stupid horse?

[chocolatecakeystuff]

I bought an ISH mare a month or so ago, I must say I'm totally in love with her. However... she appears to be unbelievably thick....

I've had everything checked by the vet, and they say there's nothing wrong with her... she is just stupid lol

For example I often have to go back into her stable to show her where her feed is

She'll often roll whilst I'm still undressing her, or even on the way to the field!

She can't fathom walking arround gates, or turning round me in the stable lol.

She is a proper dope on a rope (untill you get on her) when she's forward &responsive

Anyone else ever had a really daft horse?

I don't think she's stupid, just doesn't know how you want things done.

Showing her her feed: no need to do that, she's a horse she can find her feed when she's hungry.

Rolling when doing rugs up: this has to stop, it's bad manners and could become dangerous. Tie her up when you change rugs. When you lead her do not let her roll, if you can't stop her in a headcollar, consider leading in a bridle or dually type headcollar.

Gates: sounds like she does not know how to do this, I'm sure she will pick it up when you teach her.

Moving around you: how do you ask? Most horses prefer a sharp two finger poke than a push, as most push against you when you push them. Again she has to learn to respect your space, but keep her tied up if you feel you need to for safety reasons.

How old is she? This kind of stuff is quite common in youngsters, who need to learn how to lead and behave in the stable - something we often forget to teach them. I would give her a sharp poke if she doesnt move over. If she barges gates carry a stick and tap her chest, she will soon get the picture

Most behaviour is learnt!! All if those I'd nip in the bud. If ages hungry shell find the feed!!

I woundnt tolerate a horse rolling while i was dealing it. And I'd teach her gates etc.

Go right back to basics and set very firm boundaries!!

I hate ill manners. They are too big to have them messing about!

She's not stupid but she's treating you like you are! My first horse was aTB ex race mare and we were novice horse owners ,I think she cottoned onto that within the first day and spent the next 6 months acting dumb. By the time I wised up to what her game was she could barely walk in a straight line , once she realised we were on to her she turned out to be one of the brighter horses I've owned.

Well yes there is such a thing as stupid and clever horses, I used to have a clever one, now I have a stupid one. Whilst he isn't as extreme as what you are describing, he can at least find his feed for example, he cannot work out the treat ball thingy (gave up after 3 months as he never Sussed it out), has no idea what to do with an apple in his water bucket, can't work out licks - clearly interested and wants some but can't work out that he's supposed to lick it. Also, when you do his feet, if you don't do them in the right order he picks up the wrong foot, even if you are standing pulling the leg you want he still picks up the next foot in his usual picking out routine.

I wouldn't know what to do with an apple in a water bucket !

Totally forgot id posted this! Yes she has perpetually bad manners, which I've been working on. I do tend to poke rather than push her.

She's getting better... with the gate thing. And yes after the first few times with the rolling I do now tie her up.

You can see she clearly wants the food... even when she's stood in the bucket looking for it. Have now bought her one of those over door thingys.

She's the same with the ball, then gets angry with it and chucks it out the stable. As yet she's not worked out the salt lick & keeps trying to bite it.

For all her quirks she's a good girl though & I'm head over heels for her lol.

And she's 12 so no baby.

Just a thought...she was reluctant to eat food off a bucket on the floor, did I understand that right? Will she eat hay off the floor? Have you watched her eat grass and is she doing that fine? Some horses have back/neck problems which make eating off the floor difficult for them (did you get her vetted?).

She wasn't vetted but have had all the checks since. She's not reluctant to eat... you can see she really wants the feed but doesn't get she's standing in the bucket lol.

Despite now having a hanging feed bucket (to stop her standing in her buckets) she sees me put it up.... looks for the bucket on the floor... then shoves all her feed out.

Have had chiropractor out as she's slightly short in the front. (Which we knew when we got her) and that's all sorted now.

Today was a classic... she rolled whilst still with her head in the water bucket. Silly mare! Thus spilling entire bucket across bed ( normally automated water but all frozen)

Have you had her teeth checked out? Difficulties eating are often caused by overgrown teeth.

If you really think that she is seriously unco-ordinated it could be a neurological problem. Did you mention these behaviours to the vet?

Yes teeth all fine, had our vet up a week or so after I got her to change her chip, do teeth, and jabs & he checked her over.

I guess she could have something neurological but I honestly think she's just a just a bit daft.
Had plenty of horses over the years that were somewhat lacking in the brains department but this one seems to be a step up from the rest.

She seems ok co ordination wise with everthing else.

I know she's always lived out untill I got her, which I guess could explain the unusual stable manners. Although she's quite content in there.

She's also got scars from a head collar & rug makes (white lines of hair where clipped) which could explain the rolling whilst being de-robed if she assumes her rug is going to be uncomfortable (luckily Ispoiled her rotton & bought new well fitting ones, which show no signs of rubbing)

Found out a little more about her this morning when the farrier came to do shoes (we bought her from him - he lives next door & takes on the hunts rejects)

Shed been given to the hunt as she was too much for the girl that had her to ride. Which is understandable she's not a novice ride. Apparently she was a bugger on the ground as well but appart from the affore mention quirks I just can't see it (unless they'd blown her brains with food -barley doesn't agree with her, as I discovered very quickly lol) since I've had her on the balancer she's just fine.

That's good news. The neuro issues are very rare, I am glad she is fine! Sounds like she's just getting used to new things.