring her out. When she eventually comes out, she then starts becoming rude and not listen and try to barge/push me through the yard. She then barges Through anyone who tries to open the stable door and will get herself out. She also has a bad habit of pawing with her front leg when she’s doing something she doesn’t want to do, but then starts to try to kick out with her front leg at people when she still isn’t getting what she wants. Really feel defeated By her at the moment, any advice would be hugely appreciated.

 

[Casey76]

To be honest, if I had lived in a field all my life, then I move somewhere, and all of a sudden I’m being locked up 12 hours a day, I’d be pretty reluctant to com in from the field too.

You need to start with *much* smaller increments in the stable. Start be feeding her in there with the door open, and build up from there.

Look up Ben Hart, and his shaping plans. They are excellent for breaking down training into small, smaller, smallest steps so not to overface the horse.

Your mare isn’t being stubborn. She is afraid and confused and it sounds like no one understands her.

 

[Melody Grey]

Have I interpreted correctly that she has been out for 14 years, then solely in with no turn out at all for the whole of winter and now you’re wondering why she doesn’t want to leave the field? She’s voting with her feet, listen to her. She’s telling you she’s not happy and there’s too much change too soon.

 

[ycbm]

I’ve recently rehomed a 14 year old mare that has lived in a field all her life. with me she has no access to a field during the winter months, so I’m currently allowing her to be out during the day hours and in on a night to get used to the concept of being stabled and coming in. She has no concept of groundwork, respect or manners. I’ve been trying to teach her basic groundwork (backing up, walking on, moving hind quarter etc.) but am getting no where fast as she just doesnt understand and just tries to walk next to me instead. I’m now having issues with getting her out of the field, as she’s very stubborn and will plant her heels when I try to bring her out. When she eventually comes out, she then starts becoming rude and not listen and try to barge/push me through the yard. She then barges Through anyone who tries to open the stable door and will get herself out. She also has a bad habit of pawing with her front leg when she’s doing something she doesn’t want to do, but then starts to try to kick out with her front leg at people when she still isn’t getting what she wants. Really feel defeated By her at the moment, any advice would be hugely appreciated.

How recently is recently? It sounds as if, I'm sorry, that you are asking too much too soon of a14 year old horse set in her ways.
.

 

[laura_nash]

This^^

I also think you need to consider the fairness of expecting a horse thats never been stabled to live in all winter in the first year. Personally I doubt the fairness of expecting it of any horse really, but I know lots do and they cope. I think its a big ask for one thats not familiar with regular stabling though. Unless you know her full history its possible she may have an existing issue with being stabled.

 

[Flicker]

I’d be looking for somewhere with all year 24/7 turnout and work with her there.
Her behaviour is just showing you this is too big an adjustment for her.

 

[Melody Grey]

Might be a wrong assumption but if she’s rehomed from a charity, I’m surprised they’ve let you take her from being out all the time to keeping her in all winter.

 

[Beccahope01]

I’ll look him up, I completely understand her being stabled will be totally strange to her, hence why I’ve been leaving her out for as long as possible during the day in the field so she still has that freedom and normality. I’ve only had her for 3 months but she was previously in a foster home for a while where she was introduced to stabling. She settles lovely once she’s in the stable and sees horses next to her, she is just understandably reluctant to come in, and when she does come onto the yard she doesn’t want to listen. Her lack of handling is what causes most of the issue as she doesn’t understand and I’m trying to take it as slow as possible with her just really looking for some tips to help her understand. The charity have been totally fine with her being stabled.

 

[Arzada]

Is this a DIY yard? Part livery? Full livery?

 

[Beccahope01]

Full livery yard

 

[Jenko109]

I wouldn't be trying the stable yet.

I would be bringing her in solely for a bucket. Just a handful of something, but something really tasty to keep her interested.

I would just do this everyday, maybe even a few times a day until she has learnt to relax about being brought in and sees it as a positive experience.

You have purchased quite the undertaking though. Rather you than me.

 

[Beccahope01]

I wouldn't be trying the stable yet.

I would be bringing her in solely for a bucket. Just a handful of something, but something really tasty to keep her interested.

I would just do this everyday, maybe even a few times a day until she has learnt to relax about being brought in and sees it as a positive experience.

You have purchased quite the undertaking though. Rather you than me.

Thank you, going to try this with her. We were told she was very different from the charity and more experienced but she’s come knowing nothing, and I do feel for her having to adjust to so much change. Her weight is so closely monitored by the charity too, so trying to keep it maintained is challenging with the situation?

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I just wanted to add, your title “stubborn mare”, is unfair. She is just being a horse, completely confused after 14yrs in a field and now you’re stabling her. I’m amazed a charity allows you to take on a horse like this who won’t have turnout over winter.

I would be looking for a different yard for her, where she can have turnout throughout the year. It is going to take a long time for her to adjust to her new routine.

 

[Beccahope01]

I think the charity are okay with it as her foster home where stabling her too. When she first came she had to be isolated for 2 weeks, and she stabled well then two weeks and we had no problems with her. Now she’s allowed turnout it’s understandable that she’s remembering everything she’s experienced and doesn’t want to come back in. I’m going to try only bringing her in for a feed and a brush as she enjoys being pampered for the remainder of the summer, and if she is still is unsure of it all I’ll start searching for a new yard

 

[Red-1]

If she has no turnout at all for winter, I am curious as to what she will be doing? It doesn't;t sound like she has been in regular work?

 

[ycbm]

Which charity did you get her from?
.

 

[Beccahope01]

She has access to two very large arenas where I’ve been doing in hand work with her to get her used to being handled as this is what the charity are hoping she will become more experienced in overtime. We also have a Walker but that’s not even being considered for her yet as I wouldn’t want to confuse her even more. She’s come from Blue Cross

 

[Arzada]

It's not a matter of only adjusting to stabling which is huge in itself after 14 years of living out. The yard environment will also impact on her. Eg how noisy is the yard, how busy is the yard, several people handling her, how the other horses are handled and behave. It may not literally be the stable itself that is making her reluctant to leave the field. I was on a yard briefly where my horse really couldn't stand coming in and this wasn't coming in to stay in and be stabled. The YO was loud, the radio was on, the doors were slammed, the other horses weren't relaxed etc. It was a rude contrast to her life of living out in a peaceful field within a peaceful herd. We moved. I would do the same for your mare well before the long winter of confinement begins.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I really don't understand why Blue Cross thought that your set-up is appropriate for a horse that has lived out all her life. I would find a different yard, more suited to her needs.

 

[Arzada]

She has access to two very large arenas where I’ve been doing in hand work with her to get her used to being handled as this is what the charity are hoping she will become more experienced in overtime. We also have a Walker but that’s not even being considered for her yet as I wouldn’t want to confuse her even more. She’s come from Blue Cross

She doesn't have free access to the arenas or does she? Her life of freedom has significantly changed from one of comparative freedom, self expression and freedom to choose when to move, where to move to to one of direction and confinement.

She's finding it tough on the yard and is more comfortable in the field. Have you tried basic handling in the field where she is more relaxed and therefore be more likely to learn. Keep it simple and work on one thing a day or a couple of times a day eg walking on.

 

[Skib]

I too would teach her in the field, to lead, lead walk, halt, back up and then with a maze of poles, in the field.
With rests and rewards. Severalk times a day and over a week or two.
Dont mix up teaching to lead nicely with teaching her to leave the field. Leading her out of the field can come next. But delay linking that exit to entering the stable.
The stable clearly isnt a reward at this stage, though if she is fed there, it could become one.

 

[southerncomfort]

Did you tell Blue Cross that their would be zero turnout in winter?

 

[Melody Grey]

A few years ago, I used to livery with a blue cross inspector. She always said they really encouraged horses too be living out with shelter (ideally one that could be quickly gated to use as a stable in emergencies). Things may have changed, but given the types of situation a lot of their horses come from, I’m surprised they’d condone no turn out over winter- seems like an instant trigger for stress and behavioural issues to me.

 

[Beccahope01]

I think the only reason they’ve been okay with this set up is due to her foster home stabling her too, I’m going to try working on her handling while she’s in the field, thank you. And yes they are aware she will only have access to the arenas, but I’m going to look for somewhere she can have winter turnout, or speak to our YO and see if he can spare a field for her in the winter

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Was the foster home keeping her in a stable part of the time with turnout for the rest of the day, or was she stabled 24/7 there?

 

[Beccahope01]

All I know is that she was stabled there, I’ve contacted blue cross for some more information on her stabling while there and what her routine was like there l, so I can keep it as close as possible

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Are all the others out 24/7 atm? My gut instinct is that she'd be more receptive to coming in if she were the last one left out in the field on her own!

What are you actually hoping to do with this pony? If she's going to be your main riding horse, then it makes sense for you to persevere with short spells in the stable now in preparation for being stabled to some extent over winter. But I have to say, I think zero winter turnout would be very unkind for this mare.

If she's not ridden, then why does she need to be on full livery on a yard that offers no winter turnout? The absolute ideal would be to find a track livery, but failing that, I think a grass livery (with the option to strip graze for example if necessary for weight management) withouy any fancy livery facilities like arenas etc, but with unlimited turnout, would suit better.

 

[Winters100]

Do you really mean that she will stand in the box 24 hours a day for the whole winter, with the only respite being when she is taken out to work? Poor horse To me such a set up is horrific for any horse, but for one who has lived out for 14 years it is just cruel.

To get such a horse used to a stable I would be starting small. Leading her around the field, moving on to bringing her in several times a day for something delicious, then immediately turning out, and gradually building up to coming in for a haynet. Maybe I have low expectations, but if after 6 months of this I had a horse who would happily and calmly come in to nibble at a haynet for a couple of hours, then I would be pleased with myself.

If you can't change to a yard with 24/7 turnout then I would really consider returning the mare. Poor horse is telling you that she is unhappy, and no turnout at all during winter will be torture for her.

 

[Cortez]

Sounds like the mare needs basic manners to me. How experienced are you? Can you get some help from a trainer?

 

[Beccahope01]

BC have got back to me and informed me she had been stabled previously to coming to them, and while with her foster home over the winter months. I’ve started bringing her into the stable just for a feed and then taking her back out after half an hour and seeing how she comes on