Sudden Behavior Change

Question
I have a 2 1/2 yr old paint mare who is pastured with her mother and 9month old full sister. Stormy is a great horse. About 2 weeks ago she has started pining her ears back and acting like she is going to bite when we are walking into the corral to feed her. She is fed outside the pasture and her mother and sister are fed in the corral. She started this toward my 11 yr old step son and today she did it to me. I am afraid she will turn this into biting and hurt someone how can I stop her.

Answer
Hi Amy,
        Get yourself one of those stiff crops and put a plastic bag on the end of it.  When you go out to the pasture bring the whip with you. If your filly displays the negative behavior then shake the whip at her while yelling no or stop.

Make sure you are shaking it so that she can see it.


When she backs off then stop shaking it and lower the whip to the ground.

Again offer her the food. If she becomes aggressive then repeat the procedure with the whip and bag. Put her food on the ground and make her wait a few seconds before allowing her near it.  

You may have to repeat this for a few days until she stops.

Please keep me updated.

Lisa