[mygirlmaggie]

Ugh today was horrible!! My mare was just horrendous. She wouldn't stand still for anything. Her whoa lasted 3 seconds at most both on the ground and undersaddle. She was pushy and constantly in my space. Nippy and just plain being a pain. She wanted to run everywhere when I was riding her. Threw in some crow hops cuz I told her to slow down. So I got off and lunged her. That didn't go well. She pinned her ears constantly while being lunged (don't know how to correct that) made her whoa on the ground and every time she moved I backed her up back where she started and said whoa again. After 45 minutes of this I gave up and tied her for 3 hours and when I went back to get her she was calm and seemed a little better. What was her deal???? How can I correct this? I'm at a loss because this is entirely new behavior. She's always been an angel and suddenly this.

[Dancers Mom]

Originally Posted by mygirlmaggie

Ugh today was horrible!! My mare was just horrendous. She wouldn't stand still for anything. Her whoa lasted 3 seconds at most both on the ground and undersaddle. She was pushy and constantly in my space. Nippy and just plain being a pain. She wanted to run everywhere when I was riding her. Threw in some crow hops cuz I told her to slow down. So I got off and lunged her. That didn't go well. She pinned her ears constantly while being lunged (don't know how to correct that) made her whoa on the ground and every time she moved I backed her up back where she started and said whoa again. After 45 minutes of this I gave up and tied her for 3 hours and when I went back to get her she was calm and seemed a little better. What was her deal???? How can I correct this? I'm at a loss because this is entirely new behavior. She's always been an angel and suddenly this.

In season maybe? My mare is obnoxious when in full blown season.

[mygirlmaggie]

Do their heats get worse as they get a little older each year? She's going to be 5 this year. You never ever noticed before when she was in heat. I checked but I don't see the signs. She doesn't lift her tail or squirt or anything. She's never changed personality before when being in heat either. That's why I was wondering if they change as they mature more.

[endurgirl]

I can't answer if the heats worsen with age, but I wouldn't see why they couldn't. More hormones....

That was my first thought, her being in season. At the shows, that is all a lot of mare owners are talking about, how for that time that the horse loses all concentration on the cow.

[Gallop N Gal]

Sounds like shes in heat, some mares get worse than others.

[JBandRio]

If this is new behavior, why did you assume she was doing these things on purpose, or was just being a brat? New behaviors like this means the horse does not feel right, and it sounds like she's all out of sorts. *I* would have done a few very quiet things and put her away at the first sign of her trying. Tying her for 3 hours and then working her again was quite unfair to her, and she was probably just plain tired after all the previous work and then standing tied for 3 hours.

It might have just been a really off day - sometimes it happens. She might have gotten cast or slipped and fell and was body-sore. Maybe she's finally had enough of a poor fitting saddle that has made her back and withers hurt. Maybe lots of things, but she didn't just wake up this morning with all sorts of ideas on how to be a "pain in the butt".

[mygirlmaggie]

When I untied her I did not put her back to work. At that point I took her out and let her graze. She didn't crowd my space or run me over. I just stood out and let her graze. She's always been a little pushy but never to this extent. She is always one to get in your space but this time it escalated. She's never ever pinned her ears on the lunge. That was completely new. The saddle fit has been checked when I purchased the saddle. I wasn't going to allow a poor saddle fit. I'll continue groundwork with her in hopes that she will improve. I don't want to allow this behavior even when in heat. It's downright dangerous.

[gaelinsgirl]

Yeah - my first thought was that she was in season, but if she has never displayed this behaviour while in season before then it may be something else. I it doesn't improve in a few days then I suggest that she may be in pain and you will need to investigate. Lots of things can cause pain - not just an ill fitting saddle.

[pantha11]

JBR hit it on the head, something is not right.

Please check this horse for pain....when any horse is suddenly different...normally something is wrong.
Signs of pain…. yawning, grinding teeth, chewing without food in mouth, quivering/twitching lips even slightly…(you may have to sit and watch for a while to see this).

Signs of acute/severe pain…Rolling of the tongue, eye twitching. Wither twitching, or flank twitching.

Pulling up the upper lip in horses (known as flehmen response) can often be associated with low-grade abdominal pain.

I would suggest you get a physio/chiro out and have him give the horse the once over.....specially the poll....the part at the top of the head between the ears....when this is out it gives them an almighty headache.

[MaggieSue]

The key word here is 'All of a sudden', which usually tells me pain. A normally willing horse will not decide overnight they want to be a PITA.
As for tying her for 3hrs...was she first cooled down fromt the 45min of work? I never tie mine for anything, they have no idea why you're doing that, and it makes no sense. If your child was sick, would you ground him for it-send him to his room and punish him?