I just got a call from my barn. Apparently Denali has gotten back into her habit of attacking horses (kicking/biting) over the fence. My trainer is afraid she's going to hurt herself or another horse. I told her that when D gets bored she gets naughty. I suggested moving her to a different barn with bigger pastures (more $ and totally a bluff.) What you think!! Ugh. I don't want to move her, and she does seem happy, but seriously Denali!
Pony Powers Engaged!
10 comments:
hummm.... how big is her paddock now? Really in this area bigger pastures isn't really an option. There isn't many places left with pasture space. Carousel Ranch in Woodenville; but I can't vouch for care there. But it's group turn out; which may make things worse.
Plus too, all my mares are in first heat of the season so there all a bit "naughty" right now. First in season of spring is always special.
Can she be moved next to someone else she may get along with?
Since you were talking diet earlier; what is her diet? Maybe something like raspberry leaves or mare calm may help. Maybe cutting things like sweet grains and switching her off alfalfa.
If she's bored can more rides / lunging a week help? or pasture toys?
Oh... Ask our mutual friend Ashley (from sh!t hole) about barns with larger pasture boarding. She knows quite a few barns in our area and may know of one. It's late and I'm just drawing a blank, blah...
All I gotta say is.... welcome to my life!!
Well Jay said many of the things I was thinking.
I love wendel's herbs. had a lot of luck with an older dog on one of their supplements. They have several for mares, moody mare, calming, mare cycles, etc.
http://www.horsehealthusa.com/scan/MM=e4c7e5559969d8a0544d79cbd6a9264a:18:35:18.html?mv_more_ip=1&mv_nextpage=vendor_product_list%2ehtml&pf=sql&mv_arg=
http://www.horsehealthusa.com/details/Moody-Mare/67-1.html
You might try picking up a stall toy too. They seem to help some horses.
My mare tends to be aggressive with other horses, for no reason that I can figure out. It's like she wants to be the boss and best friends at the same time. She's on individual turnout, usually in a smaller space, with a donkey mare. The donkey doesn't take any crap, gets out of the way when my horse is feeling fresh, and they're still buddy-buddy at the same time. Bigger individual turnout doesn't really help my horse because she'll gallop around most of the day but group turnout gets pretty hairy. She's ok in a large pasture if the donkey is with her. Are there any companion animals around for Denali other than a horse or is there one horse in particular that she likes? I definitely feel for your dilemma.
I've heard people getting good results from Mare Magic? Worth a try! It is designed to help "moody" mares become less witchy.
She's on a high fat/low starch diet. Not a lot of sugars in her diet. She's also on Mare Magic AND ex-stress (seriously a different horse.) Her paddock isn't small for Seattle standards, but she does get pissy. I have the joy of owning a horse who goes into heat each month REAGARDLESS of the time of year. December-Heat. Sigh....
LOL Did you read Fugly today!?! Tazer that Mare! That will teach her. LOL
LOL No seriously; I'm not totally against e-collars. Like my Draft and Draft Crosses who are really smart; IF theoretically there was such and sever issue and I was 100% out of alternatives ... maybe. maybe...
But my Draft he's an ex heard stallion and can be an issue with other geldings and "his gals". And my rescued Draft Cross is a total COW and HAS to be the dominant mare. We have always been able to find sensible solutions. Mostly we just find paddock arrangements that work out best or in worst case, we find a new barn with better turn out situations.
But my TB, who while sweet; is not the brightest crayon in the box. No way id ever do an e-collar... she just wouldn't get why she's getting zapped. It wouldn't be fair to her mentally. And she's already pretty squirrely and dingy; we don't need anything else to make it worse.
What about doing ground work with her..it will work her mentally and help you with her too? Just a thought...sometimes its not JUST physical, it's mental.
Not that I'm calling Denali mental, lol! You know what I'm saying! :)
Even if her feed is low in starch, it may be high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), which could lead to general nuttiness and naughtiness. Look at the ingredients on her feed bag -- if it has oats, corn, or barley (particularly in the first 5 ingredients), it's going to be high in NSCs.
Have you ever given her a Jolly Ball to play with? Or what about one of these -- http://www.smarter.com/horse-feeders-waterers/amazing-graze-treat-dispenser-8-1-2-inch-dia-x-20-inch-long/pd--ch-44--pi-322223.html ou can put hay cubes, treats, etc. in it and it keeps your horse occupied. For some reason, my blogroll isn't updating, so I have missed a bunch of your posts -- oh no!
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