overly excited

Question
QUESTION: My Arabian Mare, who is very well behaved, has developed a new behavior of "prancing around and/or appearing as though she will jump the gate when I approach the gate to get her. She does not charge out or get pushy when I walk her out she will turn and wait next to me to lock the gate up.  My question is why?  Why does she appear to look "out of control"  is she just happy to see me or is there something else going on?

ANSWER: Hi Keri!

Sounds to me like she really wants out of the pasture.  Is she the last one to be taken out?  Is she alone in the pasture?  I'm wondering what is going on that she would not enjoy being out?  Being in the pasture is natural horse behavior that she should love unless there is some sort of stress associated with it.  

Horses are herd animals.  If she is alone, or the last one to be taken in, this could be the cause of the dancing at the gate.  She is comfortable when you are holding her and leading her, back to the barn, I'm guessing...that is a great sign that she is comfortable and secure with you.  I just need a little more information to put the pieces of this puzzle together.

Fill in the gaps of information for me and we will solve this little mystery.

Smiles!

Denise

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Denise, actually she is usually the first one out of the pasture. She is never alone in the pasture (there are 3 other horses in her pasture). My routine is that I go daily to see her around 3:30 and spend about 2 and a half hours grooming walking, talking, doing some ground work, then feeding her.  I enjoy just giving her lots of attention.  she is very affectionate and sweet.
Since you mentioned something is stressing her there have been some big changes in her life.  1) she moved to a new barn.  2) I am a new owner to her .  I am also wondering  if it is another horse, the other day she had a kick on her behind :) and what looked like a bite on her shoulder. When I watch her interact with the other horses she nahs and runs off one of the geldings that she rarely stands near or eats with. Maybe the other horses are a little rough with her.  Her previous owners said she was the least dominate in her herd before.  She has bonded with another mare, but that mare is being moved to another pasture on Saturday.  
Could this be why?

Answer
Hi Keri!

I think that all of the things you mentioned are exactly why your mare is not comfortable in the pasture.  Watch the other horses closely, if they are too rough on her, you may want to think of other herd mates for her.  It is too bad that her buddy is being moved.  

The good news here is that she really likes YOU!  You are comfort and security for her and that is such a huge gift!  She just wants to be with you!  This is a great problem to have!  You always want to be the most important herd member to her, so stay on that path.  Horses in boarding barns know who they belong to.  You will find them forming groups based on their owners.  It is an amazing process to watch.  When I was in a boarding barn with all of my horses, even though some of my horses were new to me, when turned out in the pasture with others, my all gravitated to each other.  They smell, see and feel the connection.

You are a wonderful owner.  You have a very lucky horse!  Trust your instincts they were right on the mark!  

Smiles!

Denise