My Horse is Acting wierd. I am worried.?

Question

I have been gone for awhile on vacation but I got to see my horse today and they said that when they would bring the horses in my horse would kick at them with their front and back feet. Shes never done this before. And when i ride her shell put her ears back and buck at little she even tried to bite my foot today while on her. Shes never done that before and no its not the saddle we chked. These are a few reasons ppl at the barn came up with:

Fat and happy

Misses me (i kinda doubt these 2 would do it but im saying everything tehy gave me)

Is irratated (shes in the pasture with 2 new horses)

Dominace (is trying to figure out their role withe the 2 new horses)

Because shes in Season

The bit (shes been using the same one the whole time though)

Becasue she doesn't like being away from her best firend

Because shes testing me (i doubt that to)

Answer 1

Okay there is many answers to this.

1: She could just be fat and happy and just needs her ground manners corrected and you show her your boss.

2: I'm not so sure she misses you if she hasn't been ridden while you've been gone and you just got on her. Lol my mare was like that.

3: Yes she could be irritated but also she is trying to be dominate with the other two horses.

4: Check if she is in season.

5: The bit isn't gonna be the problem.

6: If she doesn't like being away from her best friend she would be probably in separation anxiety.

7: She could be re-testing you but that's no likely.

I suggest she is mostly fat and happy and doesn't want to be ridden now that your home. My mare did this and she is just not happy with the fact that she has to be worked. But she'll go to normal after days or couple weeks.

Answer 2

Another vote for in heat...does she pee a lot, and have it all over her back legs and tail?

Answer 3

It sounds like she's in heat to me. My mare gets pretty nasty to, and I usually just go for short rides or lunge her so she gets her excercise.  

Answer 4

yeah it could be hormones (in season) or sometimes some animals change when u've been away for awhile! my dog did when someone else looked after her for me she was totally different!

Answer 5

To be perfectly honest, a few reasons come to mind.  My very first thought is that she's been injured in someway.  Even if you can't see marks, the way she behaved under saddle makes me think that it could be a neck or back injury. Did she get her head caught in some way and pull back to free herself?  Was she tied up and struggling against a halter?  Pain is one of the number one triggers of personality or temper swings.

Does she continue to kick and strike now?  At you?  

Dominance could be the issue if she's not used to being kept with other horses. Any type of dominance struggle could also be exaggerated by any mare in season (yours or theirs).

My last thought is this, has she had any change in feed lately?  Is she eating alfalfa (hay, pellets, meal, or squares)?  Did she just get changed to alfalfa?  Or if she's been on it for a while, is it a new shipment?  I had a mare in high school that would get nasty mean if she was fed only alfalfa for any extended period of time.  I always scoffed when people told me it was the alfalfa but each time I altered her diet (and nothing else in our routine) to grass hay or something more mild than alfalfa, she calmed down within a few days on the new food.

Answer 6

Since a horse is a being, and you've been gone for a while You might have to start slowly and softly. Horses can tell if your not coming towards them to hug em' or give them something. Walk towards em' with a positive attitude. After that give a little grain. Take em' to the side and spend One On One time with out any horses around. d o this for a half hour or so and if she is doing a little better attempt to put on a saddle. If the horse disagrees, then go back to step one and start over. I t may take a while and remember not to have a whip or any thing like that, and Don't give attention to any other horse while this is going on, Female horses tend to get jealous very easily especially when grain from their owner is being hand fed to another horse. (especially a new horse).

Answer 7

Nothing sounds life threatening if some of  these characteristics occur you should consult a vet.

1)glassy eyes

2)runny nose

3)loss of appetite/no urination

4)no gut noises

5) abnormally high/low TPR

Answer 8

the whole kicking thing is establishing dominance so ur right there but as for the foot bitting and bucking she is in pain some way and since its not the saddle its most likley the way you or someone else is riding her...

Answer 9

It is definitely a dominance and respect issue. This can be cured with some groundwork. Read through my free horse training articles which also include some video clips ffor som eideas.

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

David