i have a 10 year old paint mare. ive only owned her for about a month or so, i decided to take her to my friends house to work her with cows and introduce her to trails, we kept her in a small paddock with a stall for 2 days so she could get used to her surroundings and the various wildlife that is around his farm. after two days we decided to take her on a trail. so i led her out of the paddock and towards the horse trailer where my tack is kept so i could saddle her up, we made it inside one gate, shut the gate, and she spotted his mini. all hell broke loose!! she started running circles around me on her lead, i calmly talked to her trying to calm her down and she jumped his 5 ft fence with no hassle at a dead stop!! she then got loose from me because she pulled the lead from my hand, ran into the road, and back towards his bigger horses, ran straight through his electric fencing, broke it COMPLETELY down and ran with his horses. after an hour we finally caught her, calmed her down fixed the fence and brought her back to the paddock to where she could see the mini but she was confined "somewhat since she jumped the previous fence" she then was still very tense and jittery, its been 2 weeks of us working with her away from the mini and even if hes a mile away she freaks! weve even tried stalling the mini in the barn and if she hears him or the other mini mares she still freaks. any tips or ideas?
There are some horses that never get over a fear (my friend has a 25 year old QH thats deathly afraid of Cows and Mules, and she has taken her to trainers and had help from everyone she knows)
To her its a tiny horse eater. Try keeping them within sight of each other for awhile and see what happens
To her its a tiny horse eater. Try keeping them within sight of each other for awhile and see what happens
honesty, most horses freak but theirs nothing you can really do sorry!
Has she ever been attached or chased by dogs?? They are about the same size and she maybe is thinking the mini looks like a dog. I've seen horses like this before.
Horses do not see minis as other horses. They are sure that the minis are predators pretending to be little horse type creatures. There was a fairgrounds near me that had two shows at once: a dressage show and a mini show. That was total chaos! It was worse than the carnival with the ferris wheel by far.
Does your mare have any large horse "friends" who knw the minis? You could lead other horse toward the minis with your mare behind or to the far side and work slowly toward getting closer. Alternately, have someone lead the mini away and have your mare behind, far away. Keep the mini going away from the mare. If you can get the mare to think that she is making the mini move, that would be best.
I doubt she will tolerate going very close though.
Do you know the history of this mare? Has she ever seen a mini before? I would try getting the homeopathic drops called "Rescue Remedy" and give those to her, just put some on your hands and rub onto her muzzle or put drops in her water.
Is she with the other large horses or is she by herself? She may be wanting to bond only with the large horses and not accept the minis.
I told my neighbor I would let her bring her pig to my place and my horses were horrified for quite some time, maybe a month or more. Now, everyone is fine with the pig. They all had to be in the barn together when it was very cold and it was not an issue anymore.
I would only give her grain when she faces the minis and can relax, not jig around or try to pull away. Give her a bit of grain. Take a step or even a lean in the direction of the mini(s). Try to get information on desensitization and positive reinforcement. You now know that the mare is very reactive to the point where she could hurt herself or you. She needs to get to where she uses the thinking/curious part of her brain. Now her fear is what drives her.
Does your mare have any large horse "friends" who knw the minis? You could lead other horse toward the minis with your mare behind or to the far side and work slowly toward getting closer. Alternately, have someone lead the mini away and have your mare behind, far away. Keep the mini going away from the mare. If you can get the mare to think that she is making the mini move, that would be best.
I doubt she will tolerate going very close though.
Do you know the history of this mare? Has she ever seen a mini before? I would try getting the homeopathic drops called "Rescue Remedy" and give those to her, just put some on your hands and rub onto her muzzle or put drops in her water.
Is she with the other large horses or is she by herself? She may be wanting to bond only with the large horses and not accept the minis.
I told my neighbor I would let her bring her pig to my place and my horses were horrified for quite some time, maybe a month or more. Now, everyone is fine with the pig. They all had to be in the barn together when it was very cold and it was not an issue anymore.
I would only give her grain when she faces the minis and can relax, not jig around or try to pull away. Give her a bit of grain. Take a step or even a lean in the direction of the mini(s). Try to get information on desensitization and positive reinforcement. You now know that the mare is very reactive to the point where she could hurt herself or you. She needs to get to where she uses the thinking/curious part of her brain. Now her fear is what drives her.
I use to ride a paint, who was very! spooky, and at a horse grange meet there was a younger kid who was riding a small pony almost small enooguh to be mini xD. But she just looked at the pony like umm, what the hell is that suppose to be? lol just thought i'd share.
if i were you i would try a goat.
maby a miniature..........or just a normal sized goat.
ether way have the goat out in the pasture and let your horse garaguly meat it, this might help the problem.
maby a miniature..........or just a normal sized goat.
ether way have the goat out in the pasture and let your horse garaguly meat it, this might help the problem.