I was working with my little mare yesterday when
she became disturbed. I had asked her to move her hips around her fore and
though she did not understand what I wanted she made an honest attempt and was
not troubled. She made some progress. I gave her few moments and then
asked her to mover her forequarters around her back. She immediately moved
forward and with a little sideways movement. I wanted her to cease the forward
movement so I put some pressure on her halter. (all of this was on the ground)
She became very agitated, lifted her head and shook it. She did yield to
the right for me but was disturbed and even seemed as though she may act out
towards me. I gave her some time to think about it before I asked her to move
again. The weird thing is that she began stretching her head down and yawning as
though she were trying to pop her jaw (at least I do something similar when my
TMJ acts up).
Was she having dominance/disrespect issues?
confusion about what I wanted? or pain in her jaw?
She was disturbed the rest of the time I had her
out although she did as I asked and came when I called her after I put her back
in the field. (that is something else we are working on as I like my horses to
come when called. Of the ten mares in the field she is the only one who is
learning this.)
She does have a large hay belly, could it be that
she is having some head/neck problems that keep her from chewing her food
properly? She is on good forage.
