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Hi Marlene,

 

If you weren't around the horses when the behaviors began I would be a little skeptical of the "all of a sudden" explanation. I'm not questioning the integrity of the people that brought them to you only oversight. Most horses will let you know that something is going on, sometimes slowly, but other times after a specific event.

 

 If you truely think there is a medical issue then do the vet check. But if you turn her out and she doesn't seem to have the behavior when she is on her own or with othere horses then it is probably more of an attitude issue that hopefully will resolve as you start training.

 

Sherri

 

On 9/17/07, Marlene Moss <Marlene@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have 2 horses boarded at our place for training to fix some behavioral problems that suddenly appeared.  Both are 3 year old mares, one AQHA but looks thoroughbred, the other a solid paint.  They have no relationship to each other and different owners, but both were shown in halter and longeline classes when younger.  Both owners think their behavior is related to coming into heat, but neither had a vet look at the horses.

 

One was sent to a trainer who gave up on her and sent her to the auction and eventually she ended up at our place so we could help the new owners sell her.  The other owner is so afraid the horse will hurt a neighbor kid that she had the mare tied to the fence when I picked her up.

 

Basically, both mares will bite and kick at times, but are otherwise a couple of the sweetest mares I've ever worked with.  The quarter horse has no aim, and you can tell she is frustrated but just doesn't know what else to do.  I am able to work with her just by talking to her pleasantly or holding something out for her to sniff.  She's very curious.  The paint has deadly aim and force so we are being very careful with her because we just don't know what sets her off yet.

 

Both are very pleasant and willing once they are haltered.  The AQHA mare is lovely to ride and I've taken her out on the trail a few times and think she has trail or endurance potential.  The other mare isn't saddle trained yet.

 

Has anyone dealt with behavior like this?  With both horses it just started overnight and the original owners both had other horses with no problems.  I really thing there is something physical, probably with their reproductive systems that is going on.  The paint will sometimes turn her head away and look back to avoid biting or else looking where she is in pain.  I have a vet coming out Tuesday for one of the boarders and I'd like to talk to him about these two to see what options we might have to figure things out for them.  I have heard of horses that had a marble inserted to help with uncomfortable heat cycles – any experience with this?  What symptoms does it help?  How well does it work?  Is there hormone therapy for horses?  Blood tests that might give us a clue?  Expensive or cheap?  What kind of diagnostics can be done that don't cost a fortune or require a major clinic?

 

Sorry not totally distance riding related, but I guess any horse could have problems like this that need to be diagnosed and dealt with.  The owner of the paint has accepted that she may need to put this mare down if she can't be fixed, but I (and the trainer) think it is physical and that the source needs to be treated before the horse can be trained or a difficult decision made.

 

Thanks!

Marlene

 

 

Marlene Moss

Saddle Fitting - www.KineticEquineAnalysis.com

Boarding/Training - www.LosPinos-CO.com