I looked through some of the entries in the herdbound and behavioral issues tags, but I couldn't find anything specific to my mare's herdbound attitude, hopefully you guys have some advice
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This is just a suggestion, but if you are friendly with the other people who own horses in her herd, maybe you could arrange to ride at the same time as them, so she has company. Or do a trail ride together. Then gradually wean out the companion horses until you're riding her on your own?
That's a good idea, I may give it a try. It's hard though because everyone's schedules are different, I can't rely on having another horse in the ring...
It's quite an irritating suggestion... >.> Just keep up what you're doing. the weaning idea above is a good idea, in theory, but in my experience it just makes it worse. Like when I'm riding with someone else in the school and then that horse leaves. JESUS does my horse freak out. He's worse than when he's just in there on his own. So I reckon you should just keep at what you're doing, she'll get better gradually. Hard work, but it'll be really worth it.
Are there any specific horses that she's attached too? Because you could switch fields or stables so that she's not too attached to one specific horse. I have that problem with my horse, he's really attached to our other horse.
Yeah, she freaks out worse once the horse leaves. Keeps calling and calling even though she gets no answer, and that just seems to agitate her further.
I don't think she's attached to a specific horse, no. And if that were the case there's nothing I could do about it, since there's only one herd of mares, and my barn won't put a mare in with the geldings.
And if that were the case there's nothing I could do about it, since there's only one herd of mares, and my barn won't put a mare in with the geldings. God yeah, I once saw a mare being chased by three geldings around the field, she was a total state. It was impossible to catch the horses they were going crazy. They never put them together again, thank god...
She's been in mixed herds a few times without problem, she's very good at fighting off they boys' advances. (I always say she's a little heartbreaker ;P). But I know why the BM wants them separated, it's not as easy with most horses! I've seen some bad situations, too...
If she's really as bad as she sounds, I'd do a crash course in me being your only friend in the world :p I'd keep her turned in for a week or so, maybe some turnout in a paddock to get the extra crazy out before I rode, or while i'm doing barn chores. But, and this may be harsh, but it's worked on exremely herd bound horses, I'd be her ONLY friend. She's not allowed to play, or be out with other horses. I'd work with her as much as you can manage during this week, grooming, groundwork, riding, hand grazing, feeding. Be her source of comfort, her boss, and her only friend. Once you are these things to her, regaurdless of wether other horses are around or not, then she can go back out. But if she starts getting herd bound again, just cut it off before it gets worse by one long training day.
It should help her focus on YOU and she'll be easier to manage in the future if it flares up again.
Thanks, I'll keep this in mind. I'd have to speak with my barn manager about it, since there's not much room for individual turnout. (I'm a firm believer that no horse should be kept in a stall unless absolutely necessary.) I may be able to get her in a paddock on the other side of the barn though, away from the others. Thing is, this happened once at an old barn of mine, and she ran like a psycho back and forth in front of the gate all day long, and this lasted for about three days before I put my foot down and put her within sight of the others. Maybe that is what needs to happen, though?
Thanks for the info. I'll definitely have to see what my BM says. I guess she'll just have to deal with it for a while. I wish my barn was closer, because I'm sure it would help if I could be the one turning her out and bringing her in to eat, etc. but ugh, that's just not possible. Still, thanks again, I'll have to see what I can do.
Wow is this familiar. I have a gelding with the same issues. He's recently been moved from his beloved herd of 3 (then 5) to just him and his hetro life partner. He is not happy about it. Same issues in the barn as yours, yawning, tongue out, calling constantly. I pretty much just go out there as often as possible and remove him from his buddy or vice versa. He's slowly settling in but it's been like this since February. When they first moved him he paced a 12" rut along the fence line and dropped 50-100 lbs. Now he just stands at the fence looking horribly depressed
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I wouldn't want to keep my horse on forced box rest unless absolutely necessary either, I know he would be very unhappy being kept in.
Have you tried loose schooling prior to riding? If you work her in a loose circle round you then you don't need to worry about her pulling away from you (no reins) so if she does freak out then you can just let her be silly & then calmly remind her that you are there with her.
My horse isn't as bad but gets very, very distracted when I'm riding & his friends are out in the field & I found he settled much quicker with a bit of loose schooling rather than riding.
I've considered that. She's terrible on the longe, another issue entirely, so I end up throwing her in the ring loose and letting her go. She always hides in the corner and it takes forever to get her listening to me - it's like she KNOWS she'll have no excuse once she starts paying attention to my body language.
Is there any way you can rope off the corners of the school so she can't actually get to the corners and has to work in a circle? That might help her focus on you when she realises there's nowhere to run away to.
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So I reckon you should just keep at what you're doing, she'll get better gradually. Hard work, but it'll be really worth it.
Are there any specific horses that she's attached too? Because you could switch fields or stables so that she's not too attached to one specific horse. I have that problem with my horse, he's really attached to our other horse.
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I don't think she's attached to a specific horse, no. And if that were the case there's nothing I could do about it, since there's only one herd of mares, and my barn won't put a mare in with the geldings.
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God yeah, I once saw a mare being chased by three geldings around the field, she was a total state. It was impossible to catch the horses they were going crazy. They never put them together again, thank god...
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I'd keep her turned in for a week or so, maybe some turnout in a paddock to get the extra crazy out before I rode, or while i'm doing barn chores. But, and this may be harsh, but it's worked on exremely herd bound horses, I'd be her ONLY friend. She's not allowed to play, or be out with other horses. I'd work with her as much as you can manage during this week, grooming, groundwork, riding, hand grazing, feeding. Be her source of comfort, her boss, and her only friend. Once you are these things to her, regaurdless of wether other horses are around or not, then she can go back out.
But if she starts getting herd bound again, just cut it off before it gets worse by one long training day.
It should help her focus on YOU and she'll be easier to manage in the future if it flares up again.
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Have you tried loose schooling prior to riding? If you work her in a loose circle round you then you don't need to worry about her pulling away from you (no reins) so if she does freak out then you can just let her be silly & then calmly remind her that you are there with her.
My horse isn't as bad but gets very, very distracted when I'm riding & his friends are out in the field & I found he settled much quicker with a bit of loose schooling rather than riding.
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