Aggression over the stable door

[TWH Addict]

Anyone got any ideas? My mare 13 years old, in foal (6 months gone), has been with us for 4 months. Shes a sweetheart to lead, tack, groom, rug etc etc. However, if someone approaches her stall she turns into a little monster, she pins her ears back and lunges forward and snaps. It is pretty scarey and she really means business.. Ive caught her doing it a couple of times and as soon as shes done it, i go into the stable, put a halter on her and lead her around. She fine if you go into the stable but just doesnt like anyone standing by the door. What might have caused this behaviour? and any ideas for correction? She went into winter livery 2 weeks ago, and has settled really well apart from this behaviour. She needs to stay at the livery until the foal is born as they have foaling cameras, alarms etc attached to her stall. Really feel like bundling her up and taking her home, but this is not an option as I work full time and the ground I have is not suitable for the winter months. Help!!

[Mehitabel]

has she always been like this for you, or is it a recent change?

it sounds territorial - there could be a number of reasons, especially as she's in foal. she may be feeling insecure having moved to the winter livery - perhaps another horse is bullying her when she is in the field and she is carrying it over into her stable behaviour?

has she ever been on a long period of box rest that you know of? a friend's horse, after a long time in for injury, got very territorial about her box as she had gotten quite mentally messed up - being in didn't suit her. once she was able to go out again it lessened, but in the stable she was never as happy she had been before.

she might also have been hit over a stable door before you got her?

[TWH Addict]

She had a long journey over here, and was a month in quarantiene before we got her. She used to put her ears back and frown at me when I first approached her in the stable, but that was short lived. Lasted about a week and was replaced with a nicker and a "wheres my next carrot mum". She is still a little head shy and was quite nippy when we first got her but has improved immensely. I spoke with the haulage company who had her for a few days before onward routing her up to Scotland and they tell me she was very aggresive with them, same behaviour lunging over the stable door.

Her previous owner cant really tell me much about her stable behaviour as she was kinda left to her own devices mainly. She was owned by a lady who had arabians and just rode her occasionally when she wanted something "different" to ride. Didnt really have much to do with her, just had her brought in when she wanted to ride her. Its definately not another horse bullying her as she is a very dominant mare and puts everyone in their place.

As long as her stall door is open she is happy to let anyone approach her, its when your first approch the door to open it the trouble starts.