| Author |
Message |
    
Patricia Hunter
Neonate
Username: Foxhunt2
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 08:55 am: | 
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Hi, I have just signed up to this board in hopes for some constructive suggestions as to what to do with my aggressive mare after she foaled this past Saturday night. She has always been alpha in my small herd of one other mare and a gelding I board. With me she can have a bit of an attitude around heat cycles but nothing dangerous and not aggresive toward me. In other words, she knows her place. BUT---now that the filly is here and as a first time breeder and she being a (12yo)maiden mare, she is dangerously aggressive. The pregnancy and birth went pretty much "textbook" and she was pretty mellow and liked to see me. Now, if I have treats, or if the foal comes up to me, that is okay (briefly). If I try to approach or clean while they are in the stall - forget it. So that is ok. I just wait for them to leave and proceed with the cleaning. But if I ever try to approach to pat, halter or get next to my mare she is lunging at me with teeth barred }}or she turns around to warn me with a possible kick. She had a halter on but threw it off because she tossed her head so much with the nasty flies. Now I don't know if I will ever get it back on and the farrier is due July 11th. At least when I had the halter on I could lure her with a treat and snap a lead on her and get control by passing it over her nose. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with this and let my mare know I mean no harm. I need to check her and be able to groom her and get her hoofs trimmed....etc. |
Hannah Elizabeth Lough
Neonate
Username: 20hannah10
Post Number: 9
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 10:14 am: |
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My maiden mare also had a filly saturday and became aggresive and we also have a farrier visit coming up. My mare isnt so bad, she threatins to bite but never does. I wouldnt use any chemical calmers but natural lavendar oil will help calm the mare rub it on her nose and add some to her water.
If you mare wont let you near the baby then how are you working with it? I Know mine is already so strong and if i Hadn't been working with her every couple of hours then I probally would'nt even beable to handle her. Good luck |
Kim k
Breeding Stock
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 651
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 12:18 pm: |
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You must get a halter on her to help able you to control her in needed situations. Although I am against early weaning, in situations like this where the mare is very aggressive towards others , it may be necessary to wean at 3-4 months to help keep the foal safe and to avoid the foal picking up bad behavior. You must weigh your pros and cons when doing early weaning.
I wish you the best and make sure you stay safe. Do Not Turn Your Back On the Mare
Kim |
Megan A Brown
Breeding Stock
Username: Fabmeg
Post Number: 163
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 06:55 pm: |
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I don't know what your horse background is, but at our house we would rope her. If you know any cowboys, that’s the best way to get a halter back on a nasty acting mare. You can get her captured and make her remember how to be respectful without getting close enough to get hurt. You don't want to hurt her, just establish control again. If their is a spot where you can tie her up solid and have room to get away from the mare if she starts fussing I would leave her tied their with access to feed and water for a couple hours until she gets over being nasty. It teaches them that they can't be bossy about their space, and lets them fight with themselves rather than you. You should be able to mess with her filly, and there is nothing the mare will be able to do about it. With any luck, she’ll decide you aren’t a foal eating monster and go back to being a nice horse. In terms of early weaning, if you feed foal lac pellets for a few months, colts will actually grow better when weaned early than they do on their mamas. |
Patricia Hunter
Neonate
Username: Foxhunt2
Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 07:48 pm: |
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 Thanks for the suggestions. I actually have a halter on her now - I basically got aggressive right back at her-made it extremely uncomfortable for her and chased her around the paddock, yelled, screamed waved my hands when she showed aggressiveness and when she ran in the stall and I approached, she came at me again-so I cornered her and threated her life. She thought about things and when I went in to feed her tonight she certainly thought about it but a firm 'No, I don't think so' from me had her thinking and while she was eating her grain, I put her halter on. I guess that is a slight victory but I still do not trust her and yes - I will definately not turn my back on her just yet!
The thing of it is, I got her as a 3yo and we had some 'moments' and they always ended on a good note and in my favor so she really did know her place. I never thought she would have behaved such as she has and i really did not want to have to threaten as I did for fear of upsetting the foal. But the foal ran around with her and she took care not to run the foal over and this foal is actually following me around a bit now. I like the lavender oil idea-maybe now I can put it on her since I can be around her head now.} |
Lindsey
Weanling
Username: Whitcomb
Post Number: 24
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 08:10 pm: |
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I had the same problem with my Mare after she had a colt. But she was not a first time mom. We tried everything and couldnt get near the baby. the baby is 5weeks old and, we can touch him now but that is about it, so dont give up it will take time. The baby has kicked me a couple of times and they may be small but it will still leave BIG marks, Be carful and good luck. |
Marci Nadler
Weanling
Username: Shadowsfire
Post Number: 48
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 09:25 pm: |
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Sounds like you handled that just right. she was trying tomove up the ranks and you cut her down to size. Some mares do get aggressive with a foal at side and are the worst the first few days, they do get batter. But don't trust her yet, and no lettingher get away with small stuff even. Good thing is it looks like it transfered over to the foal a bit that you are boss mare. |
Marci Nadler
Weanling
Username: Shadowsfire
Post Number: 49
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 09:25 pm: |
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Sounds like you handled that just right. she was trying to move up the ranks and you cut her down to size. Some mares do get aggressive with a foal at side and are the worst the first few days, they do get batter. But don't trust her yet, and no letting her get away with small stuff even. Good thing is it looks like it transferred over to the foal a bit that you are boss mare. |
Kathee McGuire
Breeding Stock
Username: Katheekj
Post Number: 521
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 09:49 pm: |
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I agree with the posts above. It is hard to give opinions without seeing exactly what is going on and judging the danger, but it sound like you are right on target. Good job! |
Jan H
Breeding Stock
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 354
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 09:42 am: |
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have a few mares that get nasty with a foal at their side for the first two weeks but usually calm down, stay the boss and get a neck rope on her to halter her. as for the hooves, that can wait until she gets a bit less protective specially with a stranger (farrier) for his safety wait a bit for the hooves she wont get crippled in a month from not getting trimmed. sounds like your on the right track good luck! |
