So ...here we go...MOUSE...a 4 yr old QH that I have had since birth. She was imprinted same as my other foals ( all others sane & sensible) Her mother(Honey) however was such a sweetie...( but hopeless as a mom that would not keep her foal in check) Mouse therefore ran rings around her, biting, kicking , rearing, barging, climbing, feeding when the mare was lying down, standing on her .....nothing ever pushed Honey to check Mouse. Mouse has had lots of handling but not been over loved, Has good stable manners, will back before her food goes down, move over for bathing, good with farrier etc. BUT
I now have a 4 yr old ( started proffessionally at 3 - the trainer loved her and never saw any of the rearing stuff) who can do some amazing stuff BUT will from time to time and quite unexpected leap up in the air and strike out at you...for instance when poo picking if she's nosing in the barrow and you try to move her on, back her away, she just goes 'up' and strikes out ....like saying ...Hey push off if I want to mooch in the barrow I will how dare you try to move me. She has also done this when being lead as weve moved her from one turn out to another. Saying that she is also great when working, loves to be doing and will fathom out stuff really quickly. She's never bitten me or kicked .
She's VERY food driven, will boss and charge at the others when it comes to food & water
She has reaered once when ridden , last year when we were leaving the yard and I asked her to go first. She later developed a bad reaction to moquitos, I still think that occassion was because we were heading out thru the trees ( mozzie infested and she knew it ).
I have lots of horses but never one that does this....its the unpredictability that worries me.
Anyones input comment or suggestion would be much appreciated.
Denise
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Horse Behavior and Training
Alpha Mare / temper tantrum?
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Hi
First of all my picture was taken while visiting Flag is up, I dont work with Monty (need to say that as someone thought i did).
Your description of Mouse is very interesting and follows a pattern of "she is lovely but...." "she is good but..." " she hasn't done it to me but she's done it to others" :-)
The bottom line is that some of the behaviours are potentially dangerous and left unchecked will get worse, and I agree with you that the unpredictability is a concern.
My suggestion is that you go right back to the very beginning, with a Dually halter and start her ground manners from day 1, only progressing when she is really good at each one. It seems as if there have been psychological (and maybe practical) gaps in her learning and while she may be talented she still needs to learn her manners. Only when her ground manners are sound does it then progress to the saddle so no riding yet either.
I do appreciate its hard to do this sometimes, and people get cross when I suggest it ( as in "oh for gods sake she knows how to walk forwards and backwards we dont need to do all that again") but I think it would be time well spent and Mouse will appreciate the leadership too (she may not think it at the moment but she will!)
Best of luck
Vicci
Hello Denise! It seems to me that you have a big problem. What I did not quite understand is are Mouse and the 4 year old one and the same horse?
If this is in fact, I can tell you a similar story, but this young lady did not kick or bite. I can't remember her name, sorry. But I know her mother's name: "Parley". Parley was such a sweetie, like Honey in your case. She was about 23 years old, and her doughter was 1 year old. Then she got her last foal, and the 1 year old did not stop drinking the milk for the new foal. But Parley was too kind, and it was too hard for her. We seperated Parley and her new foal "Flox" from her previous foal. Parley died two years ago, but that's not the topic now.
So, what I would advise you to do is put the horse into a group with very dominant horses, maybe they can teach Mouse to behave! I know another young horse, a 4 year old islands horse, and he was very cheek until we put him into another group last vinter. Today he's still cheek, but not as cheek as he had been before. It semms as if he has developed from a baby to a young adult horse.
I hope this helps. I would be happy to hearing how Mouse developes.
Jasmin
Thankyou both for the input. Yes I absolutely agree that its a matter of respect and leadership. She just has a very high opinion of herself. But she has really taught me not to anthropomorphise....she's a horse and needs to be treated like another horse would treat her.....shame I'm not 1000lbs ! ... I have to get good(better) at being her leader so she respects me. Thing is ,I am, the leader to all my other 'more compliant' horses, we get along great!
Mouse has been sent to try me, she's my challenge.
Jasmin, she has been out with other horses who are more dominant, and been put in her place, strangley, she always pairs up with the Alpha mare /gelding.....see again I know she has a high opinion of herself, she wants to be topdog/horse. BUT I have never seen her rear as an objection to being moved on by them.
So in summary I will 'up' my leadership levels, continue to emphasise through the basics that I am the leader ! Like it or not Mouse !....keeping my cool.
watch out for the update, this might become a saga.
Dear Denise. I feel for you, but you have a head start because you want to help her. We had an owner/rider come for a lesson on her horse the other week and it had no manners at all. It had no respect for anyone's space and all the owner said was "It's because she's a mare". My mare was tied further up the barn and was standing patiently like an angel - I didn't say a word. Goodluck - it may take a while but I am sure she will come right. Remember weight has nothing to do with it - Monty's methods work no matter your build.
Denise, it was really spooky reading your post as you could have been describing my young mare, Phoenix, right down to the very last detail. I, too, feel that she has been sent to challenge/teach me as I've had to really raise my game to new levels. I've bred and kept horses for 40 years and have never had one like her. She is now 7 and we are only just really starting to get going with the ridden work as I felt it vital to sort out all her 'issues' on the ground - my being 52 years old and less able to bounce has definitely been a factor in this! So, I would totally agree with Vicci about getting the ground work perfect before moving on. Phoenix was a total madam between the ages of 3 and 6, but is now finally accepting me as leader - most of the time!
Best of luck with her. These girls are tough nuts to handle, but well worth the effort.
Hi Nicky
I have just returned from the UK and a 5day foundation course with Intelligent Horesmanship. It gave me a chance to practice what I have been preaching for so long now. To put into practice under scrutiny Join-up etc, with advice and guidence....WOW....
I came back and it took me three days ( ok 3 sessions over three days) to get Mouse to join up. We went throught quite a battle of wills, but what a difference , I think I have a new horse !!!!
She is SO much more respectful and 'chilled', happy to do what I ask her without her normal "but I'd rather do it my way in my own time " And just so much nicer to be around, head down , relaxed, and I feel she's enjoying being with me truly for the first time !!!!
She has taught me so much, so much about myself and how important it is to be consistent, concise but fair.
That's lovely, Hors'emotion!
Just great to hear about the success and the change it brought! :) :)