Please read the question thoroughly-I never have people actually respond to the question when I ask them.
I have an 8yr old mare- owned her since she was 3 months and did all the training. I ride 3-4 times a week-dressage.
She has always been perfectly quiet and could tie for hours with no problems. The past 3 weeks, she has become increasingly herdbound (never was before) and will break into a nervous sweat when she is tied. Also will not stand still in the cross ties when by herself.
Here is the dilemma- she is only like this when I am not there. If I am there or other horses are there, she is perfectly fine. The minute she is by herself- she becomes a nervous wreck, prancing, pawing, and calling. The minute I, or another horse comes by- she stops and stands quietly. I can't discipline her for not standing still when she quits as soon as I am in sight.
Any insights or suggestions on this abrupt change of behavior?
2007-01-09 16:22:44 · 5 answers · asked by D 7 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Oh the only change that I know of is that in the past 3 months, she has become a lead mare- but aren't they supposed to be confident?? Every one I ever knew was.
2007-01-09 16:23:31 · update #1
Have any other horses left the premises that she might have befriended, or did one die? I had a gelding whose dam died and he had a major personality change. I've also had odd behaviors occur with pasture changes, horses being divided into different pastures, storms, etc...
Is there any possibility of someone abusing her when you weren't around? How are her eating habits, stools, is she urinating regularly, drinking, rolling, anything abnormal physically that you can see? Could someone have cross-tied her when you weren't there for the farrier/vet and there was an incident?
I'd try to reassure her and pay extra attention to her for awhile. It wouldn't hurt to have a vet look at her. I had a mare that was acting strange a couple years ago and couldn't pinpoint anything specific. I had the vet do a blood draw. Turned out she had a case of Lyme's Disease. It didn't present itself with the normal symptoms...strange things happen.
2007-01-09 17:07:27 · answer #1 · answered by BossMare 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try using some sort of device so that you can place a speaker near her and communicate out of sight with her via a CB or walkie talkie.
It sounds a bit like separation anxiety.
2007-01-10 07:15:28 · answer #2 · answered by Sparky5115 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An "Unusual" possibility, but it does happen. There is a possibility that she is loosing her hearing or possibly her sight. It wouldn't be unusual for her to want someone around that she could depend on to hear or see something that she might feel she wouldn't. Call the vet to have both her sight and hearing checked.
2007-01-11 15:15:49 · answer #3 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously something has spooked her. I have horses but I have no idea although I have heard of this problem before. You may need to call your vet and just speak with him or her about this to get an expert opinion..
2007-01-10 00:41:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What would make you do that? Many mares are afraid of being left behind. She needs to be loved.
2007-01-10 22:13:11 · answer #5 · answered by The Animal Psychiatrist♬♪ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋