New mare that bites and kicks

[essj]

I'd really like some advice about my new mare. I've owned her for two months and in that time she has bitten me and other people and kicked me, or tried to kick me, a number of times. She's a 10 year old cob x from Ireland and I brought her from a dealer in Derbyshire. They were very honest and advertised her as grumpy as she could put her ears back when you approached her but they have promised me she never bit or kicked them. She is also very hormonal and has had 3 seasons in the 2 months that I've had her. She also had very bad rain scald and mites when she arrived and was very itchy. This is now sorted. I don't believe that she's a nasty horse and my gut instinct is telling me that she's been hurt by someone in the past and is trying to protect herself. She can be very sweet. I have noticed she is better being handled outside her stable so try to handle her outside. She very often tries to kick me when I try to pick out her back feet or brush her back legs. I've seen video of her being handled by the dealer and she didn't do that. When I tried her she was fine and she was very well behaved for the vetting. Could this be a hormonal issue as we're going into spring or her feeling unsettled at being moved around so much?The dealer kept her for about 4 months before they sold her as she was good at babysitting their youngsters.

Any advice on how I can stop the biting and kicking?

[VeronicaF]

Hi essj,I think your insticts are right, but I would advise you to get a Recommended Associate www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/specialist-horse-training.html

[merryberry]

Following with interest, as our newest mare can bite and try and cow kick too. I think she is unsettled too, and came to us a little worn/run down out I think.

[clipclop]

Could she be sore somewhere (eg. slipped in the field)?

If she was physically ok when she was vetted and her behaviour was OK then, I'd be inclined to get her checked over.

Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards

[cbc]

Do you think her skin is still tender from rainscald/mites?
She sounds as if she is feeling insecure and a bit defensive. Several homes in a few months can be a tough thing for horses.

[lesleyking1]

My Mare is very grumpy when anything is done to her; grooming, tacking up, rugging etc, she is very lovely if you just want to fuss and stroke her but any thing to do with handling she is horrible. I've had an RA in and we have worked through lots of issues and I have regularly had all checks done and her back is worked on regularly, if I have a really concerted effort with pressure and release she does get a bit better and although I am very consistent with expecting good manners her stroppy personality is always there, so after three years we have got to know each other and have a reasonable understanding of how to get on with each other, but I have had to accept she was born a stroppy type so I pick my battles and deal with the instances that are dangerous or really unreasonable. For instance I when she is handled for grooming etc I muzzle her, it would be nice if I could get the biting under control but the ongoing time involved in dealing with the issue is impractical, however she has in the past been very dangerous to lead, rearing, so I employed an RA, I now have the skills to deal with a rearer and we don't go out until she behaves, and I mean we don't go any where, if it takes me all morning she will listen, the times she plays up are now very rare and I think that she is probably the best mannered horse on the yard when leading but I deal with it always if she does play up. I would suggest you think hard what is important to get under control and what can be tolerated/managed and definitely get an RA in, worth every penny. I would focus on the kicking, if you try to deal with all issues at once you can find that your time together just feels like a constant battle instead of enjoyable and you would probably find that once a RA has shown you the techniques you will become a different type of handler and she will respect you more generally.
Hormones; my Scarlet is much more manageable with her seasons once she is out over night, she is more drained emotionally with the longer turnout and because she is in during the day she is off the grass when the sugar is highest, sugar makes her much worse, so no lush grass and as little in her diet as possible. She is on a supplement, she was on eostress but over the last year I have just given her magnesium and agnus castus, these are in the ready mixed calmers so as it would be cheaper I thought I would try giving just them, I think she is actually better on just these two as well, you really need to play around with whichever calmer you fancy and find one that suits.
Mares bless em, I wouldn't have a boy for anything but I can't understand why.

[VeronicaF]

I think its important to keep yourself safe, a good hard hat, and lots of padding, its amazing how much more confidence you can give out when you know your body ,face, and head is safe.
and this is from someone who isn't very confident,so take it from me.keep yourelf safe.



you don't have to go as far as a criket helmet
but it shows keeping yourself safe with a biting, kicking, attacking mare can help your confidence knowing your safe

really recommand you get a RA out !!

[VeronicaF]

keep yourself safe unless they are this size and even then recommand you make a IH arm

[Deleted]

I've encountered about three horses with proper rainscald - all of them would pull faces and threaten to bite and kick because they knew it would hurt if you touched them, none of them showed that behaviour normally and once their skin had fully healed the behaviour resolved.

I've had a very similar experience with cobs and leg mites, when I'm trimming a cob if they are a really persistent and meaningful kicker it's nearly always because they have mites, they really can be so uncomfortable that they can't beaer to have their legs handled. I had one to trim who actually smashed the concrete slab he was standing on by kicking down onto it because he was so desperate to give me the message without kicking me.

The other thing to consider is ulcers, I had a livery who was prone to ulcers and the ONLY way to keep him comfortable was to make sure he had access to hay at all times, even when he had grass as well. If he'd run out of hay even half an hour before I got there I'd get ears pinned, teeth out and threats to kick when he was eating and when I did his rug.

[cookie]

I wondered about ovaries being sore oor tender. I suspect the dealer hasn't been genuine in the sale and would discuss with the vet who did the vetting.

[cookie]

Why did she have such bas rains scald if he had her four months?