Clingy Mare

[mister bloo]

My mare is clingy. She frets when I am out of her stable and is naughty when others bring her in or put her out. What can I do to make her feel more secure? It is rather sweet but not very good for her mental health. She is very vocal and demanding of my time when I am with her but ears back and pretty rude to everyone else, horses and humans alike. I would like her to feel more settled but do not know how to go about that.

[wiggal]

I dont really know about horses, and this will maybe be a really stupid suggestion!
but maybe ask other people to try & look like you when they are with her? like if you were a baseball cap a lot, that sort of thing?
Or maybe ask them to wear a jumper that smells of you when they are with her?

Sorry, they are probably really stupid, but wanted to atleast think of something!

[lankeela]

Thats why people use the term 'marish' - sell her and buy a gelding.

[claguey]

You don't say how old she is, or how long you've had her. She may be clingy as she's uncertain of her surroundings or young and is getting too dependant on you. Used to be a woman on our yard with very clingy mares, vocal, demanding same as yours and she reckoned no one else could manage them. But, when she was out of the way any ill manners were dealt with firmly and the mares were pleasant and much better behaved with others. sed to go to pot again when she was back. Don't let your mare dictate or walk all over you, you will make a rod for your own back. You could check with your Vet in case she's hormonal, might need Regumate or something like that. Failing that I'm with lankeela, forget 'marish' mares, get a gelding!

[claguey]

Sorry, that should have read 'Used to go to pot' - having probs with U & O n my keyboard!

[horsestache1]

She is just being a mare I'm afraid.

You might like to watch her in the field, and see who she grazes with, if its the same horse all the time then they have probably pair bonded, so move them to stable next to each other if possible, this will help settle her. Some times they choose the most odd "friends", so don't be supprised if her friend is the smallest pony, or the biggest horse!!

Now you know where the term "nightmare" comes from.

Good luck

[mister bloo]

Many thanks for all your help/suggestions. I have had her a year and she is 8/9 yrs old. If she knows I am watching her in a field/stable wherever she behaves but as soon as my back is turned. . . nightmare indeed. RE geldings - I think mares can look after you and go that bit further for you a bit better than geldings and they do have a spark about them. Thank God for Oestress!

[horsestache1]

I certainly would not say mares go that bit further for you, unless you mean that they will play up that much more for you!!!

Geldings have a much better nature, and are genrally easier to live with, they are as fast as any mare and jump just as high (Red Rum!) if not higher/faster.

It's a personal choice, for me a stallion, is intellegent, honest and the most loving of all, and boy will he work for you as he will hate to be beaten in anything.

Choice
1 Stallion
2 gelding
3 Mare
4 Shetland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


And I've got all of them, and a psychatric appointment

[claguey]

Hope it works out for you, we had a 'mareish' pony, had her checked by the Vet who confirmed - she was just a mare! He suggested corrective schooling, which worked, turned out it was nothing more than a power struggle. The next mare we had was Mrs Perfect all the time, only time you knew she was in season was she jumped even higher than usual. But give me my wonderful Welsh Cob gelding over the girls anytime. No moods, no battles, just the Best. Good Luck with your mare.