My 12 year old mare

Question
QUESTION: I had bought a 12 year old mare last Spring, and just love her, she is quiet, gentle. I was told she would be good for a begginer, which I am a novice, well, I have not gotten to ride her yet because in June she founderd,(which they did not tell me she had done before)and I also found out she was bred, and they didn't know about that. Well, it took her 2mo to heal her feet then baby was born in Aug.,so, she's finally feeling better, and I had the time, I was going to ride her today, come to find out she is VERY cinchy, didn't want anything to do with that, she was getting upset, and trying to mount her, she didn't like either. So my question is, do you think she just hasn't been riden in so long and may need a refresher, or maybe she was abused? I just don't know, I love this mare, she is great and I want to be able to ride together, any suggestions on what to do? Thank you Lisa P

ANSWER: Hi Lisa!

Hay, you got a two for one deal, Congratulations!

The basic rule of good horsemanship is ride your horse where she is today.  If she is chinchy today, deal with that issue.  Horses are the most honest beings on the planet.  She is telling you very clearly what she needs and what requires attention!  Listen to her!

It does not matter what has happened in her past.  It is obvious that some kinks need to be worked out.  Horses are not cars or suv's.  They have a mind and feelings and emotions.  Many humans think of horses as cars or they think that if someone says the horse is well trained and "push button" (one of the sayings I hate the most!) that you can climb on and take off and nothing bad will happen.  That like a computer the horse and all of it's reactions will be on auto pilot!  When was the last time you woke up and were expected to perform exactly the same no matter what happened to you the day before???  If I have had a bad nights sleep and someone did something mean to me, and I missed a deadline... I'm going to be grumpy.  If I were a horse, I'd be bucking someone off!  Now, if someone in my family came to me and said, golly Denise, I know you are having a bad day and they talked to me some more, maybe gave me a neck massage, or a hug, why pretty quick I'd be feeling much better and when they asked me to cook dinner or help with homework I'd be happy to do so.

Take the time to understand your Mare.  You don't need to know exactly what happened to her in the past 12 years of her life.  I'm sure some of it was good and some was bad.  Take her for who and what she is today.  You bet, go back to the beginning!  If you have never ridden her, I'd re-start her like a colt and check out her whole skill set.  See what she can and can't do well, check out the quality with which she was educated.  I'm pretty  sure a lot was missed in her education!  If the people you bought her from didn't know she was bred, a WHOLE lot has been missed with this horse.  

The other issue here is that this mare has a three month old foal at her side.  She is in full on mommy mode!!!  Her job right now is to care for her foal.  She is nursing every day and caring and teaching a baby.  She is an AWESOME mare to put up with attempts at riding when her focus and rightly so, is on her foal.

Lisa, you didn't say anything more about where her foal was or what was happening with the baby while you were trying to saddle and get on your mare.  You are lucky you have such a great mare or you could have really gotten hurt.   Everything God put into that Mare is telling her to protect her baby, you and going for a ride is the last thing on her mind.  

For now, do lots of groundwork, work with your flag, tarp and slicker.  It will be good for the baby too!  Make sure the mare is not sore and has no health issues that would cause her to be sore.  Foal founder is common and so is mastitis in lactating mares, so that fact that she does not appreciate a chinch may mean that she is hurting.  

Also, many horses are not saddled with quality and have to put up with someone snuging up a cinch without a feel for the horse.  I tighten the cinch in three small steps.  I will tighten, walk my horse forward for a bit, tighten again, and take another little walk and then check my chinch and tighten again just before I get on.  This is far more respectful to the horse and allows them to relax in the body and lets the muscles adjust to the saddle.  This is really important especially when it is cold!  Treat your horse how you would want to be treated!  Don't throw the saddle at her and then just smash it on, take your time, be smooth, always saddle with quality, put the saddle on like you would put on your coat and hat!  Your horse and you will be much happier.  

So, go back to the beginning with your mare.  Prepare her with quality.  Remember, she is in a very different place mentally because she has a baby to care for and be respectful of that relationship.  When you watch these few details, things will go much better for your and your horses!

Let me know how things are going!  Again, CONGRATULATIONS!  Is it a filly or a colt???

Smiles!  Denise

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

QUESTION: She had a nice colt, that is doing well. I know he is only almost 4mo old, but I have started to wean him, I just want Maggie to be done nursing before weather gets to cold,(we live in Minnesota)and when I was trying to ride her he was on the other side of the fence. Do you think that was part of her problem? I will start with ground work with her, things that I can do, I'm not all that knowledgeable with this type of stuff. But will do what I can with her, like I said, she is a nice, nice mare, and I want to do what I can wiht her. Thank you  Lisa

Answer
Hi Lisa!

Maggie is a wonderful mare to fill in for you!  Yes, trying to ride her while her baby was out of her reach is a huge issue.  I know many mares that would have done just about anything to get back to their foals.  She is a really nice mare!  She took care of you that day and did not buck you off, bolt away or stomp on you, all things that a nervous mother could be expected to do.

What are you feeding the baby?  At 4 months old they need to be on some sort of foal feed that is in a creep feeder.  This is a feeder that the baby can get into but the mare cannot.  Good grain and hay for a baby is a must to supplement the mares milk and to help prepare for weaning.  I usually wean at about 6 months old.  The mare is more willing to help out in the process and is more willing to allow separation from the baby.  Make sure the mare is on a good concentrate as well as great hay.  She is burning a lot of calories feeding a baby.  You have to make sure both mare and foal are getting the calories they both need during this very delicate time.  Your colt will be a very special horse too, if the mare is any indication.  Treat him well.  He needs to be gelded as soon as the testis drop, which could be any time now.  Have your vet take a look and geld as soon as possible.  

Take you time when weaning.  As a matter of fact this pair seems emotionally solid.  Continue to separate for small amounts of time if both the mare and foal are settled and good natured about it.  Make this time a separation really fun for the mare and foal.   Give the foal his grain and hay and let him enjoy this while the mare is out of the pen.  So long as the mare can see her foal things should be fine.  Make this separation great for the mare as well.  Give her some of her grain to eat, brush and groom her.  Make it her special time.   Don't take her so far away that she becomes upset.  Gradually you can make the time apart longer and farther away.  This is how you will wean also, by just moving the baby a bit further away each day.

If you have more questions about weaning, feed, and future riding, please let me know.  This is a very special mare and baby.  You are providing a lot of love to both of them and it shows.

If you have not seen this style of horsemanship and you do not know about the ground work, go to my website and click on the favorites page, then click on Buck Brannaman.  This will take you to his website.  Buck's DVD's on ground work are just the best.  If you cannot buy them, many tack stores have them for rent.  Any way you can , check them out!  After you watch the DVD's you will have a better idea of this style of horsemanship and I will have a basis of information for you to ask questions from.

Let me know how it is going.

Smiles, Denise