Settling into new yard - sorry it's long...

[janette carter]

Haven't posted on this forum before but have an interest in NH and would be v. grateful if you folks could have a look over current problem and offer any advices or encouragement.

I moved my four year old Haflinger about four weeks ago to her new yard and underneath the surface she still seems pretty rattled. Seems happy enough grazing (has coped with change to individual paddock o.k rather than herd) although there is a degree of seperation anxiety when she is stabled as yard is away from paddocks. I have kept bringing her in at odd times just to stand in, she is settling well with this, started lying down at night and finishing up feeds hay etc. Much more hyper than her usual self when ridden but listening o.k.

I have owned her for two years now and she has always had a tendency to be dominant in the stable food aggression etc. which I had managed by working her in the stable, moving her away, sending her around......and she had really got better. This is my BIg problem now again we are back to square one minus some and it is really starting to get to me.....

You name it I have had it in the first fortnight in the stable. Kicking, barging, striking out, lashing out and rolling when a saddle goes on her back. She came into season as well so I feel we have got to make allowances but I am getting fed up with this constant challenging. Tying her up outside the box has solved a lot of her "bright ideas" there are signs of sanity - hey I have even managed to groom her three times in the past week :o and it is obviously safer:eek: but she is still trying the sideways squash and an extremely unpleasant game of backing up on you and finishing it up with a good kick.

I am sure it is dominance and settling into a strange place and the fact that she wants to get out with the others but am I missing anything people and what suggestions ie. other groundwork???

[shirley]

When she was in her previous herd was she particularly high ranking or middle. Perhaps not having rest of herd to keep her in line, gives her the feeling of being to dominate you.
Evenso, not a reason to have this behaviour or tolerate it.
You have obviously managed to deal with this behaviour in the past very satisfactory so do what you did then and you will surely get quicker results.
Could go down lots of different paths, but sounds like disrespect for your space etc. All the training methods are about getting the horse to move out of your space and see you as herd leader. If the way you did it before works then do this again - can also look for another ideas that work for you and your horse.
For me and mine clicker training works, for others parelli, different methods work for different people and different horses. Have a look at different ones and see which one feels 'right' for you and your horse and then choose how to introduce it into your way of communicating with your horse.
No method is absolute, something from one and another something from something else may work in conjunction with each other.
Anyway good luck, just a matter of keep going and persevering and you will see results soon.

[janette carter]

Yeah....I've been wondering this one Shirley. She was actually quite low in the herd order at the last place unless she could get hold of some little pony to herd around none of the others wanted anything to do with her. Some of her social behaviour has been quite strange - introduced herself to one new pony by walking straight up behind it and shoving her nose under its tail:eek: Not surprising got kicked in the face luckily pony wasn't shod. She came over from the continent and has possibly spent some time of her life barned. There seems to be a big chunk of social etiquette missing both equine and human. I don't think she is downright nasty but rather that she tries to communicate with humans as though they are horses because she doesn't know any better particularly in times of stress.

i think sometimes she just feels that she will play the alpha with people because she can't get to that position in the herd. Maybe in a new environment I am not being a positive enough leader or she feels this is just an ideal time to start a leadership challenge.........

It's just getting the communication right.....again.....bless her wicked little mind. Thanks for support.

[Susie xx]

Jan, it must be a very worrying situation for you. Your mare has had a lot of changes to cope with. Have you tried being her best friend? Really inviting her into your space. Standing against her hocks and scratching her quarters, combing her tail, rubbing her withers etc. Once she knows she has one true grooming partner and best friend she may calm down. Of course she must not hurt you and she should have nice manners. Have a look at www.thenaturalhorse.org with Chuck Mintzlaff and www.horsewhisperer.com with Frank Bell. She may be seeking reassurance and sending her away before join up can be a phycological nightmare for a horse. If she is not in pain and her food is balanced (http://www.quayequestrian.com/feelgood30/products.htm have reasonably priced supplements, Osmonds also worth a look, NAFF are good but very expensive with same ingredients),perhaps a communicator like Julie Dicker or Margrit Coates are worth a try, anyone have experience of these?
Good luck, be nice to know how you get on & which solution works for you.
Susie xx

[hackedoff]

This isnt unusual behaviour when you move a horse unfortunately :( can I ask why she is on individual turnout?

[Tots N Dots]

I had a mare a couple of years ago, she was so quiet and gentle with her previous owner, a pleasure to be around, I had known her for quite a few months, I bought her and moved her to my house, she turned into an absolute nightmare, in and out of the stable and horrendous when in season, after a year of this I put her into livery to see if she was happier, no! in the end she went back to her previous owner for a 6 week period, behaved very well apart from 2 days when she came into season, she was brought back here in a trailer, as she passed through the village where she liveried she started to go nuts in the trailer, (some 4 miles from my house), there was only one major factor that we could come up with, just down the road from me is a stallion and there was also one at the livery yard, no stallion near her previous owner? is there a stallion at or near your new yard that could be a contributing factor, our vet was amazed that my mares behaviour was so different, but the stallions were the only thing we could come up with? just a thought?

[janette carter]

O.k people. Week 4 and sanity and my little pony seem to be restored. Susie thank you for the links - some interesting reading there.
HackedOff - Mmmm. I sense reservations about the individual turnout. They all have their individual paddocks at this yard although if you have two or more people tend to put them into together and rotate the grazing.

This indivual set up seems to be coming more and more popular at yards but I was doubtful. It goes against the grain to my mind of "natural herd life" but Buffy got kicked six times last summer in an all mare group - the last time was borderline as far as stitches go and she was geting very defensive if other horses were around so decided to give it a go.

Obviously it does have a LOT of benefits from the DIY owners point of view. Think about it. No more arguements about poo picking (has so and so done her turn this week), no more worming problems, I can strip graze instead of muzzling on top of sweet-itch rugs this summer, plus much less chance of her getting kicked although they could still fire one off under the electric tape.
As far as natural behaviour goes I have observed mutual grooming over the fences and when a perceived threat occurred the other day Buffy and her adjacent companion just spooked up and ran the length of the field together albeit separated by tape. Sooo so far it looks to working o.k but very interesting to study and compare - anyone else on this grazing?

And lastly - are my troubles over? We have a gelding at the yard who was entire until 15 months ago.......still very boyish and apparently quite a few of the mares have the hots for him! It will be very interesting to see if we are going to encounter anymore of this exaggerated behaviour on her next season.
Watch this space!

[Dales_Lover]

If she's silly when she comes into season again, get some mare supplement down her - it'll either work or it won't! I didn't even notice my mare was in season two weeks ago till YO told me :rolleyes: It'll help her with the bit of a stressful situation she's been landed in - and it'll be a lot nicer for you as well!

To stop any field agro that she may have as she's now on her own - get her a deco ball to play with and stick carrots/apples/treats in it. She'll enjoy finding the treats in it and it will occupy her for hours once she gets the hang of it!

She'll soon settle right back down :)

[Susie xx]

Jeanette, I hope you are now enjoying a relaxed and happy partnership with your horse. If you like links and articles to read there is Meeting Mind to Mind, Marv Walkers site. http://marvwalker.com/ You can read his articles and send for his Bonder when you visit the site. He does not advocate chasing a horse in a round pen until it is tired, just uses herd strategies over a half hour period or less and says you can stop and start again another day.
If you have to do a touch up occaisionally he says you may not need to repeat the whole process. Interesting reading anyway.
Good luck
Susie xx