Bond is gone.... Not sure what to do from here....

Anxious1 · 06-20-2008, 11:30 AM

Tess foaled 2 weeks ago and I noticed that in the past week she has been very stand offish with me and when I go to pet her she turns her head.

She used to be the first to the gate and now doesn't give me the time of day. You can see it in her eyes that she could care less and it concerns me.

I know some of this is baby but any suggestions on how to get her to come around to me again slowly? I have been spending time with her in grooming and gentle "talk" and many hours of just sitting near her and she won't come around at all.

PeggySue · 06-20-2008, 12:17 PM

Right now her "concern" is that baby ... you may have to wait until you wean the baby to get your bond back ... you can start working her again lightly just keep a CLOSE eye on the baby at all times ... he is her main concern chances are once he is weaned you will have your love bug back

Anxious1 · 06-20-2008, 12:22 PM

Thank you Peggy, I figured that was it but I didn't expect total disconnect. She used to come over and just lay her head on my shoulder and wanting "horsey hugs". I miss that.....

IIIBarsV · 06-20-2008, 12:27 PM

She is probably just being protective and posessive of the foal, I would think.

A trick is to bring her treats- really good ones. Horses are really piglets in disguise. Whoever feeds them is their best friend. Bring her a treat every single time you go out and she'll start paying attention again. Also, it will teach the foal that humans are "good" because it'll be watching mom's behavior and will emulate it.

Anxious1 · 06-20-2008, 12:30 PM

I have been bringing her her favorite treats each morning and night and she only gets one "cookie". She always takes them with delight and then walks away from me when she knows there aren't going to be more. She used to stand by me and follow me everywhere when I was in the paddock, pasture or stall and now I just feel like a vending machine.

Dusty1979 · 06-20-2008, 01:09 PM

Are you sure she's feeling ok? Just a thought that maybe there's something bothering her and making her act out of character.

Anxious1 · 06-20-2008, 01:12 PM

She is recovering from a Uterine Infection but got a clean bill of health from the vet yesterday. It has been getting more and more whereas she used to at least come to me at the gate but not now.

She might be associating me with the horrendous medical stuff she had to endure though now that I think about it.

mgdhunter · 06-20-2008, 02:39 PM

There are many factors in play here. She has the colt on her mind, and if she has been ill, it will change her attitudes also. It will take some time to work it out. Work with her and she will come back, maybe even better than before.

06-20-2008, 11:30 AM	#1
Anxious1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Central MN Posts: 540 Images: 1	Bond is gone.... Not sure what to do from here.... Tess foaled 2 weeks ago and I noticed that in the past week she has been very stand offish with me and when I go to pet her she turns her head. She used to be the first to the gate and now doesn't give me the time of day. You can see it in her eyes that she could care less and it concerns me. I know some of this is baby but any suggestions on how to get her to come around to me again slowly? I have been spending time with her in grooming and gentle "talk" and many hours of just sitting near her and she won't come around at all.

06-20-2008, 12:17 PM	#2
PeggySue Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 19,253 Images: 1438 Blog Entries: 15	Right now her "concern" is that baby ... you may have to wait until you wean the baby to get your bond back ... you can start working her again lightly just keep a CLOSE eye on the baby at all times ... he is her main concern chances are once he is weaned you will have your love bug back __________________ *I have been gobbled X7* *Sexy Fairy Man X4* Has no dog in that fight, so please leave me out of it I have enough of my OWN problems Thank you

06-20-2008, 12:27 PM	#4
IIIBarsV Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eastern Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,376 Images: 27	She is probably just being protective and posessive of the foal, I would think. A trick is to bring her treats- really good ones. Horses are really piglets in disguise. Whoever feeds them is their best friend. Bring her a treat every single time you go out and she'll start paying attention again. Also, it will teach the foal that humans are "good" because it'll be watching mom's behavior and will emulate it. __________________ Three Bars The Fifth Jags Fleeting Rocket Wish I'd Get Lucky Chipped In Stone Zip Code Bay B Suns Eternal Flame

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06-20-2008, 12:22 PM	#3
Anxious1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Central MN Posts: 540 Images: 1	Thank you Peggy, I figured that was it but I didn't expect total disconnect. She used to come over and just lay her head on my shoulder and wanting "horsey hugs". I miss that.....

06-20-2008, 12:30 PM	#5
Anxious1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Central MN Posts: 540 Images: 1	I have been bringing her her favorite treats each morning and night and she only gets one "cookie". She always takes them with delight and then walks away from me when she knows there aren't going to be more. She used to stand by me and follow me everywhere when I was in the paddock, pasture or stall and now I just feel like a vending machine.

06-20-2008, 01:09 PM	#6
Dusty1979 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minnesota (rural area) Posts: 1,311 Images: 21	Are you sure she's feeling ok? Just a thought that maybe there's something bothering her and making her act out of character.

06-20-2008, 01:12 PM	#7
Anxious1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Central MN Posts: 540 Images: 1	She is recovering from a Uterine Infection but got a clean bill of health from the vet yesterday. It has been getting more and more whereas she used to at least come to me at the gate but not now. She might be associating me with the horrendous medical stuff she had to endure though now that I think about it.

06-20-2008, 02:39 PM	#8
mgdhunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spanish Fork, UT Posts: 200 Images: 4	There are many factors in play here. She has the colt on her mind, and if she has been ill, it will change her attitudes also. It will take some time to work it out. Work with her and she will come back, maybe even better than before.