Wow you have a real handful with this mare. The first thing that you need to find out is what horse had she bonded with before coming to you. When a horse behaves the way your mare is doing she is telling you that she so emotionally stressed that any pressure put on her send her over the edge
Leave her alone as far as training to allow her to settle and get over being homesick
Give her lots of attention but is small doses. I would also give her some calming supplements to even her out

Cheers

She's been at our facility for about two months. She was moved over with one of the horses from her old home. So she's had plenty of time to become familiar with her surroundings. She and the other horse are being kept at our boarding barn. Both of them have become aggressive toward the boarded horses - kicking, biting, hogging the run-in etc. We've separated them from the boarded horses for everyone's safety.

Horses are herd animals so it is good that one other horse she is familiar with came with her
The fact that both these horses are being aggressive goes to my point that they are stressed from the change so you and the others need to help them overcome the stress trying to do join up with either one ad this point could be detrimental to their training. Lots of ground work like walking backing and just general excercise. You might also want to put her in a round pen and just stay and let her wander around. In any case keep safe.

Cheers

Forgive my stupidity - what is a PMU foal?

Hi all,

I don't know what a PMU foal is as well....
And it is not stupid Viccihh... it is better to ask....
Hope we hear what it is.

Hi,
I found this in the net:

What are PMU Horses? PMU stands for pregnant mare's urine, which is used to make hormone replacement drugs for women. Drugs such as Premarin, PremPro and PremPhase are taken by millions of women every day.

http://www.greenhorn-horse-facts.com/pmuhorses.html

The remaining text :
horrible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder, if women actually knew how this drug is made; would they still take it? I wonder, if they knew that this drug is responsible for the deaths of over 1 million horses; would they still take it?

PMU mares are subjected to a horrible life. They are kept pregnant and forced to stand in pee lines for most of their lives.

A mare normally stays pregnant for 11 months. Six to seven months out of their pregnancy, they are confined to very small stalls and hooked up to pee lines.

In the pee line, pouches are attached over their urethra to collect their urine. While attached, the pmu horses cannot turn around, lie down or even groom themselves. Some mares are forced to stand for the entire 6 or 7 months.

horses in pee line.

These mares are usually deprived of water, so that the urine will be as concentrated as possible.

The average horse usually lives for about 20-30 years. PMU horses don't usually live this long. Liver and kidney diseases are very common among these horses.

When they can no longer stand in the pee lines, or become unable to get pregnant, they are sent to the horse slaughter plants.

Now comes the light bulb moment! What happens to all the foals that are born to these mares? The un-lucky ones, that are not rescued, are sent to slaughter. Most of these colts that go through the slaughter are supposed to be at least six months of age.

Some of these foals are sold for their skins. There is a high demand for "pony skin". It's a shame that these poor, innocent creatures have to die so that someone can wear pony skin shoes.

I wonder, if they knew how those shoes were made; would they still wear them?baby horse

I have read horrific stories about the pmu mares, pmu foals and nurse mare foals. They were so bad that I have the images burned into my brain.

Can you even imagine, what must it be like for these poor animals? Living the life they are forced to live, has to be almost un-bearable. Can you imagine, sending this little guy to slaughter?

Premarin is the third most prescribed drug in the world, bringing its single maker over 1 billion dollars per year.

There are several alternatives today to this drug, that are actually safer for women. If the women who take this drug would only switch to one of the alternative drugs, it would eliminate the cruelty and slaughter of these pmu horses.

Because this drug is so prescribed, it requires the operation of around 700 pmu farms.

It has been estimated that for every 100 women who permanently switch from a pmu based hormone replacement to another form, one horse will be saved.

If you would like to learn more about these pmu horses, or find out how to adopt one see these great sites. If you can't afford to adopt one, I'm sure they would appreciate a donation.

I'm shure that this condition the mare has to live in, has side effects also on the foal. Who knows if the aggressive behaviour is a result of a lack of some kind of nutricion while being a fetus in the mares belly.

Reading the information about these mares and their lifestyle no wonder you have your hands full.
I would definetly listen to what Dennis is advising you.
For any aggressive horse, the first thing is safety.
The second is time.
Felling secure has a calming affect on mares.
Do not pressure them, just let them be while you work around them, yard work, etc...until they are comfortable around people.
If they can be haltered, do so and walk them, gently back them up and walk them in circles.
For some reason walking a horse in cilcles calms them.
When I first rescued my filly, she had never been touched by a human, other than to have her halter tied on her face and be abused.
It took months for her to trust me enough to approach her.
My husband and I just pretended we were working in her pasture and she became comfortable with us and eventually curious.
I hope this encourages you in some way. Star is now a great little horse, it just took time.
Ronda

Hi Cristina, I have just read your description of PMU mares and their foals and as I write this tears are streaming down my face. I cannot even fathom the type of person who would put an animal through this. I have a couple of new foals this year, who are about 5 weeks old each and are happily out in the paddocks with their mums, they definately sound like the lucky ones.

Thanks Chrisina for your detailed explanation of what a PMU mare is. I had no idea myself. How horrific this is and now wonder your new mare,16dirtypaws, has some real issues with humans. She probably witnessed and experienced some pretty horrific treatment as a foal which has stayed with her. Horses, particularly apirited mares, who have been horrifically treated by humans will tend to become really aggressive and fight back whenever they feel the threat of aggression. Your mare obviously took your attempts to join with her as aggressive. My Pie was like this. If I did anything mean to her at all she would react with ears back and nashing teeth and she charged at me on occasions after vets or farriers had tried to deal with her. Even just picking up a crop or lunge whip would be enough to set her off. She was terrified of men particularly those in slouched hats and would start shaking all over if they came near her. I was lucky with Pie as I perceived a gentle streak underneath all her hurt and anger and she did respond to persistent, gentle and kind treatment. She settled down incredibly when she was pregnant and when she was feeding Tricka so maybe your mare would respond to hormone treatment or having a foal herself. It is incredibly hard to gain the trust of these horses and any reverting to carrying whips or wands to protect yourself from them will just make their behaviour worse. When Pie was in one of her aggressive moods I used to use my old quiet horse that was in the paddock with her as a shield. I would hide behind him and pass out carrots to Pie from under his neck until she settled down. When she settled she was passive and quiet gentle but always wary of any sudden move or change from me. She certainly would have responded aggressively if I put my hand up to send her away for join-up - perhaps I was lucky I wasn't a Monty student those days. In Pie's case I believed her behaviour was mostly caused from an abusive environment but it seems that some of it may have been genetic too. Her foal, Tricka, is the most gentle beautiful horse most of the time but I have discovered that she has that aggressive streak in her. She is quite a challenge in herself as she will quickly change if I am at all tough on her. So many of my horsey friends say I am too soft with her and I need to be harsher with her but I know that if I do she will quickly deteriorate in behaviour and become more like Pie. It is such a challenge you have ahead of you if you wish to keep this mare. She will respond over time to kind non-threatening treatment by you but you will always need to be wary of her when strangers and children are around. If you do discipline her harshly she will most likely fight back so be mindful of this. I have had Pie now for 15 years and although she trusts me and is fond of me she will still put her ears back occasionally when she thinks I have been too rough with putting her rug on or off etc. Pie was special as I knew she was soft underneath and I ended up buying her even though I knew she was broken down and mentally ruined by an abusive trainer. However I would think carefully about taking on another aggressive horse it is a tough journey. Try to ascertain whether your mare has a gentle trainable streak underneath all her fury. Her eyes will tell you most - if they are soft and responsive when she is at peace then she will probably respond over time. Think carefully about it -it is a long hard dangerous journey with mares like this. You may care to read "Pie's Story" under Forum in about March 2011.

Just an add on. Pie's Story is under the forum post "horse charging people in the field" Kicki May 14. There are other comments there that may be of interest to you with your mare.