Devil Mare

[Bareback Rider]

Today I went to go see my mare, and since I'm a boarder she was fed and out in the feild by the time I got there. Well I came out of the barn with the halter and lead rope, and went up to her and she galloped so fast from me she was a blur. Well I went back to the barn for hay and when I show it to her the other horses crowded and she ran! By that time I was fuming Finaly i got close enough to toch her and I put the rope around her neck and finally got on the halter. Well I took her in the arena to groom her(She's not rideable yet and is pretty green but shes three and is very strong) and she kept trying to bite me. Thjen right when I was tying she reared up and the rope got slashed out of my hand so She started galloping around the arena with a rope and halter. I was freaked out so when she finally stopped I grabbed the halter and slapped her neck but she tried to go up again and I kept her down, Then I tried to groom her while holding her but she bit me! I slapped her opened the gateand made her gallop so fast and then I cleaned the barn and stalls when I went to check on her again she was quietly grazing. What is up with her behavior?

[reba4]

This horse obviously has no respect for you. Do you have access to a round pen? I would put her in for a couple of days with a halter and drag line as well as tie her up for a bit each day. Then I would begin round pen lessons. There are many great threads on roundpennig. Be careful. I would wear a helmet when working with her in the future.

[Bareback Rider]

Yes I have acces to a round pen but I usually work her in the indoor arena. I never go outside of the stable limit. I never work with her in the pasture. She sometimes is a dream come true then she has these kinds of days. She's a confusing girl. Sometimes she'll put the halter on herself practicly, then like today she'll gallop away! Part of it is, is because when it rains or if the weathers freezing the manager won't put them in the field, I say their used to the weather, but anyway, after being cooped up they like to play and when I go to take her out she want's to stay with her friends. I make sure she dosn't get away with running and I catch her wether it takes 1 minute to an hour. Today the horses running outside the arena made her wnat to run to so that's when she reared and galloped, But if I take her in I think your right. She needs to respect that I'm the boss. And about the round pen, Horses have acces to the round pin while their in the feild! . And I usually end up in the arena. Today when she galloped in the arena I turned it into a lesson. I made her run till she was tired and I got the rope and lead her around for a while. But she tried running again I held her firm for a second and put her back into the feild. She's green and very unpredictable. It's not my fault she's this bad. Her former owner was an adult beginner and bought her when she was one. All she ever did was groom her! She dosn't like her feet or legs touched either! I've worked long hours on that though! Today was one of her devil days then, like I said before, She can be a perfect angel. I'm going to send her to 30 days of training soon and then I'll probably sell her to a VERY experienced adult with a firm hand. But for now I have to deal with her antics

[RhettsMom]

all I ever do is groom Rhett. I don't normally have time to ride him. But I demand his respect EVERY moment I am with him.

As far as it "not being your fault" she is like this. Sorry but it IS.
YOU are her owner now and need to step up and work with her. Start with basic manners. She has no respect for you or trust in you. Both of you must earn it from each other. It's a partnership.
Try getting her from the pasture every once in a while and NOT working her. Groom her, hang out with her, take her for walks around the stale. work on ""small"" things. But dont let her walk over you. If you arent already, use a chain OVER her nose. Only use the "chain" part should she not pay attention to you or try to rear. She has been basically a wild baby. You must treat her like she knows nothing.

[BornToRide]

I agree with the post above me.

But don't be discouraged. It will just take time and it is probably just now hitting you that YOU have to be boss. It'll get there, just be consistent.

[Bareback Rider]

She's not rideable ever. All I ever can do is groom her and lead her around. She's not trained at all! All she knows is to get groomed and galloparound you. You can't even lunge her! Whenever she puts her head in my space i push her head away but she's a BIG horse with a huge head and she's so strong. She was pretty much given to me. Her owner didn't want her and I'm not very experienced with green 3 year olds. Only yearlings and older rideable horses so when she became mine I treated her like a yearling to train her but we just didn't click, and I don'y have a real bond with her. It's not like I love her. I'm going to sell her soon but I've slowly tried for her respect. She just isn't getting it! I'll probably see her in a day or two, and I'll try your sujestions (SP) Is there any excersises I could do. I can lead her around at a walk and groom her, if she's in a good mood I can clean her feet. Any other sugestions for my onary girl. And I repeat I will be sending her to training in a month or so.

[Bareback Rider]

Also Reba. I cant keep her in the round pen for a few days because I'm a boarder. (Though sometimes I feel like I own the place always cleaning ) I have to just go there work with her and come back. I'll try having her tied up more though and leaving her for longer periods while I clean her stall and keep an Eye on her. Also I just rememberd something! I went away for a few days on vacation and on the day before vacation I worked with her and I didn't even need a lead rope she was an angel! Then I get back and she turns into devil mare. We have worked well before but it just isn't working anymore!

[dimpleflirt]

Lack of Respect....Check out Craig Camerion's training tapes . I watched his clinic at the agrifest last yr. For the biting he will scrub on the horses neck face where ever and if the horse goes to bite he will sock(hit) them on the round cheek area with the heal of his hand and go right back to loving and scratching on them. The horse will be like "What happened ", after a couple of times the horse normally gets the message.It really works.I had a Mustang/qt colt last spring that has his hormones coming in and would bite at us constantly, I didn't want to hit him in the nose due to making him head shy and bit shy. I tried his method and it really works. You have to be consistant and get them in one swat not loose your temper and go hitting at them out of anger or fustration, then go right back to the grooming like nothing happened.
It is also a good idea as someone else posted to wear a helment if she rears, it would smart to take a hoof to the head...I haven't had any horses that reared from the ground so I don't know what to say for that...

[Horsegirl621]

There is this horse where i ride and she has always been evil but lately she has lost her mind! nobody can tack her up or groom her, only trainers, and she tries to kick, bite, rear, do anything to everyone but when she is out riding she is fine. one of the head trainers thinks shes in heat. i dont know if this is the same problem you have?

[Bareback Rider]

I'm not sure if she's in heat that could be it.

[EquineAlberta]

Wow, are you sure it is disrespect or that she may be trying to tell you something?

Is it possible that you are doing something to confuse her or that she associates with pain when you are working her? Horses are rarely aggresive unless other avenues of communication didn't work. It sounds like she may be reacting to past issues/memories/pain that she associates with being handles by her past owners, so it will be an even longer road to resolve, but it is possible.

Aside from studying some Natural Horsemanship to make sure you body language is clear to her, I would try using some compasion to look for what is triggering her outbursts.

Think from the mare's point of view; when she got away from you and then was finally caught, she was likely full of adrenaline (as were you) and as which point you hit her, and thereby reinforced her opinion that being caught WAS something to fear, and that you are the enemy. How do you expect her to relax, trust, and bond with you if you hit her when she finally decides to trust you enough to catch her?

My Ziggy mare was not raced as her race owners considered her too dangerous to handle. It took me 6 MONTHS of patient handling to get to the point I can pick up and trim all 4 feet, tack her up, and go for a pleasant trot around the arena. But I NEVER lost my temper even back when she would kick at me when I tried to pick up her feet, nor did I hit her when it would take me 2 hours to catch her, nor when she pulled back in the barn, because I knew she was reacting out of fear and I did not want to EVER reinforce or legitimize her fear. But I earned her trust and each new thing we try is easier and easier because of the patience I had at the beginning.

Give your self hope and patience as this mare is young and likely can come around.

Karen2

[Bareback Rider]

I didn't hit her really hard nor when I was catching her. I held out hay for her to come and chased her around for about a half an hour. I NEVER hit her out in the feild. She'll go crazy and the other horses will CHARGE! The only times I hit her was when she reared and I pushed her head when she tried to bite me. Nothing abusive. I am usually, like I said fine with her, but today she just wasn't cooperating. ALSO, I didn't hit her after she took off. I really tried to calm her. I scratched her favorite place and gave her a treat. She was finally giving in when another horse neighed to her and she got worked up again! I usually try to calm her when she does stuff like this. Also her former owners weren't abusive. They spoiled her crazy! I'm just trying to teach her dicipline. Nothing cruel, I assure you.

[Lady_MCSE]

Very short answer for you: if you have to ask why a 3 year old is acting this way, you should not be working with a 3 year old.

[Bareback Rider]

Thankyou Lady. I know I shouldn't be working with her. She's to much. Like I said she was given to me. Also I am planning on selling her, it's just I need to send her to training, and I can't get ahold of the trainer. I've worked with a few young horses before though, so I thought what would be different with this one. Well she never had dicipline and I hadn't realized what I got myself into. knew her as a yearling, and I thought I could change her mean streak but I was wrong. I feel bad about this. I really do blame myself and I try, but she just didn't click with me. Everything you guys say is true.

[reba4]

Don't beat yourself up over this. You tried and admitting she is too much is very mature. You are right to sell her, its not worth getting hurt over. Maybe someone where you board could help you out with her?

[Bareback Rider]

I have been letting the barn manager work with her, he's older, and has more experience. I'm going over to see her in two days and I'll tell you how she was. Please though, what are some ideas on how to get her out of the feild. Food dosn't work.

[ToveroMom]

Since she cost you nothing-perhaps you can contact a horse rescue to get her into a different situation right away. Donate her and right away you start saving the money you are paying for board.etc.
They may be able to help you into a horse more suited to your skill level . I bet you would prefer an older horse that rides. Take your time and look around-the perfect horse for you is out there.

[Bareback Rider]

Tovero mom,
I don't pay for board since i work there. And I can't send her to a rescue(even though that's a great idea), I'll be sending her to training and after she comes back I'll make money off of her to get an easier horse. Thanks for the advice though

[ToveroMom]

Well sometimes it is a good thing to get them on down the road to someone quickly. It is especially true if you are having lots of issues. I am not trying to be a toad-just something for you to think on.
Sending her off for training is looking at a quick chunk of money-most trainers want 90 days to put a good start on a horse. Then you have a horse that is green and fresh started...and THEN you get to try to sell her.
Right now with the market the way it is...well you could very probably get a decent trail horse for a lower price than training fees.
Be careful and stay safe.

[Bareback Rider]

I think I will send her to ninety days so she's easier to work with. Don't worry your not being a toad I agree but I want her trained. I will be trying to find an English pleasure or dressage horse after my mare. That's another reason to sell her. She'll be weastern! I feel kind of bad about selling her because I've known her so long but there's never been that bond. Thanks Tovero Mom!