why is my horse trying to kick me!!

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fuzzle

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Hi everyone, my mare is 4 has always been moody, the last month she has got worse!!! to the point she shows her bum and lifts her leg up to me so its difficult to get in the stable, she has also stated to bite me and launch at me even when leading her, obviously ive smacked her for her bad behaviour but she just goes worse for it, i even stand at the door at the stable russling mints so she comes to me so i can catch her and tie her up so i can handle her, when i ride her now she has started to cow kick when i ask her to move forward trying to kick at my foot when i squeeze her if i tell her off for it she kicks it 10x worse! Any idears on what i should do?? i have done the hard approach and kind approach nothing is working!!!

ps she gets turned out every day, keep protein low in her diet, she gets work most days goes to shows hacking ect

or do you think she is hormonal, and needs a form of calmer?
i put her on moody mare natural suppliment but not done anything, she been on it 4 weeks.
 
To be honest, if it is a recent change then I would maybe get a vet to investigate. It could be hormonal but it could be something else that is making her unhappy. A recent case a friend had with her mare sounds similar to yours and, after months of vet's investigations, a vet saying she should have the mare PTS, they eventually found the cause of the issue was due to a magnesium deficienc. They sorted that and the mare was back to her previous lovely self.

Seemingly there can be many different causes to this kind of behaviour so would be worth seeking veterinary advice
 
my friends young mare has started doing the same thing! she seeked advise and it turns out that the horse is really sore down her neck and in her back and her saddle wasn't fitting her properly! have you had her tack and back checked?

also my friend was giving her treats for no reason and when she came over in the field she was scratching her, the horse liked being scratched on the bum, so she'd turn her bum and back up at everyone wanting scratches and when she wasn't getting it she'd kick!

they don't understand what they are doing! she would back up, her own would scratch. but when she backed up at others they'd obviously jump out of the way!

the lady that came out used this reference, which made sense! "if we were to put £1 in a vending machine and ask for a bag of crisps, which didn't come out, what would we do?" obviously we both said, kick it, shake it etc to get the crisps to come out!

now the horse was seeing people as a "vending machine" if she is getting treats for no reason, every time the owner arrives then she will become to expect it! but then when she doesn't get she is confused, so her way of trying to get what she wants is to kick? my mare head butts! but its the same thing!

it might be similar with your mare! but first of all I would try to check out that there is no pain anywhere?
 
Thankyou for all your comments!!

i have had her in the vets had her back checked with mark windsor, also had her teeth done, i will defo get her in again and have tests done to see if she is lacking anything, i do have another horse which has anxiety issues and that is on a perscrition magnesium calmer which helps her, and maybe its worth a try on this young horse, but i will eliminate my any problems first ie tack etc im taking her to a pro jumping yard to let them see what they think and see if its a riding error to elimate that problem too!!
 
Some kind of hormonal problem ,screams out to me , have you had her checked from cysts etc , many horses behaviour can change just like that , either on ground ,being ridden or towards other equines ,may be worth scanning , if you have looked at other areas I would defently go there for my next port of call
 
Sometimes it might be a medical issue however even if it is there is absolutely no reason at all that a horse can threaten to kick or bite anyone!

I think that many people think that horses are stupid - I can assure you that they are not. They get away with one thing and it an escalate to being downright dangerous.

Any horse that turns it backside to me when I go into the stable will immediately attacked with the bristles of a broom and chased around that place until it shows signs of submission. Then it will be left I will go out and a few minutes later walk in again - odds are that it will be facing me and willing to be caught.

This does not sound like a medical problem but one of the horse taking charge and letting the owner know so.

My advice would be to get someone experienced to come and see the horse and its behaviour and teach you how to deal with it.
Throw away the mints - all you are doing is rewarding the bad behaviour.
Forget about smacking her - she probably thinks it is a strong pat and learn how to become boss of her.
You own the air she breathes.
 
Strangely enough Foxhunter49 is not far off in my view.
I wouldn't chase with a brush, but I'd definitely want the hind quarters away from me.
You must own the space as FH says.
 
Thanks everyone, i took her today to a pro yard for a week going to miss her, but i know where your all coming from, i thought she is trying to be the boss over me which can t happen and i will see what the pro yard says after the week is over, i also will speak to my vet just to see if she may have a medical problem and hopefully sort both out, thankyou so much for all your advise will take it all on board and get her sorted!!:)
 
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