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  Discussion on HELP!!! Can't mount a kicking mare....
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Posted on Saturday, Apr 22, 2000 - 2:18 pm:

I have owned a beautiful TWH mare for about a month now. The first week with her was wonderful we rode her with no problems. We let a week go by with no riding her and the first time after that we had her saddled up to go. I asked hubby to ride her first to see if she would act up. Boy did she ever, as soon as his foot touched the stirrup she squealed like a pig and swung her back hoofs around and kept kicking till she landed hubby in the back. I have done some research on her background from one of her previous owners and they said this situation with her is the reason she was sold. We want to give her a chance with us because she's such a sweetheart on the ground. Hubby wants to scotch hobble her and rebreak her. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!

Posted on Saturday, Apr 22, 2000 - 6:38 pm:

Jeanette,
You said "we" rode her without trouble the first week - that includes your husband, right? So it wasn't a weight or style difference that caused the problem.Tried to mount other times after the episode you described , I'm sure. Have you had her back, teeth, tack ,etc checked?An ongoing problem with the previous owners, you said. So, hmmmm, how come so good the first week? Do you suspect they drugged her? More questions than answers from me, I'm afraid!!
Sharon

Posted on Saturday, Apr 22, 2000 - 6:43 pm:

Are you sure she wasn't in heat? It sounds like what my mare would do if I tried to ride her during heat (for which reason I keep her on Regumate).

Posted on Sunday, Apr 23, 2000 - 4:35 pm:

JEANETTE:PLEASE OH PLEASE DO NOT HOBBLE YOUR MARE AND TRY TO MOUNT HER!! EITHER YOUR MARE OR YOUR HUSBAND COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED.WHEN MOUNTING,BY ANY CHANCE DID YOUR HUSBAND'S TOE PRESS INTO YOUR MARE'S SIDE? I'VE SEEN HORSES GO BALLASTIC OVER THIS.HOW MANY OWNERS HAS SHE HAD?YOUR HORSE MAY HAVE HAD SOME VERY BAD EXPERIANCES WITH PRIOR RIDERS. TRY TO FIND OUT IF SHE'S REACTING DUE TO FEAR(PRIOR ABUSE)OR PAIN (OR BOTH) BE CAREFUL,GO SLOW.

Posted on Sunday, Apr 23, 2000 - 4:37 pm:

A question here about tender backs...recently I read (and I can't remember where but think it was in a dressage article) that mares can be tender in their backs during estrus due to follicle development and changes in the ovaries. I'm sorry I'm not more clear on the source but I wonder about this since so many mares are ticklish and ouchy (and grouchy) while in heat. In trying to picture the anatomy I can't quite make the connection. Dr. O can you help us out on this? Would changes in the ovaries lead to a tender back...or just a mare grouchy in general?

Posted on Sunday, Apr 23, 2000 - 6:10 pm:

Dear Sharon, Pamela, Leslie, and Lois, Thank you all for responding to me. She did have a UTI during the first week. I had the vet come out because she was urinating every 2 mins. I think she couldn't couldn't kick because of her squating every two mins. and yes she was in heat also. As far as hobbling her my husband just wants to put weight in the stirrup without getting kicked by her. He had his foot barely in the stirrup so his toe didn't poke her when she threw her fit. Her previous owner did tell me that everytime his Granddaughter rode her she'd get off and walk her back to the barn if she'd act up. He seems to think this is part of her problem. Thank you all again for your help it's greatly appreciated and you've all been a great help. Oh ya I'll have to put her on Regumate too! Thanks

Posted on Sunday, Apr 23, 2000 - 10:27 pm:

Hi Jeanette,

I have to agree that hobbling the mare is more likely to backfire then work. Some mares are really very witchy in heat but can be worked around. I've seen mares urinate every few minutes when they are in heat,not because of an infection. I've also seen one mare who had a chronic infection that no medicine seemed to help (not my mare and it was many years ago so I'm not clear on all the history).

I would have the mare thoroughly vet checked to ensure that she's not responding to pain. If this checks out negative then it's a negative response to a history that you won't be fully aware of. In this case my advice would be to proceed gently and cautiously. Kicking that's not caused by pain is generally defensive and a "get out of my space" message. Rather then try to dominate her by tying her, use some round-penning techniques and a lot of ground handling. I'm not familiar with the Parelli, but what I've read about it on this site indicate that it may help. Also, if you don't have much experience with rehabilitating horses I'd invest in a good trainer who has experience. Personally, I'd prefer one of the John Lyon's type then the type who dominate by brute force. At this point it likely doesn't matter if you want to ride english or western so don't let that decide your trainer.
good luck.

TeresaA

Posted on Monday, Apr 24, 2000 - 7:04 am:

Lois,
That is one of those questions that almost requires asking the mare. The location, amount of muscle between the two, and way they are positioned makes it unlikely that direct pressure on the kidneys or ovaries is responsible for pain.
More likely would be if these structures were painful that the horse would be generally depressed and would resist being ridden because they did not feel well.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 24, 2000 - 10:19 am:

I certainly don't know the cause...but when my mare is in heat, you can't even put your hand on her neck. You can't groom her, you can't ride her, you can't do anything with her! When I first bought her 6 yrs ago I had her in training and even the trainers didn't want to handle her when she was in heat. I've had her checked X2 for some physical cause - ie ovarian cysts etc. Everything checked out normal. So she gets Regumate year round. Nobody could really give me any explanation so I just deal with it that way.

Posted on Monday, Apr 24, 2000 - 4:12 pm:

Do you mount this mare from the ground or from a mounting block/crate/whatever? Sometimes horses that have some back pain dislike the pull of being mounted from the ground but will put up with a "step on" from a block.

Probably not the problem, just a thought - you should definitely have her checked out.

Imogen
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