behavior - follow up - rescue horses

Question
Thank you for changing my way of thinking . I got alot out of you well thought answer and good advice . I did switch their stalls and now the tables have turned. He is showing his teeth and pinning but only for a moment. So that problem seems to be solved.
But what I still have to master is how to get to the male in the pasture without all of her shenanigans. Right now I have to take a crop and yell "back" just to get near the male. It`s very nerve racking.It`s not enjoyable -there is so much tension. She has to kept busy with another person to get near him. I`d like to be able to be alone and be in better control . She freaks out when he`s out of her sight too. So I can`t just pop her in her stall and I would rather not have to resort to that anyway.Could this be a settling in situation? Any more help you can share would be greatly appreciated?

Answer
Hi Lisa!

Hmmmmmm......it appears the mare is a little more aggressive than I had initially thought.  I think this situation could easily and quickly get out of hand.

The only thing to do is to have them trained to respond to the authority of the human standing in front of them, regardless of who it is.  You, your husband, a friend of yours babysitting them for you....anyone.

I suggest you speak to your vet, farrier or tack shop and ask them to recommend a local professional trainer who has expereince with hardcases such as your mare.  Have the trainer out to evaluate your situation and to discuss your goals.

Even if you never plan on riding them, you need to establish yourself as above HER on the ground and have her respect and obey you.

It sounds like you need a combination of very specific ground training and a allot of desensitization.

First, get her to acknowledge and obey you while she is out of her stall and you are grooming her.  The trainer will show you how to do this.... and I suggest you do not attempt to cross-tie her to anything until the trainer has taught her and you how to do so safely.
Once you get a line of communication going with her on the ground then, you need to introduce her to the Clicker Method.  This works as well on horses as it does on dogs.....you can Google it.

Start with something insanely easy and only give her treats during Clicker training.  Move her slowly towards turning away from the gelding, just with her head away from him...then to taking a step from him, then two steps, then around the corner and so on and so on.

This make take a month to get her around the corner and remain calm and focused on you.  But, progress is progress and if you maintain the level of obedience through occasional training sessions, she should never backslide to crazy mare again.

The goal is to eventually get her to feel you are much more interesting than the gelding, that she needs to listen to you and really, everything will be fine.  Horses are "outcome-based" animals.  They need to know that the outcome of their actions will still include safety and certainty.  A horse will get on a trailer everytime because it knows the trailer will not eat it, there is a haybag inside and an enjoyable ride in the woods is at the other end.
But, the first time it had to load, it knew none of those things.  It had to be taught that that will be the outcome and then they just remembered on their own.

She needs to know that walking away from the gelding means nothing because he will join her in a few minutes...but, until you show her that, she will not know it.  Right now she is in such a frantic state of defending her herd from you, she sees and remembers nothing except that you are interfering.

Get a professional trainer to help you before things do spiral out of control and you get hurt.  Have them start the mare on the exercises, then you should be able to take over with minimal guidance from the trainer, maybe just weekly visits to make sure you have it all under control correctly.

The training will take as long as it takes...there are no shortcuts.  But, the whole time you are working so closely with her, you are establishing a bond and simultaneously moving forward in your relationship.  It's a win-win situation  :)

Don't forget the gelding, he needs the same kind of work done with him, he may go faster though.

Start small, don't push them too fast and watch their body language for when they are finished for the day.  Keep the training sessions to short daily ones that always end on a success.  ALWAYS have a plan with an obtainable goal at the end before you even walk into the barn.
Horses know immediately if you are not moving with purpose and that mare will try to snatch the power back from you if she senses that.

Be firm, be patient and above all be consistent.

Oh, wait.  Did I say that already?  Well, it still goes  ~

Solange