Misbehaving when tacking up!!

[M1TOO]

My 7 yr old mare has developed the habit of trying to bite me over the last two weeks when being tacked up - this has now progressed to include having her head collar put on. her tail is swishing and ears pinned back and she is generally trying to warn me off or bullying me. i initially shouted at her to discourage her from doing this, bumped her in the shoulder and my instructor has suggested giving her a sharp slap under her belly to show her this behaviour isn't acceptable. other than keeping hold of the outside rein when tacking up can anyone suggest anything to discourage this behaviour before it gets any worse?? the only thing which may have caused this reaction is my overtightening the girth but as this is left slacker now i cannot understand why she is persisting in this manner. any suggestions???:( :(

[Showjumper]

Once a horse has been hurt in some way they don't forget fast and continue to associate tacking up (for example) with pain, even though the pain is no longer there. (I would seriously consider getting her back and teeth checked as well just in case).

Be patient and don't hit the horse, or you'll be adding to her assumption that tacking up involves pain and stress.

Go back to basics, talk to her, move slowly, be gentle, and use TTEAM to relax her before you put the saddle on, and before you tighten the girth.

She's also associating the headcollar with tacking up, which (in her mind) means pain. Go down to the field with a treat, catch her, give her the treat, then let her go again. This will teach her not to associate being caught with tacking up and work.

Good Luck and Hope I Helped!!! :D

[Wally]

Your overall relationship needs assesing! You need to put yopurself at the top of the pecking order.

Do some join up and use your body language to let her know what she's doing is not acceptable. Make sure her bridle and saddle are fitting her as well as they can. Has she developed a sore bit you havn't noticed? If you are certain her tack is comfy then go for join up and read up on a bit of horse psychology.

[qwerty]

My Mum used to have a horse and it bit her...she decided to bite her back and she never bit her again! I wouldn't advise that but I thought it was funny! :D My favourite horse at the stables is a nightmare to tack up, she does just what you described. She has been checked out and there are no physical problems...she is just lazy and doesn't want to work! As soon as she knows you are boss adn the bridal is on she is as good as gold! As Showjumper said, make sure she isn't in any pain. Does she seem O.K once the tack is on or is it just when you put it on?

[floppy]

ehm like said...make sure her tack fits her well and isnt causing any discomfort.
check her back and make sure she isnt tight anywhere..
how logn have you had your horse?

[angel]

my horse when i first had her was quite bad to tack up, i had her saddle checked and found it was not quite right so got a new one, the horse is telling you there is a problem and hitting her is only making matters worse, ask the instructor if she had a headache would she like to be hit for having one. sorry i just can not stand the hit first brigade. try running your hands all over her to feel for any area's that may be sore. check her bit fits and has no sharp edges. if she goes to bite after there is no problem, say no sternly and push hwr head away, praise her for everything she does right. place the saddle gently on her back, make sure your numah is not to tight and slowly do up the girth. a bit at a time, i always lift each fore leg once girth is on so nothing is pinching. join up is excellent but not all horses like it, 3 of ours do but 2 dont. be assertive but fair good luck.

[Wally]

A recently purchased horse of ours had a bit of a saddle phobia. But that's exactly what it was, fear of the saddle. Once he found that his saddle wasn't going to pinch him he gave up his silly behaviour and is now no problem at all. But you have to be SURE that the tack isn't the thing they are trying to tell you about!

If it is a dominance thing you need to do some oveall relationship exercises."Join up" is a good place to start.

[Mossy]

Just a thought and I know it is an old chestnut of mine but a reaction to girth tightening is often due to a saddle being tight on the withers. It is worth a check. Horses do not often protest about tack for no good reason. If it is a historical thing take her back several steps and reastablish trust. It may take some time believe me I've been there but will come good in the end.

[lamprellsarah]

my mare when very bad when i bought her, she used to bite, head butt so hard she used to knock you over, and nearly dislocated my shoulder, and she used to jigg around, i have bought her an elasticated girth and a humane one, checked her saddle, the vet has checked her all over before i bought her, so we put it down to ill manners, we think she may be set in her ways, the only thing that has improved her and stopped anyone getting hurt, is as soon as she tries to bite, you hit her with a whip on the shoulder.
after two weeks she learnt that it was easier to not try, she now very rarely tries, the strange thing is it's only when you first try to put the girth on, only losely!!!!.
when you go to tighten it she is not bothered!!!

[fiesty_filly]

Sorry I don't have time to read over the whole forum so forgive me if all i say has already been said!!

Make sure nothing is hurting her, check her bit and girth and have the vet check her back maybe. My mare always tries to sit down when I do up her girth so i tickle her under the stomache and that stops her. But for you horse I think maybe she may need some discipline, she may be a little sour so if she tries to bite you crop her righ on the nose, not hard just enough to get her by surprise. But you have to do it at the right time (whil she is trying to bite you) or else she may just think you are smacking her for no good reason. Hope this doesn't sound harsh!!

[B W]

I have briefly read over this, and agree that some joining up would be good. If you're not familiar with John Lyons round pen training, I would suggest you get that book or find someone who knows how to make the horse respect you. It sounds like you have lost her respect. I think I'll stay with geldings. I've seen a lot of mares at my barn who have bad manners. But, soon as they do off to the round pen they go. They don't understand hitting so I would never hit my horse, but they do understand their own language. You have to think like a horse and become the boss mare. Sounds like your horse is the boss mare. That needs to change or you will have trouble on the ground and in the saddle. Good luck.

[Miriam]

My mare used to be a bit of a burger to tack up. Not so much as biteing but generally walking around as you are trying to get the girth done up. She just stopped one day. I used to jam her against the wall whilst I did the girth up.

[Dizzy]

Hi I've never tried 'join up' but I'm sure it will work. What I would do in your circumstances (as I have no access to a round pen) is, have a head collar on in a stable with a lunge line with a longish but easy to gather up conatct (so she couldn't turn her bum). I would groom and ask for each foot, being ready for her to 'go for me' . I'd make sure I kept myself in a position so that I could 'go' for her shoulder. As soon as her ears/body language spoke that she wasn't happy I'd make myself big and fly at her shoulder, making plenty of noise to put her on the back foot. As quick as I shouted I'd talk, in a calming manner, but not looking directly at her and with my body language hunched away (but able to see what was going on). So that she understands you'll stand your ground, but your not aggressive. I would then go through the same procedure again - if she's particulary dominant I'd have a stick and as I went for the shoulder I'd give it a firm tap/poke.

I would suggest doing in-hand work. TTeam inhand work teaches a horse to respect and listen to you. If your interested I'd be more than happy to to help you. By the sound of it you need to establish that you are lead mare. I would also break down what I want to do, so that you establish respect as you go along, instead of fighting one big battle.

What ever path you decide to take, good luck

Lesley

[Mossy]

I've just reread the entire thread. You say that you may have over tightened the girth once. In my experience one minor error of that order does not cause such an extreme reaction unless it caused consequential pain elsewhere. I don't know about your horse but both of mine have changed shape noticeably over the past few weeks as they are muscling up after an enforced foot and mouth rest.
I agree that you need to restore order and the pecking order but you cannot do that untill you have removed all sources of pain. [There is a very good article by Max on the same subject this month] I am sorry but I cannot agree with cropping a horse on the nose whatever it has done. It is avery sensitive area and I would think it is more likely to cause a headshy defensive/ aggressive horse. One thing I am absolutley certain of, and have several years practical experience to back me up, if tack problema are not addressed at source very quickly and fundamentally the consequences can take years to sort out. Sorry if I have been rather outspoken here and the best of luck.