unhappy mare

[muddy boots]

I usually bring my mare home to our farm for the winter but this year have left her at the livery yard she stays at in the summer, she is coming in at night(which is what she would have done at home) When I go and get her in she is always on her own,there are 7 other mares in the field,today I got her in early for the farrier and she was waiting by the gate, but when I put her headcollar on she bucked and reared til we were out of the field.which wasnt much fun for me! She just seems lonely and sad,it would be hard to bring her home as we dont have a spare stable.
She was naughty for the farrier too and he pointed out she used to be so good for him and its only since she has been at livery she has misbehaved.I spent the afternoon with her loose schooling her and brushing her and she seemed really chilled out when I left.I dont want her to be unhappy!

[jill]

Sounds as though she isn't being handled as nicely as she is used to - do you know who sees to her on a dialy basis and do you trust them? Can't you find a way to bring her home?

[KimT]

Agree with Jill. I made the mistake of asking someone to bring my horses in for me that I thought I could trust. Turns out she had been hitting Lady and both horses were very spooky and unsettled. Both had become quite flighty and bargy.

now she doesnt see to them they have both settled back down and are much happier.

[mrsfields]

agree about possible handling problems too - this happened to my boys while they were on full livery... they used to be fine with us leading them and bringing them in and out - we had to walk across the village, and when we'd get to the field they'd stop and turn back to the gate before i let them loose, and they were super calm and mellow, but at livery they turned into nightmares! barging, running off thru the gate before headcollar came off etc. and they wouldn't let others catch them either, and would often be brought in loose by the yard owners, yet would always let us catch them - they'd just come to us and put their noses in their headcollars... they're fine now and much more settled since we've had our own place and it's just us handling them...

[megan]

I do have a sharer but she seems to be very good with her,almost too timid with her,people at the yard say she treats her like gold!! unless its the change in handling that is bothering her,I found out that she wasnt riding her when she said she was, I think she got frightened when she had a buck one day. I will work on bringing her home in the new year though.I thought she would be happier staying with the friends she had made in the summer.