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  Discussion on Memory problems?
Author Message
Member:
Christos

Posted on Sunday, Aug 8, 2004 - 7:09 am:

Hi, all, I need your thoughts on this one.

How common is it for a 4,5 yo mare to not know her way back home after a 2 hour trail ride with no more than 4 crossroads?
How common is it for a 4,5 yo mare that follows a group of 8 familiar horses on the way back to the barn to suddenly (and repeatedly) turn and head off into a direction she's never gone before?
How common is it for a 4,5 yo mare to get lost in the 2 acres she's lived all her life in, running around whinning for 5 minutes before she figures out, once more, that the door is on the other side of the barn?
All I know is that this mare has actually grown up in jail conditions. Even in the pasture she was always tied on a 15ft rope, after the local fashion (cheaper than building proper fences). But does this alone justify such stupidity?

All thoughts appreciated.





Member:
Jcsmoon

Posted on Sunday, Aug 8, 2004 - 11:07 am:

I can say that my youngin's who have had a normal childhood have all done this. I don't think that you have too much to worry about as long as she is smart enough to keep breathing she will learn soon enough which way leads to food.
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Monday, Aug 9, 2004 - 8:32 am:

I havent had near the horse experience as most here, but it sounds abnormal to me. I would think by 4/5 yrs. she should be out of the young/ignorant stage. Even at 2/3 my horse could find her way home from areas she had never been. I have gotten lost before and let her take me home or back to the trailer. Perhaps due to her confinement all her life she may not have developed natural horse sense.
Member:
Laura1

Posted on Monday, Aug 9, 2004 - 11:54 am:

If this is behaviour that has suddenly developed over a very short period of time then I would be worried, but other than that it may just be a 'phase' she is going through - has her routine changed suddenly, or the companions that she is with changed?}
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Monday, Aug 9, 2004 - 1:41 pm:

This doesn't sound too abnormal to me. It reminds me of an incident that happened several years ago. One morning my husband accidently left the mare and foal paddock gate open after feeding. The geldings were kept in a paddock with electric fencing right behind the mare's (rail fencing). The wire ran along the top of the gate of the mare's area to the fencer. Well the foal noticed the gate open and wandered out. Mare went through the wire to get to her. Well, the geldings got a little twitterpated and one went through his fence and for some reason went into the mare's paddock even though she wasn't in there. So here's the scene when I got home. foal happily snoozing in the sun on the side lawn, mare grazing next to her. One gelding in mare's shed looking out the back window. Other geldings did not want to get involved and stayed where they were supposed to be. However, when I went to get the gelding out of the shed, he couldn't find the door! It's not like it's a small opening either, it's at least 12 feet wide. He eventually figured it out but it's rather odd.

Christos, in your case I think your mare just hasn't been out enough and especially being raised in "jail" she hasn't had enough exposure. Does she get excited or nervous when she leaves the group to go a different way? Have you let her have her way and see where it takes you? My mare used to go off without any direction from me down an old unused trail like she knew a shortcut even though it ended after a 100 yards or so. Except for that, she has an impeccible sense of direction. She even knew which trailer was hers. Among several, she would go to the right trailer and stop every time.
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Monday, Aug 9, 2004 - 2:54 pm:

Christos,

I'm quite sure you'll figure it out, maybe she just likes to stay out longer and wants to explore...or...she's in heat and knows there's a stallion over there somewhere? Does it happen regularly or once a month?

otoh...if I were tied up most of the time, I'd have a screw loose too. I'm glad you have her Christos.

Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, Aug 9, 2004 - 7:41 pm:

Cristos-I think she'll come around. Horses mature at different rates, mentally as well as physically, as I'm sure you know. Given her past, she probably is a bit "backwards" but will learn.

We had two mares that had never gone out of their barn except into a small pen attached to their stall or to be tied on a hot walker which was about 10 feet from their barn door.

These two mares were really strange to be around for a long time. They led beautifully for about 20 ft. then totally fell apart; they totally paniced when turned out in anything but a small pen, or if turned out with another horse-even each other. If I turned them out into the arena, they couldn't find the gate on their own, or their stall door from the field. I felt like they were brain damaged. But, eventually they came around and turned out to be excellent brood mares.

I've also had a young horse or two that literally walked into gates, fences, the barn wall instead of the door - all because they were just too busy gawking at everything. They, too, eventually learned.

Maybe your mare is just too overcome with all the openness to think straight right now.
Member:
Christos

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004 - 4:41 pm:

Well, then, I guess I've been a bit too worried.
Probably because the mare I was riding in the last year was an extremely agile horse, so now everything seems kind of in slow motion.
Anyway, this one does deserve all the time she needs to develop, she's really sweet.

Thanks a million for your replies.
Christos
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