Dealing with an agressive mare.

[Daffy Dilly]

I almost lost an ear this morning. Daffy and the mare stabled next to him really do not get on - she's more of a people pony, and has kicked him twice that I know of, without warning, as soon as he gets within range. She also lunges for him when I lead him past, over her stable gate.

Today, I was between them, and rather than going for his back end like she would normally with me there, she went for his front. Her teeth caught me about 1" above and behind my ear. If she'd have closed them, she'd have ripped it. Luckily I think she realised it was me she'd hit and didn't clamp down. Unfortunately I was too surprised to react right then, and so I didn't at all, meaning there's nothing to deter her from lunging at us again.

The barn is quite wide, but I can't get Daffy into his stable without going right past hers, and she's invariably there to try and get him. She can be quite headshy, and I don't want to make that worse, but at the same time I'm getting sick of the behaviour, especially when it leaves me with a headache. Daffy provokes it from his stable, but does nothing when led.

Any thoughts?

[tbjumper127]

Is there any way to get his or her stall moved? You need to make sure she respects your space and his space when your with him. Maybe talk to the barn manager about it/the horse's owner.

[KateWooten]

Perhaps the mare's owner could be persuadedto buy some sort of top door, even just a stall guard thingy, so that people who were getting attacked could just put it across when necessary ? I'm sure she doesn't want to be responsible for injuries and possible lawsuits.

[Jessey]

I would agree, talk to the owner and YO/M either putting a stall guard up or moving her to an end stable where you don't have to walk past her would be the best option. Perhaps the owner would look at clicker training or something like that if not, something you could do as a reward from outsdie when she stays back?
Like you say if she is already headshy its a difficult one without making it worse.

[carrimclaren]

We've got quite a few that are quite agressive and the only way i manage is by voice commands. When i see them moving towards me i just tend to lower my voice and issue a sharp loud no. Sounds silly i suppose but it works with all of them. I then fuss them a little when they don't do anything and do listen and stay back. I went to fuss one of them when he'd thought twice and he about near wet himself and flew to the back of the stable. :mad: Someone has obviously been very agressive with him. Made me quite mad really to see such a big lad be so scared.

[Daffy Dilly]

It's the YO's daughters pony, and moving stables/putting a top door on isn't an option.

She is a nice enough mare otherwise and well behaved, although you need to take a fairly soft approach with her, it's just Daffy (and the other horses to a lesser extent) she has a problem with, but she's fine ridden. So far, growling at her as we pass seems to make her back up and think twice. Whether it'll last or not, I don't know, but fingers crossed. I hated having my ears pierced, couldn't stand having one stitched back on. :o