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You are in... Forums > Welcome To Your Horse Forum > Hints and Tips > Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

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HorseMad2911

Joined:

Oct 11

Posts: 109

HorseMad2911 says:

Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

Hey guys,

 

Recently my 13hh exmoor mare is in a really bad mood. She no longer whinnies to me in the field, she is being really grumpy to our other mare (She is usually really sweet) and she is biting when i put her rug on, or simply go into her stable to say good night or give her a hug. This has been going on for about a week.

I am not sure wether she is just in season, or if she is feeling ill, or just in a bad mood?! I am scared to use mare-ish behaviour supplements in her feed, as this is incredibly un-usual for her to act like this, and as i am at school at the moment, she is only being ridden 4-5 times a week.

I did wonder wether her diet is causing problems - we have cut down her hay from 3 sections to 2 sections, and she is having half a scoop of feed less.

 

Any tips/help/ideas please?

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  • Posted 2 years ago (29 April 2012 17:44)
HorseMad2911

Joined:

Oct 11

Posts: 109

HorseMad2911 says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

Please guys?

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  • Posted 2 years ago (29 April 2012 17:48)
KirstenStratt

Joined:

Apr 12

Posts: 102

KirstenStratt says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

Will she let you go near her belly? I had a mare who had colic in the past and years after she still didnt like her stomach being touched - She would lift her back legs up and turned and bite mid air if i groomed, put a rug on or did her girth up. I know you say this has only been going on for the past week or so but the behaviour seems similar. Have you checked her over for anything showing shes been injured in the feild?

 

x

Do you say night and love you to your horse when leaving? I do?

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  • Posted 2 years ago (29 April 2012 18:35)
HorseMad2911

Joined:

Oct 11

Posts: 109

HorseMad2911 says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

She shows no sign of being injured. I will try touching her belly when i feed her in the morning (We are not lucky enough to have a stables at our house) and see what happens. Thank you for this advice, it may well be something to do with that, as we are currently loaning her from the ILPH, and she was brought in at 6months old after being mistrated, and was taken away from her mother at just a few months old. She has several scars around her head.

 

Any more ideas?

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  • Posted 2 years ago (29 April 2012 20:21)
brook

Joined:

Sep 08

Posts: 4897

brook says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

Hi, I was just wondering how long you have had her on loan for ? It could be that she is in season as they all react differently, also if she has been treated badly in the past it may take some time for her to settle. If you have ruled out illness or injury then i would be inclined to stick to a routine with her, keep her environment as calm as possible and be consistent with everything that you do. I know that this might sound daft but changes in the weather can make some horses grumpy especially as we've had alot of wind and rain. Does she have a field shelter to protect her from the worst of the weather ?

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  • Posted 2 years ago (29 April 2012 20:47)
greyandbay

Joined:

Mar 10

Posts: 2988

greyandbay says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

It could be that you've cut her feed down, she probably thinks you're trying to starve her, lol, but I'd think it was more likely she's in season, as some mares can get very grumpy.

If the ILPH had her during last spring and summer, I should perhaps ask them what she was like then. Mares seasons start about this time and carry on to the Autumn, and a lot of mares do need something to calm them down a bit.

Is she kept with any other horses? If so and there are geldings there, then that has probably set her off.

As Lyn says, just be very consistent with her, and I hope she gets back to normal soon.

The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man - Winston Churchill

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  • Posted 2 years ago (29 April 2012 21:37)
HorseMad2911

Joined:

Oct 11

Posts: 109

HorseMad2911 says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

Hey!

Thanks for all the help so far. I have had her on loan for 3 months. Yes, there has been a lot of weather changes recently! No, she does not have a 'field shelter', but there are lots of low trees, providing shade/shelter. That is probably part of it... Im also starting to wonder wether she is just struggling to get used to being worked? When we got her she was extremely unfit, and i am putting a lot on hold to get down after school to school/hack her. She might just be struggling to get used to this?

She is kept with our other mare, there is one 12.2hh gelding kept in a couple of fields along... And there are two other mares in between.

 

Thanks for all your help guys! Feel free to post more ideas :-)

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  • Posted 2 years ago (30 April 2012 15:50)
brook

Joined:

Sep 08

Posts: 4897

brook says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

Hi again, you mentioned about her struggling with the work, maybe with all of the other changes and trying to settle into a new home it might be proving a bit much for her. I realise that it's better for her health to be fit so plenty of walking to start with would be easier for her. 3 months is still early days for her to adapt to a new environment, she just needs security and reassurance, it sounds as though she's had a tough life in the past so she is probably fearfull and wondering what is going to happen to her. I'm sure that she will settle, you sound very responsible and caring so just spend time getting to know her, take your time and help her to relax. Does she enjoy being groomed ? Our mare loves her face and forelock being brushed, she nearly falls asleep lol ! experiment with different brushes etc and find out where she likes to be brushed. Good luck with her, she really deserves a good home with you and your family X  

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  • Posted 2 years ago (30 April 2012 21:57)
HorseMad2911

Joined:

Oct 11

Posts: 109

HorseMad2911 says:

Re: Is she being Mare-ish or is she just in a bad mood?

Thankyou! Yes, she ADORES being groomed. she absaloutely loves it! Thankyou, i will be visiting my tack store to stock up on some better quality brushes.... :) Thanks for the advice!

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  • Posted 2 years ago (01 May 2012 15:42)

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