Needing Help With My Mare AGAIN!!!!!

[patty dukes]

I really don't know what to do. My mare had a filly a week ago today. I have a halter for her and know I need to get it on her. She has been coming up to me and letting me pet her neck. Her mom is letting her come to us or at least I hope she will tomorrow! The story is we my husband helped me today ..... we put the mare in the barn without the foal. we shut the door and took all of us to catch the baby. One of us had to hold the metal door to the barn shut. It was shut with the only kind of holders (it has chains to keep it shut to the barn). Anyway my mare was going crazy!!! She was pawing with both feet, rearing up and trying to stick her feet out the top of the gate she was sticking her head out the top of the gate and was trying to run into the gate with her body we had a lead rope on her and had it tied to the only thing we could. I was trying to calm her down but she was being a CRAZY horse. My husband and I agree after the baby is weaned she must go. My husband works all the time he barley can get anything done that needs to be done. I am not experienced enough to handle a horse that acts like that. She has me so shook up my stomach is still turning and this was hours ago. I don't know what else to do. I Love April but I can't handle her with her acting like that. I know she is going to be upset with her baby being away from her like that but she could still see her.
April has come a long way since I first bought her. She wouldn't let anyone touch her or even get anywhere around her. Up until she had the baby she was letting me love on her. I know she is protective of the baby but she was letting me pet the baby where when she was first born she would get between us.
I am so confused about her. My husband said she is gone when the baby is weaned so we are not going to keep her BUT what do I do in the mean time??
My husband is scared she will hurt one of us and the way she was acting today if she could've gotten to us she would've.
I don't want anyone to get upset with me over getting rid of her because of this but like I said I can't handle her by myself. I just don't know what to do. This has me tore up on the inside.
PLEASE HELP

[chrystalpaths]

Ok, deep breath...baby is only a week old...you don't need to halter break it yet, especially if mom is overwrought. This is purely my opinion but you are rushing the mare. I could feel her fear and anger, the baby's absolute terror at being chased to be caught. This is not good IMHO.

When I begin to introduce a halter it is out in a familiar paddock with mom nearby. I toss it on the ground, let the curious baby check it out, chew it, pick it up and carry it, next day I hold it and scritch it all over baby and offer it again as a toy, then I slip it on and off the nose quickly while scratching and talking, then I get the nose on the next day and take it off, on and off. I do this sometimes for days or even a week or more til they stand still. Then bring up the ear piece to go over the pole, if they spook, stop and begin at the beginning. Sooner rather than later they accept it because it isn't upsetting. Never leave a halter on a baby, little feet can get caught.

Slow down, let these 2 get to know each other without your feeling the need to control. She's the mom, for now it is her baby and you need to gain her trust so she will allow you to love on and teach human things to her baby and then teach it what it needs to know.

Horses are expected to grow up too fast. You have 4-5 mos or so to teach halter and lead..slow down enjoy the wonder and cuteness of this baby and let momma settle down. Even the sweetest mare will turn mean if she feels her child is in trouble. She had every right to rear and kick and carry on when you were chasing her baby. My old reliable Keesha bit the top of my head one year when I was only trying to dip the navel!

I am not yelling or being mean but you asked and I'm telling you what I can feel from the 2 horses. Slow down. Be calm, it'll come. Would love to see them in a pic.

[patty dukes]

Well what you are telling me is exactally what my husband was saying last night after we calmed down. As far as the halter goes one person says to take my time and the ppl we rent the land from said get it on her now..... they did raise horses and I know she knew what she was talking about but I do think the best thing to do is wait. As far as the mare acting crazy that is understandable. When I said we had to chase the baby I didn't mean literally chase her. We cornered her and got her. She did jump a couple times but after that my husband was petting her without even holding her. I thought she done very well. I guess I better be more detailed when using words like chased, caught ect....................LOL


Thanks for the advise though!!!!!

I will take my time in getting her used to the halter.

[patty dukes]

Ok I need to get something straightened up here. I did NOT force anything on anything. I just done the same thing to the foal that the vet done when he came out and gave her the shots. That is corner her and grab her. I am not trying to break anythings spirit and like I said the foal calmed down to where my husband was petting her without her trying to get away. The foal still comes up to me and lets me pet her while her mom is eating so if I had of broke her spirits then she wouldn't have came back up to me and she would've ran when she was let go.
Like I said I just done the same thing the vet did. Does that make me a bad person?
I don't think it does.
I was still very shook up when I posted this thread as anyone else would be when they had a 900 pound animal rearing up in their face.
I felt like things were handled the best I could do with what I had done.
We put the mare in the barn to handle the baby and she went crazy. I also said that I understand her doing that.

I shouldn't have worried yall with my problems and I am not trying to scare any of my animals nor break their spirits

[kitcat0601]

Patty, nobody thinks your scaring your horses and im sure you were very shook up. I would have been too. I think mom was worried about her baby so she reacted that way. Any horse can be that way when they cant see their baby. There are alot of pro's and con's about when to halter. I started from day one so my colt accepts it like its nothing. I bring him and mom out to run in the arena. I chose to do it early because my mare is alot of seperation anxiety from the other horses when they go somewhere. She screams for hours, so I knew if I led her and let the baby follow and if he wandered off there would be a fiasco. He is an independent little guy, so I see him doing that. Just handle the baby alot, be her friend. Good luck

[starlitefarms]

well first of all let me say this. and its not ment to be critical. but i never seperate a mare from a new foal. thats just asking for the two to get hurt. your lucky the mare didnt break a leg pawing and carrying on that way. but we live and learn from our mistakes. slow down dear take your time. if you dont you will end up with a mare who is over protective and wont let you near the next foal. and a foal who wants nothing to do with those scarry humans. halter breaking isnt something that is going to happen over night. i always put the halters on in a stall. with the mare right there. if mare is a bit obsessive tie her up. be carefull not to do any jerking on the foals neck. it can get hurt that way. when you go start teaching the foal to lead use a rope around the butt up to your hand. they will give off the pressure and wont be as willing to fight you. and less likely to get hurt. foals are alot of work and a wonderfull learning experience. enjoy this baby but take it nice and slow as to not scare the foal. yes the foal will have fits over some things you introduce. they will get over it if you remain calm and consistant. never doing any harm. the key is to show them in a happy positive way that learning is fun just like kids lol. some learn quicker than others. take your time. and as far as others saying bad stuff ignore them! get you a book called from birth to backing . its worth its weight in gold! good luck and wouldnt mind seeing some pics! feel free to im me if you have any more problems or 's