Mean Filly problems?

Question

I have a young filly and shes really sweet to me i call her she comes all that baby cute stuff she is really obedient, But there is one thing she doensnt like my brother or any other male for that fact. She was a freebee and wild as a march hare when i got her a year ago.
I am pretty much the only one that has handled her i am in a non horsey house hold. My brother and i were walking her and just all of the sudden she took out after him ears pinned teeth bared. Ever since that day she has been that way to him and every male. We had some freinds out to cut wood in the pasture and i had to catch her because she was running at them,kicking , and strikeing.
To my knowledge no one has done anything bad to her.
I was looking for some insite to this behavior. It hasnt been really a problem or anything like that because we know of this problem and manage it accordingly.
Does anyone know what may have caused this or is it just her quirk one of many !!!

Belive me she has been repremanded properly on each occasion when I am there the think is its not just when I am there I dont have to be in her sight for her to manifest the behavior. So lets get it straight I am not the mares flunky.
The behavior is controled when i am there an not tollerated i guees i thought that that was understood i was quite wrong there!! I didnt know if there was a trigger that she was getting from men and as i said shes properly contained when the boys have to work in the field.
as far as the shock stick goes i think your speaking of a cattle prod and the key there is CATTLE I carry a dessage whip when i handle her for reprimand thats as far as that will go.

Answer 1

I have a feeling that when you start really working this horse, shes going to be doing the same thing to you. Right now, you haven't really pushed her boundaries and shes alpha, above all the others and probably real soon you.

You need to start round penning her so she learns some manners. There isn't any reason you can't start long lining her in the halter in a round pen and start moving her.

I would take your dressage whip, pitch it and pull out a lunge whip and make her work. Work on change of direction, gaits, and perfection.

Its ones like this that will hurt YOU because you least expect it from them.

Answer 2

Honestly, there may be nothing you can do. Some horses just hate a certain gender.My aunt has a mare that will start shaking in fear or kick out if she sees a man carrying a saddle or coming by her- and we bred and raised her and know there is no abuse in her past. She is now older and we got her mostly over her fear by this:

What I suggest is having you hold the filly and get some energy out- preferably after you work with her a while. Then, load your brother with a bucket of grain or pockets of treats- she will probably get over her aggression quickly. Make sure your brother isn't showing any fear though. If he is, find a male that is not afraid and use him.
The mare we have still will not let a male catch her and will not behave if there is not a female present, but she is now mainly ridden by a male and does reasonable well, until the female on the ground leaves.

BTW- in wild herds- stallions are not the leaders- mares are always above and the stallion is only lead when it comes to danger or breeding time. The lead mare runs the herd the rest of the time. The stallion doesn't really have a say in what the herd does- he steals mares from other herds and if they like him, or if he rounds them up constantly, they stay with him.

Answer 3

I'd pick a new barn. This lady is full of crap, especially if there are 6 other mares on the property. All sexes should be treated equally and should have a certain level of expectation out of them regardless of what sex they are. I have owned mostly mares. I have owned two geldings in the past. I don't like geldings as much as I like mares. Mares seem to have a bit more personality.. I find that everyone gelding that I have met are very distant. I do not treat my mares differently. Currently I have a 5 year old that can have some rough cycles so if she's having a tough go about it I do leave her for the day. Or if I get on her and she is just being difficult I will end it on a good note and stop once she has done as I asked.

Answer 4

There could be a number of reasons, I'm no horse therapist but I'll take a crack at it.

Although you're not aware of any positive signs of mistreatment, perhaps she could have been abused when she was in her earlier home? Or something that she took as abuse, but it really wasn't, like something that spooked her. As I'm sure you know, horses remember things if they are left on a negative note.

The second, and probably more logical of my two answers would be that maybe she's built up a bond with you. Maybe she was trying to protect you, kind of like a guard dog would. I used to have a mini that would strike whenever I brought a friend into the pasture with me. Everyone was terrified of that mini, but I could lay down right next to her and she wouldn't do anything.

And finally it could just be a quirk, maybe she just does not like males. Hopefully it's a habbit she'll grow out of. Best of luck!

Answer 5

An idea no one touched is to find a confidant male rider who is confortable doing ground work with green horses and have them work with her. You getting after her is great but obviously isn't getting to the root of the problem. She lack respect for males for whatever reason and needs to learn this behavior isn't ok but it needs tocome from a male. Otherwise she wont get the message.
just an idea, let me know what you think.

just wanted to make sure to add that when finding someone to help you, make sure he is confidant and has worked green horses before and is very confortable doing agressive ground work. If you find someone who end sup being intimidated by her it may re-inforce her negative behavior.

Answer 6

That is totally unacceptable! It's called "savageing". You say ever since she behaves this way--she can kill someone! You need a professional trainer yesterday, insight isn't necessary, she has been allowed to get away with it. Get a shock stick and the next time she runs at anyone let her have it! She needs to learn respect, treat her kindly-but if she attacks you must be instantly ready to repremand and if it doesn't take you may need to put her down. Here is Marv Walkers take on these types of horses--dealing with horses like this I leave no doubt that I'm in it for the long haul. I go in at him from the side screaming and hollering and slashing as fast and as hard as I can with the longe whip. I do not care where I hit him because the lead mare wouldn't care where she kicked him and this behavior CANNOT be tolerated from a horse.

It is important that you always keep going at the horse from the side. It is difficult, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE, for a horse to defend sideways AND attack. They *usually* go at it face to face. If you use enough vigor and enthusiasm he will move away to face you if he decides to continue and you just go to the side and scream and light him up. When his challenges are defeated it will begin to dawn on him that he isn't able to take the leadership position because nothing works.
You always want to leave him with the option to quit, you dont want to be the one to opt out.

Answer 7

Agree with Silva. Horses are herd animals, generally in the wild herds are predominantly female, with pecking order of dominance.

Suggest lots more ground work.

shock stick my hind leg. ridiculous and barbaric, obviously not a horseman, only a mere clueless rider would say that

Answer 8

There could be many of several issues here. She may have been mistreated by men in the past or your male relatives may even have a piece of clothing that sets her off. In my 53 years of experience, most men prefer not to work with fillies and mares because of their emotional issues. In the past I've seen female horses trained and have trained and everyone I've known seems to have the same issues. Mare's in the wild aren't very sociable. They live in a mare centered herd with one stallion. They follow the leader basically, because the one stallion is the leader. They also seem to resent and hold grudges when corrected on behavior and seem to hold more of that in emotionally. Now many may not agree, but if you look into studies and ask top trainers, they will tell you the same.

Now there could be another issue. Simply you are not the dominant one of the herd. Which you should be. She may tolerate you, but the behavior you are describing is not in the least respectful of you. Her behavior is a trade mark of her claiming YOU as her territory. She is chasing off these "males" because you are her marked. Stallions often display this behavior with females also. But it's not out of disrespect- its the exact opposite....it's OUT OF respect. Stallions' will chase "males" off because they feel that the female is in danger or they themselves are in danger....this is because in the wild- because there is one stallion to a band of mares when another stallion approaches it means he is stepping up to in fact challenge that stallion for the place in the herd. Many stallions are often killed during this because of the fights.
Your mare may feel like you are her herd mate. By her chasing others off, she is saying "This is my flunky, and she will be controled by none other than me."

My advice. Start doing more leadership and ground schooling with her to gain her respect. She should be in no way running off your lead. This could very well put you and your family in danger.

EDIT* You do not have to be in her sights for her to be displaying dominance issues over you. Female horses will in fact become more aggressive when their "herd mate" leaves their side than when you are there. Chances are that this filly uses you as an emotional crutch, it's no lie that horse's feel safer in the company of well- another herd mate.