Unhappy and stressed horse

[Gazen]

My horse is very unhappy at the moment.

At the end of December my horse was kicked and after a week of antibiotics the vet was called again because the leg was twice the size it should have been and very hot; the infection had spread. The vet cut open and cleaned the wound and we had another week of antibiotics. Then another two weeks of antibiotics.
During this time she had box rest and no riding although we did a lot of walking in hand and later lunge work.
She was then turned out again during the day and two weeks later she was kicked again which became infected and we had another two weeks of antibiotics. This time she wasn't lame so she was only kept in for a couple of days and I have been riding her lightly. Yesterday she was kicked again.

The yard has reported that her behaviour has deteriorated and she cannot be led with another horse, as she keeps trying to get away from them, even ones with whom she was previously friendly. When in the stable she has her ears back all the time and tries to bite other horses when she is not 'hiding' in the corner of the stable. She is jumping at any noise in the stable and doesn't seem to settle.

From today she will have her own private paddock. There are horses in neighbouring paddocks. I am not sure that this will help her with other horses, but at least it may help with the spiralling vet bills!

She has also been 'on edge' whilst we have been riding and tries to avoid being next to the fence in the school (maybe she was trapped against a fence by another horse). I am joining in the lessons at the riding school where there are only two or three other (quiet) horses to get her used to being ridden with other horses.

It is breaking my heart to see her so unhappy and stressed. I had no problems until December. Can anyone suggest anything I can do to help her?

 

[WandaMare]

Sorry to hear your horse has been through such a tough time, its not surprising she is feeling a little sorry for herself, I guess it might take her a little time to start getting her confidence back again. I haven't had any specific experience with this but when mine have had injuries in the past I know it can get them down.

With all the antibiotics she has had I would give her a good probiotic supplement to restore the natural balance of bacteria in her gut if you're not already doing so.

The riding school lessons sound like a good way to get her confidence back around other horses, and maybe hack with another placid horse and take her grazing in hand with another quiet horse.

Other than that I guess it will just take a bit of time for her to recover fully from what has happened. I think a lot of them are feeling quite down and grumpy atm coming out of winter so hopefully some spring weather and the new grass will lift her spirits soon.

 

[Maesfen]

Apart from giving her some wind down time to help her forget I think you'll have to be aware that now after those incidents, she might start kicking out first to protect herself even if she was previously a well mannered girl so just be careful and warn others that might come too near her now even if it was something they normally could do beforehand.

 

[debserofe]

Oh my goodness, quick, get her out of there and on to a new yard - no wonder she is difficult to lead, I would be too had each time I got out of a box, I got kicked, I'd want to stay in my box forever! If she has been kicked three times at the same yard and they are doing nothing to help resolve the situation, i.e., find her a suitable field companion, then they dont deserve to be paid livery!!! Without seeing her, I am pretty sure she sounds like one very scared lady, wouldnt you be?! One of my horses came from a big yard where she had obviously been bullied by other horses - she hated any horse coming anywhere near her - she is now with two boys (was told she couldnt be anywhere near a gelding) and although she will never be top of the pecking order, she is settled and will now ride out with other horses, mares and geldings alike!!! No amount of calmers will help your mare in her current situation. Find yourself a nice quiet yard and hopefully you will both feel better soon

 

[Rose Folly]

I'd be changing yards. Three times is too much. No wonder the poor girl's behavious has changed. she's going to take a lot of treasuring back to her former state if this goes on.

 

[flintfootfilly]

I guess what you don't know is whether she is becoming stressy because the other horses are turning on her, or whether the other horses are turning on her because she is in some way behaving oddly.

Sounds good that she has individual turnout til you get to the bottom of things.

I had a mare who my herd started to reject - chasing her on the yard, and kicking her. Her behaviour started to become noticably odd - mild aggression became extreme aggression over a few months, and I had her put to sleep when her behaviour became totally manic.

At the time, I had no diagnosis, but my own vet suspected a brain tumour, and another vet told me that signs like that can be seen with liver disease.

So personally, I would ask for some comprehensive bloods including liver enzymes just to see if there's anything going on internally which might account for her behaviour and/or for the infections she is getting.

Sarah