I've adopted a 19-year-old TB mare who hadn't been ridden in 10 years. She was trackbred but never raced, and her breeder was a real nasty piece of
work. She was seized by Animal Control as a yearling, and she and her dam both have tying and mouth issues. I was told before I took her never to crosstie her
or tie her to a hitching rail. If I tie her at all I have to tie her above her head to a single rope with a quick-release catch. I've tried tying her to
just one crosstie and feeding her treats, brushing her, and gradually introducing the second tie. She panics. If I don't unsnap her, she'll either sit
back and pull or rear up. Even one tie is difficult for her if I'm not constantly soothing her.
I have tried putting her in a stall, arena, round pen, dirt run, and wash stock for grooming. She comes up to be brushed for a few minutes, then walks away (except in the wash stock, of course). She'll repeat this behavior for hours, and often get in my personal space. I have to wear a helmet because she likes to knock me on the head. She's very nervous all the time, and is always walking or running the fenceline if separated from other horses. She dances and weaves in the barn when she's tied.
She seems to need to move constantly. She was the alpha of her previous herd, and she seems to be on alert all the time. It helps a lot if there are other mares around, but I've made no progress in tying her. Any suggestions?
I have tried putting her in a stall, arena, round pen, dirt run, and wash stock for grooming. She comes up to be brushed for a few minutes, then walks away (except in the wash stock, of course). She'll repeat this behavior for hours, and often get in my personal space. I have to wear a helmet because she likes to knock me on the head. She's very nervous all the time, and is always walking or running the fenceline if separated from other horses. She dances and weaves in the barn when she's tied.
She seems to need to move constantly. She was the alpha of her previous herd, and she seems to be on alert all the time. It helps a lot if there are other mares around, but I've made no progress in tying her. Any suggestions?
