Terrible Twos or something wrong?

[Bubblepony]

I've got a question in regards to a two year old filly. I've owned her for a year. She's always been a very sharp and opinionated filly and though I never let her get away with any monkey business and am firm with her I have always treated her very fairly. She had very little handling when I bought her and there was a lot I needed to teach her like leading nicely in hand, picking up her feet, loading and the like. Now she leads very well, backs up, moves over and yields to pressure and picks up her feet. We go into the school around once every fortnight for a little play in hand and some relaxed training and I am teaching her to trot out for the show ring. A couple of weeks ago when I asked her for trot in the show ring she trotted round with her ears pinned. She stopped pulling faces every time we walked but asking her for trot always resulted in that begrudging face (though she trotted every time.) Of late she has also been slightly less friendly in the stable, usually she adores having a good scratch and always comes over to you with her ears pricked but recently she's been walking away from me with a bit of a face, especially when I rug her so I now tie her up to do so. Today, once again, when in the school she pinned her ears in trot and looked generally tense and displeased.

Is she perhaps bored by our play in the school and souring to it? I am perplexed as to why asking her to trot results in her pulling such faces and why she has been slightly less biddable of late as its not like if we go to the school daily and she should be soured by what I am asking. I can't think what would be bothering her, if it was an older ridden mare I'd check the obvious such as teeth/back etc. Is this the terrible twos? Her coming into season perhaps? What would be the best method of handling this? Is two too young for join up in terms of physical stress? I've been trying so hard to bring this filly up right and fear I am doing something wrong.

[Seabiscuit]

When she does trot is she sound as far as you can see?

What face does she pull if you trot her out of the school?

I bought my gelding at 18 months and did the same as you - lots of simple groundwork. He is also a complicated character, quite opinionated. I find even now that sometimes when we practice trotting in hand in his field (we don't have a school) sometimes he pins back his ears...with him it's because he doesn't like being told what to do. However when we're out on a walk he is fine.

How do you ask her to start trotting?

[Bubblepony]

Hi there! Yup, she is sound and I ask for trot with a jolly 't-rot' and a cluck and she obliges every time. Like your gelding it DOES seem to only be in the school that this happens so possibly she resents the work or being told what to do in that 'boring' environment. The ears come forward as soon as something interesting happens in the distance or something like that. I'm gutted as I've made every effort to keep things fresh and interesting for her and handle her correctly and I really worry that this face is a sign that we do not have quite the relationship I really hoped we would. :(

What should I do? Join up? Make a little obstacle course with poles on the ground and cones for her to walk round to keep her interesting?

[mayoguinness]

Can I ask why she's stabled??

[Bubblepony]

She is out during the day and in in the evening which is not unusual compared to all the other people I know with youngsters. What are you implying? That she should be out 24/7 as she is a youngster and that is why she is getting shirty?

[mayoguinness]

Well its worth considering.....is there any other reason she's in except cause most people with youngsters keep them in at night??To be kept in can make a lot of horses unreasonable and sometimes all you need to do is open the door!! Just look at there natural instincts and you can see why, some horses are more sensitive to it than others.:)

[JustJas]

Sounds like a change in routine could be good. Do you walk her out to see the world? My youngsters have always loved variety.
I never stable my youngsters having the luxury of all year turn out. OH and I have turned out his 5 y/o cob and my backed for a year 7y/o arab to winter out and are just restarting their schooling. Both are loving it.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

she could have twinged her back playing in the field or something - might be worth looking into?

[Bubblepony]

The livery yard doesn't have the land to turn out 24/7. She runs to the gate to be caught and seems very content in her stable otherwise.

She has changed he behaviour SO quickly that I can't help but feel that something physical is going on. Would it be worth getting a physio out for a 2 year old? The other thing I wonder is if its hormonal or if she is perhaps coming into season?

I'm going to try and add some variation to her routine and walk her out and set up some poles and cones for her in the school etc.

[mayoguinness]

Shame that you can't turn her out 24/7. Might be worth getting an ostiopath or bowen therapist to see her though :)

[Bubblepony]

Well, to be honest with you I prefer to bring them in at night anyway and have an opportunity to go over them and check for nicks and bumps, handle them and pick up their legs, groom them, give them a feed and keep an eye on the consistency of their droppings. I see the merits in leaving them out 24/7 but I don't think the fact I bring her in is a shame to be honest.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

i would get a physio/chiro, she might have rolled akwardly/slipped in the paddock - could happen to any horse.

worth it for the peace of mind i think :)

[mayoguinness]

To me it would be a shame, in fact it would be a nightmare if I had to bring a horse into a stable at night, but its my whole philosephy and way of thinking, all I've learnt and all I feel I know ;) At the yard all the horses, foals incuded get looked over every day and handled a few times a week :) We all have to do what we feel is right I guess!!

[Bubblepony]

Mayo, I got your point on your very first post and I think its rather self righteous of you to bang on about it, you are not helping me, just making me feel bad about a situation I can't change.

[shandy84]

I have had all three of my girls from yearlings, I have to say that they do get a little more opinionated around 2years, my youngest is just approaching 2 and we are starting to get her opinions on life, such as being caught can be so much fun if you refuse to begin with.

As long as your pony is moving well and not lame and you can run your hands all over her body without her showing any pain I would believe it is only her opinions being expressed.

Personally my youngsters have all got bored in the school and I have found going out on a walk hack is much more fun for them, and beneficial when it comes to teaching them about the world.

I also have my horses in at night over the winter but will let them out if I can full time over the summer (so long as they don't get sunburnt or attacked by flies too much) I have found this routine very helpful when it comes to bringing them on, I wouldn't worry too much.

[Bubblepony]

Thank you Shandy, I'm glad its a two year old 'thing'. We've going to start going for nice hacks in hand. My surprise comes with the speed at which she changed from sweet to slightly sour making me worry a medical issue was involved. I've booked the vet out to be sure.

[Seabiscuit]

Hi bubblepony

When I bought my youngster I had him stabled at night in the winter, and he was stabled at night at his first home too - don't worry. Stabling at night gave mine more energy when he was let out but otherwise he was fine. I had no choice either.

From what you've said it does sound like your horse just has a 2 year old attitude! I can empathise with you completely. Like you suggested, if you do work her in the field perhaps think of ways to make it more interesting. When Bran was 2 I don't think I worked him much in the field, it was more taking him for walks and looking at things in the yard (there were big tractors and stuff at our first yard....VERY interesting!!!) But where we are now I do work him in the field and he does get bored. Try walking over poles, getting a few cones, walking over tarpaulins etc. Place poles on the ground to form a walkway and walk through them, or do the reversing around the L shaped poles etc.

Try to take her out of the school more; don't go too far if you're not confident, any small steps are positive steps!

Don't worry about not having the relationship you thought you would - I thought (and sometimes still think) exactly the same - I tried very hard to start bran well. And although I still worry about it I try and take a step back - Bran is a lovely horse, very friendly, and I can do things with him that some friends cannot do with their older horses. With time (and patience) he will learn to work with me.

[mayoguinness]

The first post I asked why you stabled her and you asked me why I asked this so I replied!! Then I said about an ostiopath and then I said we all do what we feel is right which is true!! Whats self righteous about that?? I thought you wanted to stable her so I don't see how I made you feel bad!!

[HorseWhisp3r3r]

Hey Bubble,
Spring is in the air she may well be having her first season. I think it important a horse learn to be happy in a stable enviroment as if ever you need to treat them for something or they injury themselves and need to be kept still for there own good you have no problems. From working somewhere that had mares that had never been stabled when there was a problem it was a nightmare and stressed the mares out no end even putting them in a barn sectioned off with others they would scream the place down and sweat up.

[Bubblepony]

I really appreciate the feedback, thank you! I'm going to start a new thread in healthcare and I'm really feeling something is physically up with this filly.